Youth sports set athletes up for success
For many seniors at Newbury Park High School [NPHS], softball has been able to bring them together, helping them create life-long memories, lessons and friendships they can cherish forever. Along with the seniors, their coach has fostered support and guided them from their first years playing softball to their final high school season.
For the past seven years, Shawn Richardson, varsity softball coach, has shared his insights and tactics for the girls’ softball program. Shawn Richardson started coaching softball when his daughter Riley and her friends began playing. Having started coaching his daughter and her friends at a young age, Shawn Richardson has watched and helped develop each of the players while creating endless memories at the same time. “There are so many great memories from what will ultimately be 13 years of being out on the field with Riley! I remember her first game in 6U […] It’s been really enjoyable to just watch her play from the best seat on the field,” Shawn Richardson said.
Inspired by her dad, Rylie Richardson, senior, decided to play softball after watching baseball with her dad when she was young. Growing up playing softball has not only allowed Rylie Richardson to meet so many people and make new friends, but it has also taught her lessons that have significantly impacted her. “I think growing up playing sports has […] taught me that life knocks you down and you have to get back up. If you make a mistake, it’s okay and you need to keep pushing forward,” Rylie Richardson said.
Starting softball when she was 5 years old, Maya Garza, senior, feels that her life has been greatly impacted by playing softball growing up. Garza has been able to build time management skills by starting to play sports so young. Garza’s experiences have influenced her to persuade others to start playing sports in Newbury Park from younger ages. “Kids should start sports when they are young because sports teach such important life lessons and they might really fall in love with the sport,” Garza said.
Getting involved in sports from a young age in the Newbury Park Community allows student-athletes the opportunity to meet new people. From the coaching perspective, Shawn Richardson has not only been able to coach the girls from the beginning of their childhoods, but also watch as they transition to play in college. “I’ve watched so many great kids come up through Newbury Park Girls Softball [NPGS], both older and younger than Riley, that when the opportunity presented itself to coach at the high school level, I had to take advantage of it. I love the support of the community and a lot of the local businesses. It’s home to me, so I’m happy to be able to coach here,” Shawn Richardson said.
