Photo By Chuck Cannon | Post and unit level softball for both men and women is offered by the Fort Polk...... read more read more
FORT POLK, La. — For Soldiers, civilians and Family members who are athletic minded and enjoy the thrill of competition or testing themselves against other sports types, a visit to the Fort Polk Installation Sports Office should be their first stop.
Sean McCroary is the sports program manager and said his office has one mission: Keep the Fort Polk community involved in athletic activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
“We offer the unit sports program to Soldiers and intramural sports to Soldiers and civilians, including Family members, retirees, Department of the Army civilians and contractors who are eligible to participate in Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation activities and are age 18 and older,” McCroary said.
The Installation Sports Office falls under the purview of the Fort Polk Directorate of Family Morale, Welfare and Recreation. McCroary said the program encourages participation in an action-packed competitive sports program.
“We try to offer a wide range of activities,” McCroary said. “We put these activities on as a way to keep members of the Fort Polk community occupied in a competitive, healthy way.”
There are five primary leagues the office oversees: Basketball, softball, flag football, soccer and volleyball. The basketball season concluded March 14.
“Softball season is kicking off April 10,” McCroary said. “In addition to softball, we have other team and individual sports. We support the Fort Polk Army Ten Miler team. We held our first qualifier March 9 and will host the second qualifier April 6.”
McCroary said his office realizes that not all athletes want to participate in team sports.
“We try to touch most areas — whether they are team events, individual events or small team events, such as partner activities,” he said. “We even have a bowling league.”
Access to DFMWR facilities, such as Strike Zone Bowling Center, allows the office to host events that it wouldn’t be able to do on its own, McCroary said.
“We have a golf scramble that we’ve scheduled for April or May,” he said. “We’re still working on the details, but we can have a golf tournament because Fort Polk has Warrior Hills Golf Course.”
McCroary said his office is looking to team up with Alligator Lake for a new event: Frisbee golf.
“They (Alligator Lake) just installed Frisbee golf baskets, so we’ll try to do something there once they are fully installed,” he said. “We want to try to schedule a little something for everyone.”
Another area Fort Polk Soldiers might be interested in is the role the Installation Sports Office plays for those who want to participate at the Army level in sports.
“A lot of people don’t know that the local installation sports office is the starting part for those who are interested in participating in the All-Army Sports Program,” McCroary said. “That’s a program that’s not well known, but it offers athletes the chance to compete against those from other services in sports such as softball, basketball, football and others.”
McCroary said Soldiers can apply to be part of an All-Army sports team.
“It’s a long process and starts at the installation sports level,” he said. “We’ve had Soldiers recently who participated in All-Army sports such as basketball and boxing. Soldiers apply with the recommendation of the installation sports office.”
For Soldiers who want to try their softball skills against tough competition before taking a stab at the Army level, McCroary said Fort Polk will field a post-level softball team this season.
“Tryouts are slated for Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Soldier Athletic Complex,” he said. “It will be the first of two tryouts for the Fort Polk softball team and is open to active-duty Soldiers stationed at Fort Polk.”
McCroary said there are athletic events slated throughout the year, and includes the following activities scheduled through April:
• Spring soccer tournament, Tuesday, 6 p.m. Soldiers Sports Complex
• Ultimate Frisbee tournament, April 2, 6 p.m., Soldiers Athletic Complex
• Army Ten Miler qualifier No. 2, April 6, 6:30 a.m., Bayne-Jones Army Community Hospital trail
• Company-level softball season, begins April 10, 6 p.m., Soldiers Sports Complex
• Kickball tournament, April 24, 6 p.m., Soldiers Sports Complex
“We want to do our best to provide Soldiers, retirees, DA civilians and their Families as many opportunities as possible to be involved in healthy, sports activities,” McCroary said.
For more information contact the Fort Polk Installation Sports Office at 531-2056 or email sean.p.mccroary.naf@mail.mil.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2018 16:20 |
| Story ID: | 270456 |
| Location: | FORT POLK, LOUISIANA, US |
| Web Views: | 27 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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