The Camden Health and Athletic Association (CHAA) hosted a free baseball and softball “Skills and Drills” clinic for Camden children in partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies Jr. RBI and RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Leagues.
More than 80 children participated in the clinic, which offered boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 16 the opportunity to learn more about the sport and practice fundamentals. The clinic, held at the Rutgers Camden gymnasium, featured four play stations including base running, infield drills, outfield drills, and hitting. Attendees received professional tips from special guest Mickey Morandini, former All-Star second baseman and coach, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
“The Camden Health and Athletic Association is committed to ensuring that all children have the opportunity to be part of a team and our free Skills and Drills clinics are great opportunities to get into the game,” said Susan Bass Levin, President and CEO of The Cooper Foundation, a founding member of CHAA. “We are thrilled that the Phillies joined us and we look forward to future partnerships.”
In addition to practicing skills, the Phillies Jr. RBI employs a noncompetitive environment where children learn that winning is not the most important aspect of the game. Instead, they are encouraged to learn the rules, use proper techniques, and to have fun while being a good teammate.
“We were excited to work with CHAA to bring the Phillies RBI program to the children of Camden,” said Jon Joaquin, Director of Youth Baseball Development for the Philadelphia Phillies. “This clinic gave us the opportunity to provide physical instruction and positive motivation to kids before they get out on the field.”
The CHAA partners with youth athletic organizations in Camden to expand access to sports programs for young residents. At the clinic, CHAA assisted with registration for the upcoming baseball, softball, and tee-ball season with the Centerville Simbas, CYAA, Cramer Hill, Newton Creek, North Camden, and Whitman Park programs.
“Seeing kids have the opportunity to try something new and improve their skills is what it’s all about,” stated Al Dyer, Executive Athletic Director of CHAA. “I’m proud that CHAA can provide these opportunities for young athletes in Camden.”
The CHAA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding Camden’s youth sports programs and health initiatives in Camden. The Association launched in June 2016 with a $1 million initial investment by The Cooper Foundation of Cooper University Health Care, the Norcross Foundation, and AmeriHealth New Jersey.
The Phillies RBI program began in 1993 as a part of Major League Baseball’s international RBI campaign, which today encompasses more than 200 cities and as many as 120,000 male and female players a year. There are more than 5,000 children in more than 20 locations in Philadelphia, southern New Jersey, and Delaware participating in the Phillies RBI leagues. The Phillies Jr. RBI league program is sponsored by Citizens Bank and the Phillies RBI program is sponsored by Turkey Hill Dairy and Nike.
Boys and girls, between the ages of 5 and 16, participated in warm-up drills before the skills clinic.
Michael H. Goodman, MD, Chairman and Chief of Cooper’s Department of Pediatrics, and Mickey Morandini, former All-Star second baseman and coach, who played for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Attendees practiced at four play stations including hitting, base running, and infield and outfield drills.