Des Moines Sun

Youth sports organizations in the Des Moines area are finding creative ways to keep their athletes active even while the groups themselves may be facing financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Many organized soccer, baseball and other sports have been suspended, some at least through May 25.

Vision Soccer Academy of Waukee, which serves several central Iowa communities, is among soccer clubs planning to resume activities on Tuesday, May 26, according to its website. In the meantime, its athletes ages three to 19 are provided alternative activities, including postings on Facebook Live, according to its website.

Facebook Live footwork activities known as “Ball and a Wall” are posted on its Facebook page to engage athletes.

“Once again, Ball and a Wall all week with coach Jack and coach Jon. Today is passing off the dribble, so we’ll start off with a little warm-up with passing, a little warm-up with dribbling, and then we’ll incorporate the two,” Jon said in the video posted on April 27 that Jack videotaped.

Vision Soccer Academy’s Executive Director Carlos Acebey told the Des Moines Register that the academy could lose hundreds of thousands of dollars if it were closed through the summer.

Raccoon Valley Little League had already been in the process of conducting a fundraiser, with a goal of $20,000, according to a Feb. 3 posting “We Need Your Help!” on its Facebook page. Raccoon Valley Little League is marking 65 years in the 2020 season as an independent little league.

“Each year Raccoon Valley Little League relies on the generosity of the local community to help fund field improvements and purchase necessary equipment,” the Facebook post said. “As we kick off the 2020 season, we need your help in reaching our annual fundraising goal of $20,000. All of the money raised during this capital campaign will go toward this goal.”

Raccoon Valley Little League posted on April 9 on Facebook that it hopes to start its season after May 11, but beforehand, the league had on an April 6 post encouragement for older kids to work on bunting and for younger children to be taught how to hold the bat and practice swinging.

Vision Soccer Academy of Waukee posted on its Facebook page information about a video on the topic “Dealing with Disappointment” (because of postponements and cancellations due to the coronavirus) with Jack Sacks, executive vice president of business development and philanthropy for Positive Coaching Alliance.

Sacks said in the video that it’s OK for athletes to be disappointed or sad, and that adults, coaches and parents need to allow space for the sadness and disappointment.

“It’s totally OK for our athletes to be disappointed, to be sad,” Sacks said in the video. “This is an opportunity for improvement and growth.”