Team work. Relationships. And funny.
From the basketball court to the dinner table, it’s not just about the game for the Massachusetts State Police’s Unity basketball program.
“The whole point of it all is building relationships,” said Private Thomas Sullivan, the league’s main organizer, which kicked off with a game Thursday at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee. “Partnerships will hopefully lead to bigger and better things.”
The first night brought together seventh and eighth graders from Holyoke and Westfield, who took to the hardwood for a friendly competition before sitting down to dinner and chatting with police officers, sheriff’s deputies, students academics specializing in sports management and criminal justice and even the mayor.
After playing in eastern Massachusetts for several years, the league expanded west last year, but the COVID-19 pandemic limited it to the Chicopee Boys & Girls Club. There, half a dozen teams from the club played each other, said Jason Reed, the club’s manager.
This year, the program has expanded. The Holyoke, Westfield and West Springfield clubs each field one team, and the Chicopee and Springfield Boys and Girls Clubs each field two more. Springfield’s Duggan Middle School is also setting up a team.
Most of the players are boys, but girls are welcome, and a handful play on different teams, managers said.
State Police, members of the Hampden Sheriff’s Department, and police officers from the five participating towns volunteer as coaches, scoreboard operators, and referees. Some simply enjoy the games and hope to become mentors for young people.
They will not be alone. Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni is a strong supporter of the program, and sports management students from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and criminal justice majors from Elms College also volunteer.
Sullivan, who heads the state police’s Cold Case division, told the players he majored in sports management in college and ended up in law enforcement. He encouraged middle schoolers to talk to students to learn more about future opportunities.
“It’s about developing teamwork, teamwork and relationships. It’s also about getting better,” Chicopee Police Chief Patrick Major said as he welcomed the players for Game 1.
He and Sullivan reminded the students of the importance of teamwork, following the rules and sportsmanship. Sullivan told the crowd that if they had a problem they should talk to him, encouraging the crowd to let the players, the coach of coaches and the referees play ref. And then there was the reminder: have fun.
“I like it. I think it will help me develop my skills,” said Jace Wayte, a seventh-grader who competes on Team Chicopee. is good.”
Members of the Boys and Girls Club of Holyoke play basketball all the time indoors and outdoors when the weather permits, but club president Eileen Cavanaugh said it was a new opportunity.
On the one hand, it allows its members to travel to other clubs and meet players from other communities. That hasn’t been possible for the past two years because of the pandemic, she said.
“For kids, it’s so important to be exposed to law enforcement and get to know the students,” Cavanaugh said.
It also keeps children busy and prevents them from engaging in risky behaviors they could be exposed to if they don’t have a positive outlet, she added.
There will be four first division games in the league. In the first match, the Holyoke students won, but not before the Westfield students demonstrated good passing skills on the pitch.
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Massachusetts State Police Unity Basketball League begins play at Chicopee Boys and Girls Club
Mayor John L. Vieau shared that he was a “club kid” himself growing up. As he got older, he also worked as a coach and counselor at the Boys and Girls Club while in high school and college.
“Basketball is one of my favorite sports,” Vieau said. “I hope you like it.”
Saluting the Chicopee police as well as the state police for starting the program, Vieau told the young players, “Police departments are here to help. They are your friends. Don’t be afraid to call them.”