A CT sports foundation puts kids across the state on the field. ‘This has shaped my future’
When Christian Vick talks about what the James Vick Foundation has accomplished in the past six years, he exudes excitement, passion for his work and, most of all, faith in what girls can accomplish in sports.
The excitement is natural, as there is competition involved. The passion shows in the hours and financial support Vick puts into the foundation. The faith has been proven in the games played and wins seen by foundation-sponsored field hockey and lacrosse teams.
“It’s a kid-driven organization,” Vick said. “They drive everything.”
The foundation, first organized in 2018 and named for Vick’s father, focuses on providing sports experiences in an accessible way through club teams, leagues, clinics and more, Vick said. During the pandemic that meant, for example, the foundation organizing a 2020 lacrosse tournament for girls so they could play safely and not have to give up an entire season, Vick said.
It was an organizational feat that Vick still recounts with a little bit of awe, considering the politicians and medical personnel involved. Perhaps not unexpectedly, Vick counts Anne Worcester of New Haven’s former Connecticut Open tennis tournament fame as his inspiration.
The overall goal of the foundation, according to Vick, is not just to organize one game or one tournament but to be a resource by including scholarships for athletes who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play due to expenses. An example, he said, could be an athlete with multiple siblings who all want to play sports. The foundation supplies coaches and even provides uniforms.
“What we really seek out are families and kids that need the opportunity, everybody is there for a reason,” Vick said. “We’re proving that if sports is accessible then the play is equal.”
Now, the foundation is preparing for its biggest event yet: the 2024 Yale Series Championship starting on Sunday and concluding with a single elimination championship tournament on May 19, Vick said.
“It will be played on Yale’s Johnson Field,” he said “Teams from all over the country are coming to play, we have a massive opportunity. Yale extended the opportunity.
“Our team, the girls aren’t paying any fees for the tournament,” he added.
Among the groups expected at the Yale Series are the HTC Hockey Club from Madison, The AIM Field Hockey Club from Newtown, the CT Elite Field Hockey Club from Stamford, The Competitive Edge Field Hockey Club from Trumbull and The New York Hockey Club from Westchester County, New York.
“It blows my mind that some of the best athletes in the country, some of the most respected sporting directors in America, are partnering with our little foundation,” Vick said. “Hundreds of young women from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey are going to transcend our mission, accessibility to sport, and won’t pay a dime to do it.”
Jillian Lydon, a student at Amity High School in Woodbridge, said the Vick Foundation has meant a lot to her in many ways. Lydon said she “would not be the player that I am now, if it wasn’t for this club.”
“While I have always been passionate about field hockey, the JVF has taken this passion to the next level. Christian and the coaches not only teach the skills of the sport at an elite level but, they also, most importantly, take the time to get to know each and every player personally and build them from the inside out,” Lydon said.
Lydon said the club is “not only about skill but they take a holistic approach to the well-being of each and every player.
“While I have always been a skilled player, I lacked the confidence to perform well, which was taking a serious toll on me. The JVF staff saw this in me and they dedicated their time to focus on building my confidence first and foremost,” Lydon said. “Christian regularly checked in with me and my family, in season and out of season, and went above and beyond to put me in leadership roles to help me develop confidence in myself.
“This has shaped my future as I look forward to continuing to build my confidence and play field hockey at the college level,” she said.
Giada Broccoli, a student at Hamden High School, said she joined the foundation recently and finds it is “a great opportunity for me to continue my field hockey skills outside of the high school season.
“The program itself is very motivating and fun to be a part of. Every practice the coaches as well as the players are very welcoming and helpful,” she said. “This program has improved me so much as a player and has impacted so many other players as well. With this program being free of costs it gives so many girls opportunities to continue their field hockey careers without the stress of having to pay for a club team.”
Broccoli also noted that practices are very organized and she has “learned so many new things from my coaches that have impacted my playing ability. The coaches are always there to give constructive criticism and are there to help when needed. Christian himself has done so much for this program but along with this, also takes time to focus on players individually. Christian has been a huge help with my recruitment process and has guided me through it. Without his help, I would not have been as confident going through this process and he has made it very successful.”
Vick said he is now working with players in another state as well and hopes one day to go national and even international with the foundation and its work providing sports for kids. He hopes to gain philanthropic support to help with funding challenges. He estimates that about $250,000 would allow the foundation to “really make sure we are reaching all the groups that need it.”
About supporting field hockey, Vick smiles and shrugs.
“I didn’t choose field hockey, field hockey chose me,” he said.