Lower Township Recognizes Volunteer of the Month

VILLAS – The Lower Township Recreation Advisory Board recently honored Frank Simonsen as volunteer of the month for his longtime commitment to volunteer coaching for the Lower Township Department of Parks and Recreation.  
For forty years, Frank Simonsen has helped shape a generation of young athletes with his work as a volunteer baseball, basketball and football coach. Simonsen said he was born and raised in Cape May and had played high school football under the late, legendary Cape May High School coach Steven J. Steger.
“Other than my father, he had more of an influence on my life than any other man,” he noted.
While Simonsen didn’t pursue an athletic career, but the importance lessons that he learned on the football field stayed with him.
“I got started in coaching when my children got involved in the recreation athletic programs,” he said.
He noted that having worked as a commercial fisherman and a merchant marine that he was often away from home for long periods of time. Being able to spend time additional time was his kids on a football field or basketball court was something he looked forward to.
When his children stopped participating in basketball and baseball, Simonsen turned all his energy to 7^th and 8^th grade Lower Township Raiders football. He first started with the program in the late 1970s and within a few short years had created a winning formula based on fundamentals and
“I think a lot of youth coaches forget that they aren’t teaching professionals or college-level athletes,” he said. “You are teaching young athletes who are 12 and 13-years old. And at that age, they need repetition, they need the basics and they need to play for the love of the game.”
Simonsen said that highpoints of his coaching career included having won 37 games in a row, going three years undefeated and winning multiple league championships.
In addition to coaching his team how to win, Simonsen was also teaching them lessons that would help them off the field.
“I love the game,” Simonsen said of football. “I think it is something that every young athlete needs. They have to show up, do their job despite getting hurt on occasion and continue to do their best.”
“It teaches responsibility and teamwork,” he added. “It really is the game of life.”
However, the football program wouldn’t have been successful without the help of assistant coaches such as Flash Hughes, Tom Costello and Bill Miller, Mary Calfina and dedicated parents.
“Without their support, none of this would be possible,” he said. “The parents are the most important factor because they are not only guiding their kids but they are driving to practices, games, attending team events and offering endless support.”
While Simonsen joked that he is going to enjoy being able to eat dinner for 8 p.m. during the fall and having his weekends free, he will miss coaching. His legacy, however is continuing through the next generation that are now playing on the Frank Simonsen Field.
The Lower Township Recreation Center is located behind Lower Township Hall in the municipal complex at 2600 Bayshore Road. For more information call 609-886-7880 ext. 0 or visit the township’s website at townshipoflower.org.