With a dream to bridge the gap between younger athletes and high school softball players, Colonie's new softball coach, Kelly Barkevich, has introduced an innovative initiative called the “Big Sis / Lil Sis” Program. Each Colonie Varsity softball player is paired with a younger athlete between first and sixth grades, fostering mentorship, connection, and a shared passion for softball.
Barkevich, who is coaching her inaugural season at Colonie, shared her insights on the program during a recent Q&A session.
Q&A
Q: What inspired you to start the “Big Sis / Lil Sis” Program?
Barkevich: "I've always believed in the power of mentorship and community within sports. When I took on the role of head coach here at Colonie, I saw an opportunity to create something special that not only benefits our players but also nurtures the next generation of softball enthusiasts. I found the idea behind our program from a strong high school softball program out of Alabama and immediately wanted to try and develop it here. The idea of fostering connections between older and younger players to share experiences and skills felt like a natural fit."
Q: What are you looking forward to the most this season with the implementation of this program?
Barkevich: "I'm most excited to witness the bonds that form between our players and their 'little sisters.' Beyond just the game, I hope to see genuine relationships develop and a sense of responsibility and leadership instilled in our high school athletes. Watching these bonds grow and positively impact both sets of players will be incredibly rewarding."
Q: How do you envision the Little Sister Program evolving over the coming seasons?
Barkevich: “I’ve been so pleased with the turnout and support we’ve had in our inaugural season rolling out the program. Currently, we have 24 young athletes between grades 1-6, signed up as “Little Sisters”. I hope that it becomes a staple in the Colonie Softball program, continues to expand and grow each year, and we continue to foster this strong connection between our high school athletes and our Colonie youth players.
Q: Can you share any specific anecdotes or experiences that have highlighted the impact of mentorship within the program so far?
Barkevich: “Even though it’s only been a few months of us starting up this program, there have been so many highlights and positive experiences that I can name already. One highlight was when our team participated and was honored at the South Colonie Girls Softball Opening Ceremonies. The amount of compliments and positive feedback that people shared with us about the program was unbelievable. Additionally, one of the best comments I received was a quote from a parent when signing up their daughter, “My daughter has always dreamed of having an older sister, so she is extremely excited about this new program!”. That meant the world to the team when I shared that with them.
Q: What measures are in place to ensure that both the older players and their younger counterparts benefit mutually from this initiative?
Barkevich: “To help this program be mutually beneficial for both our youth players and our Varsity athletes, when families signed their daughters up each girl was asked to complete a “Lil Sister Profile”. This helped us strategically pair our “Lil Sisters” to a “Big Sister” who had similar interests and they could create strong connections with. Some additional components of the program have included our Varsity players creating small goody bags for their “Lil Sisters” and having them come to specific Varsity games for “Big Sis / Lil Sis Nights”. Those have been amazing nights for both our older and younger players.
Q: How do you plan to integrate the Little Sister Program into the broader team culture and dynamics?
Barkevich: “One of my biggest goals when I took over the program was to build a strong culture from top to bottom. During the winter, this began when we held our Winter Open Gyms for all players in grades 7-12 altogether in the same sessions. It was amazing to see how our upperclassmen began bonding with our younger/newer players by bonding with them and assisting with instruction. This ideal of supporting everyone in and out of the program has been a huge part of developing the culture we are looking to create at Colonie Softball. Being able to connect deeper outside of our direct program at Colonie, into the larger youth development, has been a huge component of expanding our culture and making Colonie Softball a program all young athletes want to be a part of.
Q: Beyond softball skills, what other values or life lessons do you hope the Little Sister Program instills in both sets of players?
Barkevich: “Overall, I want our Varsity athletes to continue to foster their desire to give back to the community and those that helped them get to where they are today. In an athlete’s journey, there are so many stakeholders that invest in their development and it is so important for them to acknowledge those that have helped them be successful. Engaging in the “Big Sis / Lil Sis” Program helps deepen this life lesson for our older athletes and has helped instill this in their core values.
Q: Are there any specific events or activities planned throughout the season to foster interaction and bonding between the older and younger players?
Barkevich: “During our 2024 season we have multiple different bonding experiences between our “Big Sisters” and their “Lil Sisters”. Our first event was held during our Varsity’s home game vs Averill Park. The younger players were invited to attend the game, cheer on the team, and then afterwards were invited out on the field to meet who they were paired up with. The older players also made little goody bags that they were able to give to their younger player(s). After this successful event, the “Little Sisters” were invited to the Varsity team’s home game vs. Schenectady. After that game, the paired players joined up in a full field relay race that came down to the wire! Another experience that led to one of the best bonding experiences was when our team was honored at the South Colonie Girls Softball League’s Opening Ceremonies! This was such a special event and we can’t thank the league enough for letting us be such active participants. During this event, our team was able to participate in fun stations with players across the program, which was a really fun experience. The best part of all, was that many of our players were able to join in and support the coaches of their “Little Sisters’” teams! That was amazing! To summarize, there have been so many amazing bonding experiences so far this season, and many more to come in the rest of the 2024 season.
Q: Lastly, how do you plan to measure the effectiveness and impact of the program as it progresses?
Barkevich: “At this point, the amount of positive feedback our players and coaches have received, from administration, the South Colonie Girls Softball League, parents, and our Varsity players has shown how mutually beneficial this program has been to to both our Varsity team and the youth players that are participating. It has helped our program grow with much of our 2024 season still left to go and it has hopefully helped grow the love of softball deeper in our youth players. At the end of the season, I will be sending out a “reflection survey” to gauge the effectiveness of the program, what the best aspects were of it, and what are some areas we can grow for next year. We hope this can be something our program can continue long into the future!
Photo Credit: Emmali Lanfear; EISS Photography.
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