On the Road Again: Youth Sports in Los Angeles
Introduction
Sport at its core is meant to be a form of self-expression. Whether it is a team or an individual sport, aspects of a person’s personality pervade the manner in which they act in that sport. The performance of sport can grant access to spaces or areas in a city that are typically “closed off” to specific groups of people. “Closed off” refers to the physical closing off of space to people not in that community and the space being uncomfortable. This idea will be expanded upon later in the essay, but for now it is important that it ties into David Harvey’s idea of the right to the city, an idea first coined by Henri Lefebvre in 1968. “The right to the city is far more than the individual liberty to access urban resources: it is a right to change ourselves by changing the city. It is, moreover, a common rather than an individual right since this transformation inevitably depends upon the exercise of a collective power to reshape the processes of urbanization.”[1]
Sport at its core is meant to be a form of self-expression. Whether it is a team or an individual sport, aspects of a person’s personality pervade the manner in which they act in that sport. The performance of sport can grant access to spaces or areas in a city that are typically “closed off” to specific groups of people. “Closed off” refers to the physical closing off of space to people not in that community and the space being uncomfortable. This idea will be expanded upon later in the essay, but for now it is important that it ties into David Harvey’s idea of the right to the city, an idea first coined by Henri Lefebvre in 1968. “The right to the city is far more than the individual liberty to access urban resources: it is a right to change ourselves by changing the city. It is, moreover, a common rather than an individual right since this transformation inevitably depends upon the exercise of a collective power to reshape the processes of urbanization.”[1]
Los Angeles is a sprawling environment that is densely filled with roughly 10,170,292 people.[2] Of that number 29.2%[3] of those people are under the age of 18 meaning that there are about 2,969,725 kids that could participate in youth sports. There isn’t an exact percentage of how many kids participate in youth sports, but there have been studies done that have concluded that in Los Angeles 66% of eighth graders, 61% of tenth graders, and 58% of twelfth graders participate in sports.[4] These are the most recent number as of 2013 in a study done in Los Angeles County Public Schools. I reference this as a perspective for how extremely vast youth sports is in Los Angeles. The material of this paper aims to look at how youth sports in Los Angeles serve as a mechanism to traverse the physical geography and break down the imaginary and not so imaginary boundaries that have been put in place.
There are a couple of key factors that need clarification prior to preceding any further. Any references about Los Angeles in this paper refer to Los Angeles County unless otherwise stated; Los Angeles County currently contains 88 cities. Youth sport will be defined as any sport that is participated in by an individual in high school or anything below in an organized fashion. |
Cognitive Mapping
A great number of people mean a great deal of varying perspectives on the same urban landscape. Cognitive Mapping is “a type of mental representation which serves an individual to acquire, code, store, recall, and decode information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in their everyday or metaphorical spatial environment.”[5] They are visual representation those diverse perspectives. In the 1960’s an Urban Planner, Kevin Lynch, conducted a study where individuals provided their own cognitive map and all of the maps where combined for one complete view of the city. The exact study was done in Los Angeles in 1971.
A great number of people mean a great deal of varying perspectives on the same urban landscape. Cognitive Mapping is “a type of mental representation which serves an individual to acquire, code, store, recall, and decode information about the relative locations and attributes of phenomena in their everyday or metaphorical spatial environment.”[5] They are visual representation those diverse perspectives. In the 1960’s an Urban Planner, Kevin Lynch, conducted a study where individuals provided their own cognitive map and all of the maps where combined for one complete view of the city. The exact study was done in Los Angeles in 1971.
Above there are three images are the cognitive maps for Whites, Hispanics, and Blacks (left to right).[6] It is observed that whites have an extremely detailed map that is also very expansive across various parts of Los Angeles. Hispanics have a much smaller map that is centered on a few key landmarks in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. The map for Blacks is also detailed, but only for the area in which there is direct residence, everything else is vague. Though these maps were done back in the 1970s, the areas where these maps come from remain consistent with the demographics from that time. Youth sport is a way for a child to understand the diversity of urban space earlier. Cognitive access is equally as important as physical access.
Recreation Centers vs. Pay-For-Play
There are two primary types of organized youth sport: “Pay-For-Play” or Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks. “Pay-For-Play” is exactly what it sounds like, an exchange of currency for the privilege to engage in sport; Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks organize leagues for a variety of sports that members of the community can engage for free or a nominal fee. Both forms of organized sport result in extended access; however, that access varies in degree. The Los Angeles County Parks system provides a wide range of access, but it is limited in scope due to the fact that the access is limited to once or twice per year. “Pay-For-Play” grants access to a much wider and more detailed look at Los Angeles. This form takes kids to various parts of Los Angeles County every weekend. Kurt Hocker discuses the difference between the two in the audio clip (click now).[7] Both forms of organized sport are not mutually exclusive to each other and there tends to be overlap in terms of participation.
There are two primary types of organized youth sport: “Pay-For-Play” or Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks. “Pay-For-Play” is exactly what it sounds like, an exchange of currency for the privilege to engage in sport; Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks organize leagues for a variety of sports that members of the community can engage for free or a nominal fee. Both forms of organized sport result in extended access; however, that access varies in degree. The Los Angeles County Parks system provides a wide range of access, but it is limited in scope due to the fact that the access is limited to once or twice per year. “Pay-For-Play” grants access to a much wider and more detailed look at Los Angeles. This form takes kids to various parts of Los Angeles County every weekend. Kurt Hocker discuses the difference between the two in the audio clip (click now).[7] Both forms of organized sport are not mutually exclusive to each other and there tends to be overlap in terms of participation.
Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for 178 parks in Los Angeles.[8] A majority of the parks are categorized as “local parks” or “community regional parks;”[9] both types of parks have organized sport; the size of the facility just differs. Parks act as “growth poles” for accessibility around Los Angeles. This is an idea derived from the “growth pole theory” that states “economic development, or growth, is not uniform over an entire region, but instead takes place around a specific pole.”[10] The community regional parks act as the core pole that then provides access to the surrounding both directly and indirectly. Directly by the kid from outside the community being physically present in the park and indirectly by opening the door for another kid to take up physical space in the park though they are not from that community necessarily, which comes in the form of organized sport. In turn this leads to the creation of secondary growth poles, which in this case would be the local parks. I would argue that access to these local parks is the key to accessing a community that one is an outsider in because it is a more intimate setting. This is true for all kids whether one is from an affluent background or a more impoverished one; the parks acts as links for the youth to come into contact with areas and individuals that would otherwise go unnoticed.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation is responsible for 178 parks in Los Angeles.[8] A majority of the parks are categorized as “local parks” or “community regional parks;”[9] both types of parks have organized sport; the size of the facility just differs. Parks act as “growth poles” for accessibility around Los Angeles. This is an idea derived from the “growth pole theory” that states “economic development, or growth, is not uniform over an entire region, but instead takes place around a specific pole.”[10] The community regional parks act as the core pole that then provides access to the surrounding both directly and indirectly. Directly by the kid from outside the community being physically present in the park and indirectly by opening the door for another kid to take up physical space in the park though they are not from that community necessarily, which comes in the form of organized sport. In turn this leads to the creation of secondary growth poles, which in this case would be the local parks. I would argue that access to these local parks is the key to accessing a community that one is an outsider in because it is a more intimate setting. This is true for all kids whether one is from an affluent background or a more impoverished one; the parks acts as links for the youth to come into contact with areas and individuals that would otherwise go unnoticed.
Rancho Cienega Park is a regional community park that sits in the middle of a number of historically and predominantly Black neighborhoods: Baldwin Hills, View Park, Ladera Heights, Leimert Park, and the Crenshaw District. It is the park that Blake Hocker now plays for. Prior to playing for Rancho Cienega Blake played at Balboa Park on the complete opposite side of Los Angeles (see map). In the interview above Kurt references how accessing the city resource like parks are an excellent way to be granted access. In my youth prior to participating in “Pay-For-Play” sport, my siblings and I played organized sport at Cheviot Hills Park on the Westside of Los Angeles. This was the beginning of my spatial movement around Los Angeles.
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Pay-For-Play
The “Pay-For-Play” system has been developed over time into a giant profit-maximizing machine that allows access to various areas if one can afford it. It is an avenue that is advancing the agenda of the professionalization of youth sport. The reason I argue that this way grants greater access is it doesn’t require you be a city resident or even county resident. As long as you can get to practice and games it doesn’t matter where you come from.
The “Pay-For-Play” system has been developed over time into a giant profit-maximizing machine that allows access to various areas if one can afford it. It is an avenue that is advancing the agenda of the professionalization of youth sport. The reason I argue that this way grants greater access is it doesn’t require you be a city resident or even county resident. As long as you can get to practice and games it doesn’t matter where you come from.
“All white teams can afford it…All black teams can’t"
There is a cross-section of various socioeconomic statuses on the teams. Some people pay because they enjoy the sport and some pay as a means of prosperity later in life, but often times it is a combination of both. “Pay-For-Play” means better competition and better facilities. There is currently a movement to build industrial warehouses strictly for sport. These warehouses act in a similar “growth pole” manner like the parks. Garden Grove, CA has become the center of “Pay-For-Play” basketball. Garden Grove is in Orange County, which is right next to Los Angeles County. There exists The Map Sports Facility a 65,000 square feet of court space.[11] Individual court rentals start at $65 per hour. Rates may vary depending on frequency, number of courts, and length of reservation. This type of cost burden falls on the individuals because they are paying for the opportunity to train at a nice facility. A majority of teams from urban areas rely heavily on outside support for funding for access to this space. In my discussion with Kurt it came down to “All white teams can afford it…All black teams can’t”[12].
“Pay-For-Play” sport has not only allowed for kids to traverse Los Angeles, but also access an additional county. This is a type of access that leads to a continued expansion of outward access that has the potential to become national, an opportunity that the Parks system doesn’t provide
“Pay-For-Play” sport has not only allowed for kids to traverse Los Angeles, but also access an additional county. This is a type of access that leads to a continued expansion of outward access that has the potential to become national, an opportunity that the Parks system doesn’t provide
Access
“Pay-For-Play” and Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks have a point of overlap and it’s that both provide access of other exclusive spaces such as schools. There is an informal recruitment that occurs as a result of access to more of Los Angeles. When a kid is observed to be a good athlete there is a push to grant that kid prolonged access to the community through schools. Coaches at the Parks or “Pay-For-Play” teams have relationships with various schools. It is seen as a benefit for the kid because of the access and also the school because of the kid’s athletic ability. Another example of something similar is, Rancho Cienega Park’s basketball director is also director for Cal Supreme, a “Pay-For-Play” basketball team in Los Angeles. Many of the players that play at Rancho make a transition to play for Cal Supreme.[13] Many areas that have strong high school and/or club teams tend to have a strong Park affiliation.
“Pay-For-Play” and Recreation Centers at Los Angeles County Parks have a point of overlap and it’s that both provide access of other exclusive spaces such as schools. There is an informal recruitment that occurs as a result of access to more of Los Angeles. When a kid is observed to be a good athlete there is a push to grant that kid prolonged access to the community through schools. Coaches at the Parks or “Pay-For-Play” teams have relationships with various schools. It is seen as a benefit for the kid because of the access and also the school because of the kid’s athletic ability. Another example of something similar is, Rancho Cienega Park’s basketball director is also director for Cal Supreme, a “Pay-For-Play” basketball team in Los Angeles. Many of the players that play at Rancho make a transition to play for Cal Supreme.[13] Many areas that have strong high school and/or club teams tend to have a strong Park affiliation.
The physical access to schools, people, or facilities has the power to change a kid's life trajectory. The physical access transitions into cognitive access. Both types of access together open the door to various opportunities that extend well past what is done on and off the field or court.
I had my sister, Kendall Ferguson, draw a cognitive map of Los Angeles to see how it would compare to that of 1971. In the first image her map is much less detailed than the one from 1971, but it covers a wider area of Los Angeles. The second image provides a zoomed in map of “The Valley” (see map with above Balboa). Kendall has been removed from Los Angeles for over a year now. My sister attributed the ability to recall the space to the fact that as a child she spent ample amounts of time training in that area. Kendall frequents "The Valley" because there is a comfortability with the space now. The ability to recall space from memory is a type of access that is equally as important as physical access. Cognitive access renders spaces accessible even when one is physically removed from those spaces.
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My pop warner football team, Westside Bruins, drew kids from all areas of Los Angeles. A cohort was from south Los Angeles, west Los Angeles, and as far as northern Los Angeles in an area known as “The Valley." I live Ladera Heights, a predominantly Black neighborhood, and we practiced regularly in the Pacific Palisades or Brentwood, predominantly white neighborhoods, which expanded my knowledge of the Westside even further. We played our home games in Malibu and our away games all over “The Valley.” The maps next to paragraph illustrate a typical route on a Saturday during my youth and the route taken to and from practice. I crossed various communities that were filled with different people. My commute was about 13 miles for practice and over double that for home games. Traveling at great lengths is not something that is at all uncommon when it comes to accessing "closed off" spaces.
Ultimately, access comes down to spatial movement, an idea I came to understand through the reading of Edward Soja in a piece called “Writing the City Spatially.”[14] Los Angeles is an expansive autopia, but there are very few vehicles (Pun intended) for movement spatially across the landscape. Sport not only serves as a way for spatial movement, but it also served as my way to explore the city I call home. I was able to unlock a potential that other kids did not have access to because of our participation in sport.
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“The development of society is conceivable only in urban life, through the realization of urban society.”
-HENRI LEFEBVRE
Conclusion
In order to understand who has access to the city the city must be understood first. Harvey conveys this message when he says "...[The right to the city] is a right to change ourselves by changing the city." [15] The city itself doesn't recognize race, class, or gender; those are all themes that are projected on to the city by its inhabitants. Sport has the ability to ignore those themes and allow all city inhabitants to realize the full potential of the city. Sport was my vehicle, It was my siblings vehicle and without it Los Angeles would fail to be as beautiful as it is to me.
Sport is my right to the city. It has granted many people and myself access to spaces that weren’t meant for us. Sport was and still is my way of reclaiming the city that is as much mine as anyone else’s. In my youth this wasn’t an understood concept, I played because I wanted to play. However, looking back there was tremendous value in my parents allowing me to be present and take up space in areas outside of my own community.
In order to understand who has access to the city the city must be understood first. Harvey conveys this message when he says "...[The right to the city] is a right to change ourselves by changing the city." [15] The city itself doesn't recognize race, class, or gender; those are all themes that are projected on to the city by its inhabitants. Sport has the ability to ignore those themes and allow all city inhabitants to realize the full potential of the city. Sport was my vehicle, It was my siblings vehicle and without it Los Angeles would fail to be as beautiful as it is to me.
Sport is my right to the city. It has granted many people and myself access to spaces that weren’t meant for us. Sport was and still is my way of reclaiming the city that is as much mine as anyone else’s. In my youth this wasn’t an understood concept, I played because I wanted to play. However, looking back there was tremendous value in my parents allowing me to be present and take up space in areas outside of my own community.
References
[1] The Right to the City David Harvey [2] http://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/SEX255214/06037 [3] Ibid. [4] Ibid. [5] Understanding Ordinary Landscapes Paul Groth & Todd Bressi [6] Ibid. [7] Kurt Hocker Interview |
[8] http://parks.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/dpr/Parks/ [9] Ibid. [10] "Growth Poles Theory" https://people.hofstra.edu/geotrans/eng/ch2en/conc2en/growthpoles.html [11]http://themapsports.com/ [12] Kurt Hocker Interview [13] Ibid. [14] Writing the City Spatially Edward Soja [15] The Right to the City David Harvey |
Image Credits
Isabelle Dillard <https://img1.etsystatic.com/006/0/5604829/il_fullxfull.390893419_5uwd.jpg>
Google Maps
Understanding Ordinary Landscapes Cognitive Maps
Kendall Ferguson Cognitive Maps
Bold Quotes
Kurt Hocker
Henri Lefebvre
Special Thanks to Kurt Hocker for allowing his voice to be used!
Isabelle Dillard <https://img1.etsystatic.com/006/0/5604829/il_fullxfull.390893419_5uwd.jpg>
Google Maps
Understanding Ordinary Landscapes Cognitive Maps
Kendall Ferguson Cognitive Maps
Bold Quotes
Kurt Hocker
Henri Lefebvre
Special Thanks to Kurt Hocker for allowing his voice to be used!