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.

1. nays.org
A League of Their Own
Highlighting Outstanding Youth Sports Programs
Kate Nematollahi
Director, Education Programs

2. • Nonprofit organization
• Founded in 1981
• Trained more than 4
million youth sports
coaches,
administrators, officials
and parents
2

3. nays.org
MORE FROM NAYS
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ANNUAL YOUTH SPORTS
CONGRESS
ACADEMY FOR YOUTH SPORTS
ADMINISTRATORS
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS
VOLUNTEER EDUCATION

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MORE FROM NAYS
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SPORTINGKID LIVE WEBSITE NAYS BLOG
FREE TRAININGS FREE RESOURCES

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1
QUALITY DESIGNATION
2
EXCELLENCE IN YOUTH SPORTS AWARD
3
AWARD WINNING ORGANIZATIONS
4
TODAY’S AGENDA
YOUTH SPORTS DISCUSSION

6. nays.org
POLL
In one or two words, name a benefit of
sports for kids.

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• Discipline
• Communication
• Follow rules
• Teamwork
• Win/Lose
• Motivation
• Commitment
• Leadership
• And so on!
• FUN!
• Self-confidence
• Self-esteem
• Sports skills
• Social skills
• Sportsmanship
• Fitness
• Physical activity
• Respect
• Conflict resolution

8. nays.org
POLL
Issues and challenges of youth sports
today?
Name one.

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Religious
Organizations
Religious
Organizations
Community Based
Organizations
PAL
Community Based
Organizations
Boys & Girls Club
Community Based
Organizations
YMCA/YWCA
Private Facilities
Private Facilities
Private Facilities
Public Facilities
Public Facilities
Public Facilities
Public Facilities
Public Facilities
Public Facilities
Little League
Private Facilities
AYSO
Public Facilities
Military
Public Facilities
AYSO
Parks and
Recreation
Dept.

10. nays.org
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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They deserve QUALITY – right?

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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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SELF - ASSESSMENT

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POLL
How many did you answer "Yes"?
0 - 18

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CHAT
Share one requirement you can work
towards within the next month.

18. nays.org
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)

19. nays.org
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 YOUTH SPORTS
Frederick, Maryland

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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

22. nays.org
NAVAL AIR STATION NORFOLK
Norfolk, Virginia

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NAS NORFOLK
23
• 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+

24. nays.org
MCAS MIRAMAR
San Diego, California

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MCAS MIRAMAR
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• Teen Volunteer Program
• Inspired by a teen youth sports participant who took
their own life

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE
YOUTH CENTER
Tucson, Arizona

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DAVIS-MONTHAN AFB
27
• Summer Fitness Challenge
• Video Free Throw Challenge

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CHAT
Which ideas do you want to look into
more for your community?

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CITY OF ARLINGTON (TX)
PARKS AND RECREATION

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CITY OF ARLINGTON (TX)
30
• 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)
RECREATION AND PARKS

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CITY OF TAMARAC (FL)
33
• 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
YOUTH SPORTS AND FITNESS

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USAG ALASKA
36
• 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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USAG ALASKA
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• Youth sports Adventure Camp info
• Year-round youth sports offerings

38. nays.org
CITY OF GOODYEAR (AZ)
PARKS AND RECREATION

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CITY OF GOODYEAR (AZ)
39
• 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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0

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4
1

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CITY OF GOODYEAR (AZ)
42
• City of Goodyear Youth Sports website
• GoCanvas website
• Site Checklist (mobile app view)
• Site Checklist (report view)
• GoCanvas Alternatives: doforms.com,
goformz.com

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7TH INNING STRETCH
43

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FORT HUACHUCA (AZ)
YOUTH SPORTS & FITNESS

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FORT HUACHUCA (AZ)
45
• >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

46. nays.org
FORT HUACHUCA (AZ)
46
• Fort Huachuca youth sports website
• Soccer injury prevention training slides

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MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
PARK AND RECREATION

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MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
48
• 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

50. nays.org
MECKLENBURG COUNTY (NC)
50
• Youth athletics website
• Youth Scholarship Program
Application
• Track and Field Operations
Manual pg 12
• Needs modification process

51. nays.org
CITY OF LIBERTY (MO)
PARKS AND RECREATION

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CITY OF LIBERTY (MO)
52
• 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

53. nays.org
CITY OF LIBERTY (MO)
53
• Youth sports website
• Youth Sports Handbook –
– pg 9 Sportsmanship Program
– pg 10 Disciplinary Procedures

54. nays.org
YOUR
PARKS AND RECREATION
DEPARTMENT

55. nays.org
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