Big Panther/Little Panther Mentoring Program Helps Build Tradition

Traditionally April brings America's favorite past time to baseball and softball diamonds in every New Jersey community, including Cedar Grove. Like every other community administrators of the Cedar Grove Junior Baseball and Softball League (CGJBSL) work diligently twelve months a year, to keep their tradition alive. The lure of non traditional spring sports like soccer and lacrosse have created new challenges for baseball and softball programs nation wide.

In 2014 the softball side of the CGJBSL house has enlisted the help of its more experienced players to help shape the future of their league. Hence the Big Panther/Little Panther Mentoring Program was born. By design the program is very simple but yields a tremendous impact on both teacher and student.

The Big Panthers (Mentors) are made up mostly of players who participate in the more competitive, Travel Softball side of the league. These players however, started out their softball experience as Kindergarteners in the instructional recreation side of the league.

The Little Panthers consist of the youngest and least experienced players in the league. They are all just starting out in the recreation program.

The Big Panthers are each assigned multiple Little Panthers, and are encouraged to communicate with them via E-Mail and text, as much as possible. They share their softball and life experiences, offering up advice and encouragement. In turn, the Little Panthers are encouraged to ask questions and learn all the pros and cons of  softball life.

The response has been simply overwhelming! Both sides have truly engaged in the process and can't wait to get out to the games and see each other play. In the end organizers hope that the interaction will spur new excitement in the sport and bring back some of the days of old.