Play softball

MAYOR MENINO talked a good game about the need to reinvigorate youth athletics during his State of the City address Tuesday, including a paean to the "true value of sport." But middle and high school sports in Boston are badly undervalued and need a major boost at City Hall.

Paul Wetzel, spokesman for the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association, says a typical school department spends from 1 to 3 percent of its operating budget on athletic programs. Boston, however, spends just $2.8 million of its $675 million School Department operating budget on sports -- less than one-half of 1 percent. That would help explain a 1997 Northeastern University finding that only about 35 percent of Boston youths play sports regularly, about half the rate in the nearby suburbs.

Kenneth Still, the recently appointed athletic director for the Boston schools, is making strong pitches for the creation of a girls' softball league for the city's middle schools and a coed flag football league for the same age group. The proposals fell flat, however, in a recent meeting with School Department officials. Instead, says Still, the School Department is entertaining the creation of two lacrosse teams -- one for boys, one for girls -- to represent the entire city.

Lacrosse is an exciting game. But it would serve only 36 high school players and require about $70,000 to field, equip, and coach the two teams. William Fitzgerald, the athletic department's equipment manager, estimates that he could create 18 softball teams serving 270 girls for $120,000.

This shouldn't be a hard choice for the School Department. A middle school softball league could begin to address adolescent obesity problems and provide positive activities in the afternoon. Equipment is already available due to donations from the Cal Ripken Foundation. It is just the kind of program that Menino seemed to be touting in his State of the City address. What is the holdup?

The Interscholastic Athletic Association's Wetzel voices fear that the gulf is growing between athletic offerings in the city and suburbs. In suburban towns, he says, year-round sports programs operated privately supplement the athletic offerings at schools. And school sports boosters proliferate in the suburbs. The Menino administration needs to address that issue with more and better athletic programs in the city's community centers. To do that, he will need generous support from local businesses and universities.

There are exceptional sports programs in Boston's schools, such as football in East Boston and basketball in Charlestown. But many others suffer from lack of enthusiasm and funds. Menino is eager to prove he is fit for another term. The transformation of school sports in Boston should serve as a suitable challenge.

There are exceptional sports programs in Boston's schools, such as football in East Boston and basketball in Charlestown. But many others suffer from lack of enthusiasm and funds. Menino is eager to prove he is fit for another term. The transformation of school sports in Boston should serve as a suitable challenge.