SOUTHWICK – A parent involved in Southwick sports spoke to the school committee on Tuesday about his newly-formed organization. Joe Hough, the head coach for the softball team at Southwick Regional School, started the Southwick Sports and Family Network in December 2017.
A non-profit organization, the Southwick Sports and Family Network is comprised of parents, current and former coaches, members of the Southwick Recreation Center, high school students, and other areas. Their mission is to help organizations in town that are involved in sports and the community aspects that come with it.
Joe Hough of the Southwick Sports and Family Network spoke to the school committee on Tuesday night. (Photo courtesy of Greg Fitzpatrick)
According to Hough, the network already has a number of sponsors and partnerships. The list includes the Southwick Rec Center, Player’s Edge, Batter’s Box, Tucker’s Restaurant, Team J Training, and NWS Elite. When describing it to the school committee, Hough noted that if a local business wants to make a donation to a school in the district, they can send it to Hough and his members. Then, they’ll bring the donation to the school so they don’t have to directly deal with it.
“We would kind of be that place in the middle,” said Hough. “Our business model is to try and work together.”
The Southwick Sports and Family Network is also looking to offer summer camps and wants to work with high school coaches and players. Hough also noted that they have started a weight training program at the Southwick Regional School called “SouthWicked Strong.” The program involves a personal trainer that teaches the teenagers how to properly lift weights and use machines.
In an effort to create a strong partnership with the high school sports programs, the Sports and Family Network is interested in working with the sports teams and having each team do one community service project a year.
Since Hough wants to have a future and growing relationship with the schools, he was looking for the school committee’s blessing to work with programs in the school district.
School committee member Amy Stack was intrigued by what Hough had to say about his organization.
“I think this is great,” said Stack.
The school committee then agreed that they would have this topic be a major focus for their policy committee in the near future.
