A sport, a club: rounders
With a batter, a bowler and a wicket-keeper, rounders is a team sport that combines skill, speed and strategy. Similar to baseball, this sport, which originated in Britain, is played outdoors using a ball, a wooden bat and four wickets. The aim is to eliminate the opposing players and score points by running round the field after hitting the ball.
Founded around twenty years ago, the Golden Stars Flying High association has around twenty members and seven volunteers. Players from Quartier d’Orléans, Sandy Ground and Sint Maarten come together there in a family atmosphere, where Creole and English are spoken side by side. Since 2021, the association’s chair, Kerline Laurent, has been continuing the work started by her mother, the organisation’s founder.
From what age and for whom?
Rounders is “open to children from the age of 6, depending on the child’s ability”, explains Kerline Laurent. Young players are grouped into mixed teams up to the age of 18, after which a second category caters for participants aged 18 to 30. The club also has a women’s team of around fifteen players aged over 50, the oldest of whom has celebrated her 77th birthday. As an inclusive
sport, rounders is open to all. “We can also adapt the game and the pitch for people with physical disabilities,” says the chairwoman.
How do players progress?
Within the club, “everyone progresses at their own pace, but development is built first and foremost as a team,” says Kerline Laurent. Regular practice helps to improve batting, throwing, fielding and positioning. Golden Stars Flying High is now looking to recruit and train new young players to “ensure the next generation is ready to take over”. The club also liaises with teams from Guadeloupe, Dominica and neighbouring islands to organise more matches and raise awareness of the sport.
Club news
In the coming months, the club is planning a trip to Guadeloupe with a mixed team, to enable as many young players as possible to take part. Furthermore, to introduce the sport to as many people as possible, the club once again offered an introduction to rounders this year as part of the ‘Ticket Sport’ scheme for children aged 7 to 16.
Training sessions and equipment
Training sessions take place at the Jean-Louis Vanterpool Stadium. The club meets on Mondays and is hoping to secure a new slot on Fridays, particularly during the summer season. Training timetables for the start of the new school year are yet to be confirmed. Cones, balls and bats are provided by the club. Handcrafted from wood, the bats can be adapted for children or for those who need a lighter model.
Registration and fees
The club offers a comprehensive package costing €120 per year, which includes membership, the compulsory licence and insurance. Another option involves an annual membership fee of €20, followed by a monthly payment of €5. In the event of financial difficulties, the club will endeavour to adjust membership fees on a case-by-case basis. Players taking part in tournaments are provided with an official kit, purchased and then personalised by the club, though the final cost is borne by the participants.
For further information, please call: 06 90 24 21 10 or email: goldenstarsflyinghigh@gmail.com.
