Parks and recreation professionals know the value of recreational youth sports programs, but families can be drawn toward competitive travel programs and many departments are seeing their participation drop. We will highlight several strong, successful youth sports programs committed to the safety and wellbeing of their participants. The organizations featured have all earned the Better Sports for Kids Quality Program Provider designation and have been recognized as Excellence in Youth Sports award winners. We will learn what these youth sports leaders did to make their programs stand out and will be able to take best practices back to their own communities.
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POLL
For your public facilities, what percentage
of youth sports programs are administered
by independent organizations?
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Who offers which programs?
What makes each organization different?
Who offers the “best” programs?
How do families decide what is a quality program?
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1. Written policies and
procedures
2. Volunteer screening
3. Coach training
4. Parent education
5. Accountability
Does your organization
have what it takes?
5 CATEGORIES OF QUALITY
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EARN THE DESIGNATION
• Apply at www.nays.org/quality
• All “Yes”? We verify it.
• Documents are reviewed.
• An official letter, certificate, digital logos and window
clings will be sent to your organization along with a
promotional guide to help you let everyone know that
your programs stands out!
• The designation is valid for a 2-year period
(then a renewal process will extend it for another cycle)
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EXCELLENCE IN YOUTH SPORTS AWARDS
• Only available for
organizations that have
earned the Better Sports
for Kids Quality Program
Provider designation!
• Given for a specific
initiative, process,
project, campaign,
element or component of
a program that goes
above and beyond (not
the organization as a
whole)
19
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FORT DETRICK
21
• Fun for the whole
family
• Mid-season
Parent/Coach Game for
Soccer and Basketball
• End of season pep rally
includes shootout
competitions between
moms and dads
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NAS NORFOLK
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• Uniting Adult Sports
and Youth Sports
• Friendly scrimmages
• Supplement instruction
from volunteer coaches
• Once per week for a
few weeks mid-season
• For ages 10+
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CITY OF ARLINGTON (TX)
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• No youth sports programming prior to 2008
• Promote recreational philosophy proudly
• Clearly differentiate from competitive leagues
• Now 7000+ participants
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CITY OF ARLINGTON (TX)
31
• Policy and Procedures Manual >> View
Sportsmanship Policy
• Coaches Manual
• Parents Manual
• “Stars of the Parks” Video highlighting a
youth baseball umpire
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CITY OF TAMARAC (FL)
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• Opted to seize control of youth sports programs
run by parent groups in the name of child safety
• Implemented a comprehensive background
screening protocol, maintaining records for all
coaches that use their facilities
• Quality of coaches has been upgraded
• Participation at an all time high
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CITY OF TAMARAC (FL)
34
• POLICY: Background Screening for Volunteers
Providing Services to Youth/Minors or Other
Vulnerable Populations
• Volunteer Packet
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USAG ALASKA
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• Unique challenges due to weather and daylight
• Innovative non-traditional sports programs
• Encourage sport sampling through multi-sport
adventure camps
• Programs in demand all year long
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CITY OF GOODYEAR (AZ)
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• 1 Recreation Programmer managing 7 locations within a
13-mile radius
• Poor communication (internally and external) led to
poor customer service and unnecessary headaches
• GoCanvas –Created custom forms and reports - youth
accident/incident reports, site checklists,
complaint/suggestions, shared equipment inventory, and
coach equipment loan status forms and reports
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FORT HUACHUCA (AZ)
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• >50% of youth sports injuries
can be prevented (CDC)
• Developed a set of exercises
for youth soccer coaches to
use as a warm up for athletes
4-12 delivered at a hands on
training
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MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
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• Excellent, strong program (past award winner)
• Goal of developing more inclusive and accessible
youth sports sports programs
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MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
49
• All income levels – offered $70,000 scholarships,
lowered cost recovery goals
• All neighborhoods – built two tracks w/ universities,
posted bus routes to all locations
• Younger ages – scaled events for ages as young as
4 (softball toss vs javelin)
• Females – Girls Youth Sports Focus Team
• Those with disabilities – added registration question
“need a modification to successfully participate?”,
connect with TR staff
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MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
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• Youth athletics website
• Youth Scholarship Program
Application
• Track and Field Operations
Manual pg 12
• Needs modification process
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CITY OF LIBERTY (MO)
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• Sportsmanship pledge
• Each game, coach awards
a player from opposing
team a sportsmanship
coin
• Partnered with local movie
theater – redeem coin for
popcorn
• Winners are promoted on
city’s Facebook page
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CITY OF LIBERTY (MO)
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• Youth sports website
• Youth Sports Handbook –
– pg 9 Sportsmanship Program
– pg 10 Disciplinary Procedures
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National Alliance for Youth Sports
1-800-688-5437
nays.org
Thank you for all you do for the children in
your community!
nationalalliance4ys
@NAYS_edu
NationalAlliance4YS
national-alliance-for-youth-sports
naysyouthsports
nays.org