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In the ring, an intensely focused young man with boxing gloves and padded headgear squares up against his coach, practicing combinations, bobbing and weaving. On the mats next to the ring, a girl with long braids pummels Deputy Arthur McSorley’s belly pad as he retreats. Nearby, other kids jump rope, ride a stationary bike, or lift weights. Many of these kids at the Pinellas PAL boxing program come from economically underserved areas of Lealman and nearby neighborhoods. PAL gives them a safe place to go after school that includes tutoring, fun activities, snacks, sports, and the kind of mentoring and support that can make a huge difference in their lives.
“Boxing is like chess under stress,” says Coach Del Refai. “You have to learn to think several steps ahead, and whoever can think ahead the most is going to win.” It’s a lesson that follows these kids outside of the ring. “Learning to stay calm and think under duress at that age is a huge advantage for them. Your body is under stress but your breathing and your mind have to stay calm.” Self-confidence, impulse control, and good decision making can be challenging for young people to master, but boxing gives them lessons that can translate into their lives.
Deputy McSorley has worked in Lealman on and off for 20 years, and was familiar with PAL boxing. When he came there as a Community Policing Deputy he was excited to be able to work with the boxing program he remembered. But there were some major obstacles – they’d lost their coach, and then Covid had put the whole program on hold. When he arrived, the boxing space was being used for storage. Once they had the space put together, the search for the perfect coach began. They needed just the right personality, someone who the kids could relate to and who they would listen to, someone who could provide the kind of structured support and positive reinforcement they need. When Randi Meyer joined PAL as the executive director, she had the perfect candidate in mind.
“I first met Randi 10 or 12 years ago at a gym I used to train out of,” Refai said. “She called and told me about the program and asked if I wanted to check it out.” He did, and found he was enthusiastically behind PAL’s mission. Now he runs the PAL boxing program four days a week. On Monday through Wednesday they have structured classes, and Thursday is open gym. He also incorporates strength training and weightlifting in the program. It’s not just for kids in the PAL after school program – Any neighborhood kid between 11 and 18 can participate. There is a $25 registration fee, but after that it is free for the whole year. PAL boxing is primarily funded by Clearwater for Youth.
They’ve seen huge changes in the kids they work with. Some of the changes are physical – a kid who couldn’t do a single pushup can now do 20 – but the most important changes are in mindset and behavior. “Most of your troubled kids, when they get in an environment like this, with positive reinforcement but rules and structure, you can see them change,” Deputy McSorley said. “I could see the changes in one kid in just five or six weeks.” The young man would get in trouble in school, and even have conflicts at the PAL after school program. But as soon as he set foot in the gym all that changed. “He gets in here and he leaves that guy at the door. He focuses and he works.”
Parents don’t always bring their kids to the boxing program for the right reasons. “Some parents drop their kids off and say they want them to get their anger out,” Refai said. “But we’re not in here being angry and hitting things. The angry fighter is the one who is going to lose.” The kids soon learn what the program is all about. “We bring the new kids in and say listen, this is a safe space where everyone is supported and we’re going to have fun. Whatever is going on out there will still be there when you’re done. Just leave it out there. In here, for three hours, we’re in a different world. Be whoever you want to be – let’s be the best version of ourselves, and be supportive of each other.”
Every kid is welcome at PAL boxing. “We have a handful of girls who train, and I’m always trying to get more girls interested,” Refai said. He knows a lot of fighters and has a lot of training partners, so he sometimes brings in female fighters to help out in the class or spar in front of the kids. “I want them to see different faces, different shapes and sizes.” When kids see people who look like them doing things they love, it gives them confidence that they can shine in that arena too.
Refai has black belts in karate and kickboxing, and his ring fights incorporated Muay Thai and kickboxing. Deputy McSorley started in karate, wrestled in high school and the Navy, and then turned to jiu-jitsu and MMA. He was inspired to take up boxing when he met a phenomenal boxer at his gym. “I had never really appreciated pure boxing until I got to train with that guy. It forces you to sharpen your hands, because your distance, your angle, and your timing become so much more important.” Together, Refai and Deputy McSorley teach the kids boxing and kickboxing. They just put in some new mats that will let them add sweeps and falls to the mix.
The boxing program isn’t teaching kids to be violent – quite the contrary. It makes them less likely to be bullied, but also teaches them the respect, discipline, and self-control that make sure they won’t inappropriately use any of the boxing skills they’re practicing. Kids who learn good emotional regulation and have the improved self-esteem that comes from training with the right coaches are less likely to get into trouble.
“This is one of the best programs I’ve seen to actually help the kids who need help and guidance,” said Deputy McSorley. “This teaches them so much more than how to not get beat up.”
You can help support Pinellas PAL’s boxing program at their annual PAL Breakfast (see story below) or by selecting the “Donate” tab on their website.
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