Welcome to Fire Engineering’s inaugural “Between The Lines,” a monthly Web feature that will discuss the world of fire department-related sports and their positive impact on the fire service.
Over the years, much has been discussed in the pages of our magazine and on our Web site, in the classrooms of FDIC, and in firehouses across the country on the subject of member camaraderie and its effects on a department. Positive teamwork has always been essential to a department’s success, whether it takes place inside the walls of the firehouse meeting room or inside the walls of an involved fire building. Upper management, and members themselves, are constantly looking to bring staff together in ways that don’t necessarily involve burning structures, ladder bailouts, or vehicle extrications. In the predominantly male environment that is the fire station, testosterone can run high, and the need for physical activity and competition unrelated to the job is paramount for keeping up the positivity of an active social environment and, conversely, to help keep it from slipping into monotony.
Easily the best and most communally fun way to bring some department members together is through organized sports teams. Not only do sports teams offer an opportunity for members and management alike to join together for a common cause (crushing an opponent), but participation can also improve such vital firefighter requirements as physical fitness, hand-eye coordination and, at times, critical decision making.
Firefighting can be a strenuous, physically taxing profession. However, there is also a lot of down time, where cooking, washing apparatus, and watching television are the norm. Individuals who are used to being active are many times relegated to simply playing the waiting game, for the betterment of their customers but also for the worse for their bodies. With this in mind, getting members to join a department sports team sounds like a no-brainer. With this spare time, you can begin devising ways to bring your team together. The two main obstacles to overcome when attempting to organize a department sports team are the same as with any other department project—money and leadership.
Most likely, there is no budget from the town set aside for such ventures and, in these tight economic times, asking members to pony up the dough for what amounts to an extracurricular activity can be difficult. For sports such as softball or hockey (which is easily the most expensive sport to play), a simple fundraiser or raffle can at least raise part of the cash that is needed for team expenses, possible league fees, and equipment. You can form teams for other sports, such as bowling or basketball, at a minimum of cost because they require little money for equipment.
If you have thoughts about forming a sports team for your department, take the reins yourself; do not wait for someone to do it for you. Running any team in any capacity requires more than simply telling the interested parties to show up at a designated spot at a designated time. You must contact your local municipality to locate and reserve a field, rink, or court to use for games. Fees for this vary, depending on the town and availability; electricity costs for lighting the field or rink may also factor into the final tally. Some towns also require a permit to allow for use of the fields and facilities. Considering the respect that the fire department usually has from a township, you may receive your first choice of field. You must also do research on the surrounding areas to see which departments already have teams and to which leagues they belong.
One issue that you should not have when forming a sports team, finances notwithstanding, is player recruitment. Becoming a firefighter is a natural extension to being a former athlete. Each firehouse across the United States should have, at the very least, several members who have participated in amateur athletics, be it in high school, college, or summer leagues. These members, if they are not already part of another team, may crave the chance to step out onto the field of sport once again to prove that they have not lost a step or their competitive spark.
One department, the Brentwood (TN) Fire Department, is lucky enough to have former a pro athlete, former Tennessee Titan Tight End Erron Kinney, on its staff. Kinney, who is also a Tennessee State fire commissioner, says, “Emergency service is a very dynamic and demanding field. Our job creates serious psychological and physical stress. Team sports are a great way to diffuse stress in a constructive way, provide extra motivation for emergency service workers to stay fit, and develop cohesiveness among members, which in turn enhances job performance by making the company more efficient and effective at completing assigned tasks.”
Once you have figured out the costs and know which members are interested, calculate a team fee; be up front with the members about it. Make sure they know the time and effort you put into organizing the team as well as the utilities involved. Finally, do not let anyone who has not paid the team fee play; it is an insult to the members who paid.
Remember, an organized, winning team can reap even greater rewards than simply strengthening member solidarity; there is also the opportunity for your team to travel to and participate in high stakes regional and national tournaments. These tournaments offer better competition, nicer fields, and a more official and organized setting. Pick-up games are great, but when the level of competition rises, so do the intensity and, ultimately, the fun.
I invite you all to offer your input and insight to this column by sending us articles relating to your own experiences, opinions, and advice on all things sports and their place in the fire service. Please send your articles and videos to derekr@pennwell.com.
In our next column, we will move to the diamond to focus on the most common fire department sport—softball—which will include tips for team organization, running practices, individual preparation, and coaching. See you on the field!
Derek Rosenfeld is an associate editor for Fire Engineering. He is beginning his fifth season as the assistant baseball coach at Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey. He is also an infielder for the semipro North Haledon (NJ) Reds. During the mid-90s, Rosenfeld was a three-year starter at second base for the Ramapo College baseball team in Mahwah, New Jersey, where he earned all-New Jersey Athletic Conference honors and was a two-time New Jersey Collegiate Baseball Association (NJCBA) all-star selection. He was named MVP of the 1997 NJCBA All-Star Game.
