Experts say the best way to develop an exercise habit is to find something fun to do. Thanks to Mike Jamil, adults in the Batavia area can have fun getting exercise in the New Batavia Softball League.
It all started when Mr. Jamil started organizing pick-up games, which grew into 43 friends forming a four-team men’s league, which soon grew a co-ed league, turned into a 10-team league last fall and added even more teams this summer. This season, 16 teams play the Wednesday and Thursday leagues, a six-team league plays on Mondays and another 16 teams are getting ready to play in a fall season.
“I’m shocked it blazed up like this,” Mr. Jamil said, “but it’s competition; people like having something to do.”
Giving people “something to do” is exactly what health experts have been trying to do. What Mr. Jamil is offering is something that the experts have not — playing softball is a lot more fun than running on a treadmill. The best exercise is the one people enjoy doing.
The new Batavia Softball League is definitely good for those who play. It’s also good for those who aren’t in the league but want to use city parks. Mr. Jamil has become an advocate for making the parks more user friendly. He appeared before City Council recently to tell city officials about slanted hoops, torn nets and rusted backboards. He also asked for extended hours of lighting at Kibbe Park, after talking with neighbors who didn’t voice any objections to keeping the lights on past 10 p.m.
“My responsibility is to my people,” he said. “I fight hard for them.” But he’s fighting for more than the men and women who come out to pitch and hit and run bases. He’s also fighting for the opportunity for people to enjoy healthy recreation in a social atmosphere. And he’s fighting for city parks, so others can enjoy playing basketball, hockey or other sports.
Being “commissioner” of the New Batavia Softball League is a big job — the league has grown into a three-day, three-season program that regularly fills Kibbe Park and a field at Williams Park. The job includes lobbying for field upkeep, managing logistics and budgets, and even managing player egos. Mr. Jamil appears to be up to the challenge. And the program is poised to grow again, with pick-up games forming on non-game days.
There obviously was a need and desire for a program like this, and Mr. Jamil had the initiative to nudge it into being. There’s a little more fun in Batavia these days as a result.
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from myhealtyze http://www.myhealtyze.tk/fighting-for-fun-fitness-exercise-enjoyable-with-citys-softball-league-the-daily-news-online/
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