Youth Sports Philosophy
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Everyone plays. We do not use tryouts to select the best players, nor do we cut kids from YMCA Super Sports. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team. During the season everyone receives equal practice time and plays at least half of the game.
- Safety first. Although some children may get hurt playing sports, we do all we can to prevent injuries. We modify sports to make it safer for our youngest players. We ensure that our equipment and facilities are safe and we constantly supervise our players.
- Fair play. Fair play is about more than playing by the rules. It’s about showing respect for all who are involved in YMCA Youth Sports. Remember, we’re more interest in developing children’s character through sport than in developing a few highly skilled players.
- Positive competition. We believe competition is a positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept in the right perspective. The “right perspective” means adults make decisions that put the best interests of the children above winning the contest. Learning to compete is important for children, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world is an essential lesson of life.
- Family involvement. YMCA Youth Super Sports encourages parents to be involved appropriately along with their child’s participation in our sport programs. In addition to parents being helpful as volunteer coaches, we encourage them to be at practices and games to support their child’s participation
- Sport for all. YMCA Youth Sports is an inclusive sport program. That means that children who differ in various characteristics are to be included rather than excluded from participation. We ask our adult leaders to support and appreciate the diversity of children in our society and to encourage the children and their parents to do the same.
- Sport for fun. Sport is naturally fun for most children. They love the challenge of mastering the skills of the game, playing with their friends and competing with their peers. YMCA sports are for the kids; let them have fun.
Our youth sports program:
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Emphasize sportsmanship, fair play and teamwork
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Emphasize the values of caring, respect, honesty and responsibility
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Keep winning in perspective
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Enable all participants to play in every game
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Include family involvement
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Include coaches and officials training
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Emphasize safety and age-appropriate progressive skill development
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Emphasize using volunteers as coaches and officials
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Are open to all segments of the community
The YMCA believes that character development is an essential elements of its sports programs:
Caring- To love others and be sensitive to the well being of others involved in the sports program.
Honesty- To have integrity, making sure that one’s actions match one’s values through participation is sports
Respect- To value the worth of every person, including oneself, one’s teammates, opponents and officials
Responsibility- To be accountable for one’s behavior and obligations