The YMCA’s sports continuum works to reduce barriers so all kids can participate and have a place on the team. The Y measures success on personal improvement, not wins and losses. YMCA sports brings fun back into the game while teaching valuable lessons for life.
Sports Camps & Clinics: A stress free environment to introduce kids of all ages to new sports. At this stage, we focus on exploration and getting kids in the healthy habit of moving.
Classes: The best athletes come from multi-sport backgrounds. YMCA classes provide an entry point to build sports literacy through active play for all kids. This stage of the continuum also serves as a place to build desire around trying new sports. Kids develop confidence as they acquire hard and soft sports skills. The YMCA’s approach increases their success when they move to the next stage of game play with sports leagues.
Leagues: Putting positive competition and scored games into play, kids learn the importance of winning, loosing and having respect for their teammates and their opponents. In our leagues, sports coaches help bring out the potential in every child. Sports leagues intentionally start at grade 2 when kids are developmentally ready to maximize team play.
Why a New Model?
Childhood obesity is on the rise. Less than half of children ages 6 – 11 meet the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation for engaging in at least 60 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. Sports activity can address this deficit however nationally; sports participation is down. And with less participation, there’s less movement. The problem affects some groups more than others and most often starts during the grade-school years.
Traditional sports models focus on performance over participation well before kids’ bodies, minds, and interests mature. Kids are either moved up if they perform well or they are moved out if they don’t make the cut. This reduces the number of kids participating in sports as they age and discourages kids from exploring new interests. (youthreport.projectplay.us Aspen Institute)
Kids need a new measure of success focused on personal improvement. The Y creates opportunities to include kids at every age and every stage so all may thrive. The Y’s sports model creates a life-long connection to sports and active lifestyles while reducing access barriers. The Y encourages sports sampling; more options mean more kids will find a sport they enjoy. The Y also recognizes the importance of competition, skill development and self-improvement while using it as an opportunity to build confidence and teach lessons for life.
YMCA Sports Philosophy
YMCA Values: We believe that character is developed in part by the focus on values. This an essential element in all YMCA programming:
- Caring: To be sensitive to the needs and well-being of others.
- Equity: To see and remove structural barriers so that everyone has what they need to thrive.
- Honesty: To tell the truth, have integrity and making sure actions match values in all we do.
- Respect: To value the worth of every person and treat others as they would like to be treated.
- Responsibility: To do the right thing and be accountable for one’s behavior and obligations.
Seven Pillars of YMCA Sports: represents guiding principles found in all Y sports.
Everyone Plays - In Y Sports, there are no tryouts and no one gets cut from teams. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team and all players have the opportunity for equal playing time in games, teaching participants valuable social and teamwork skills and contributing to a healthier community. All players participate throughout practices and games. This keeps players physically active, increases their ability in a sport, develops communication, and, boosts their physical skills.
- Allows all participants the opportunity to feel like part of a team
- Allows all participants the ability to learn the game through playing
- Empowers staff to communicate with coaches to provide the “everyone plays’ environment
Safety First – Safety in Y Sports is a primary concern, and we do all we can to prevent injuries from occurring. Sports are modified and taught at age-appropriate levels, and constant supervision ensures that training levels are gradual and that no unsafe activities occur. To be sure all program areas are safe for participants, medical waivers are collected, facility spaces are inspected to be sure they’re appropriate for the activity, equipment is frequently checked, and risk management plans are put in place from the beginning.
- Provides a safe environment for learning sports and practice and in games
- Ensures that the activities are conducive to the health and wellbeing of all involved
- Coaches and staff reinforce wellness concepts through sports
Character Development – participants work together in a team atmosphere, they learn how to make decision, communicate, work on teambuilding, trust and build character. Youth Sports teaches kids to play by the rules, respect the game, and maintain an attitude of good sportsmanship. Intentionally teaches participants to follow the core values that encompass fair play, which leads to character development in each participant.
- Teaches participants the rules and traditions of the game
- Teaches participants the skills and tactics of the game
- Develops responsibility and decision making skills
Positive Competition – In sports, the pursuit of victory is kept in perspective. Adults make decisions that are always in the best interest of the participants, and the participants are more important than winning the game. Through positive competition participants learn to set individual goals, gain better understanding of winning on and off the playing field, and teach cooperation.
- Teaches participants to win on and off the playing field
- Teaches participants that ‘winning’ does not always refer to the final score
- Helps participants meet individual goals throughout the season, teaching individual positive competition
- Enhances leadership skills
Family Involvement – Parents benefit from participation in Sports as volunteer coaches, officials and time/scorekeepers. Family participation in the programs crates and environment conducive to open communication, volunteer work opportunities, positive role modeling, and relationship building. And when parents attend practices and games, they have the opportunities to become positive role models for the kids.
- Intentionally engages parents and families to participate each season through family events, volunteer coaching, becoming a team parent, scorekeeping and volunteering on a committee
- Engages staff and families to interact through feedback and strong relationship building; builds relationships among peers and between parents and their children
- Allows families, specifically adults, to be positive role models
- Boosts family support, positive family communication, and asset building
Sports for All - Sports are welcoming to all, regardless of race, gender, age, or ability, and teaches participants to respect and appreciate all of their teammates. Y Sports encourages all those who participate – coaches, players, and families – to appreciate diversity.
Sports for Fun – Sports strives to be fun and engaging, helping participants discover the enjoyment of learning and mastering skills, participating with friends, and competing.
- Offer program opportunities to meet various needs, levels, and interests
- Intentionally create an understanding of the needs for all regardless of ability
- Create an atmosphere for building self-esteem in participants
- Create positive experiences for participants and families
