Amateur Sports

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, domestic violence accounts for 15 percent of all violent crime in the United States. Incidents can be found in most, if not all, communities across the country. […]

Growing up in South Philadelphia, Larry Del Spechio spent a lot of time around bocce courts. He hardly played, though. “When we were young, we couldn’t play because the old guys didn’t want you to,” […]

The youths of Philadelphia are growing up in dangerous times. The city’s 2013 Youth Violence Prevention Plan states that, “Over the past six years, 5,051 young Philadelphians ages 14 to 24 have been shot or killed.” The […]

Jason Helmer’s passion for martial arts came from an unusual place. “I was in high school working and one of the mailmen in the neighborhood mentioned karate,” Helmer said. “I was a big Steven Seagal […]

Joe Messina loves the art of pitching. Involved in baseball in South Philadelphia for the past quarter-century, Messina has been an assistant coach for the Neumann-Goretti High School baseball team for the past 11 years. […]

Anthony Spadaccini spent countless hours as a kid at Barry Playground. Whether it was playing basketball, baseball or football, Barry was a second home for Spadaccini. That still holds true today, as Spadaccini, 46, is […]

For David Gavigan, baseball never ends. Traditionally a spring sport for most high schools and colleges, many neighborhood youth leagues have extended the season into the fall. But bats are generally silent for the rest of the […]

From growing up on South Eighth Street to teaching tennis at Markward Playground, South Philadelphia Tennis Association (SPTA) President Bryan Hughes has been giving back to the community he calls home. Urging people of all ages to […]