About Us
Youth To Society Sports combines sports, social emotional learning and community service to grow a generation of change
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers." -Nelson Mandela.
About Us
"Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than government in breaking down racial barriers." -Nelson Mandela.
Problem: Youth Mental Health Crisis
With the rise in technology and social media, youth mental health is on a steep downward slope outlined in the U.S. Surgeon General mental health advisory issued due to the youth mental health crisis.
Most services take a reactive approach when it comes to mental health. Waiting for someone to seek help for their mental health is like giving someone a stent for atherosclerosis. As the world continues to change, especially from a post-pandemic mental health crisis, we must start taking a drastic proactive approach through equipping youth with positive and healthy mental skills.
Some may say participating in “team” sports builds character and teaches important life skills, however, the youth sports landscape is rapidly changing and becoming increasingly competitive.
This shift to more performance-based means there’s less focus on training the whole child. The added pressure on young athletes to specialize in a single sport rather than playing for fun has caused more kids to drop out of sports at a young age, with statistics showing that 70% of youth quit altogether by age 13. This trend is a cause for concern, especially in today’s world when mental healthiness needs to be a priority.
Solution: Positive Mental Health Skills
Given the rise in technology, dangers unknown to earlier generations, and the decline in youth mental health, equipping youth with the healthy mental skills needed to handle the real world is more crucial than ever. Schools teach academics, churches teach religion, and sports teach the skill of the sport. There’s nothing to support mental health skills and equip youth with the inner skills that matter and those that could positively impact society, such as emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, and how to leverage our most powerful tool- our minds.
Youth To Society Sports uses the power of sports combined with community service to provide a fun and interactive environment to develop positive and healthy mental health skills to equip youth and build a better future society. We are always looking for partners who support our mission. Whether you align with our mission or are looking for charities to donate to that support mental health, we have many ways for you to get involved.
Our Foundation
Fun
Our top priority is to make social emotional learning fun for the coaches and players of Y2S Sports . At the end of each season, there's an opportunity for players to have a say in the upcoming season to keep our program relevant and our players invested.
Passionate
Passion is an internal motivator. Loving what you do keeps you inspired and excited to put your best foot forward. Sharing the same passion is essential to fulfilling our mission and vision.
Inclusive
Our curriculum emphasizes inclusivity and prioritizes creating an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and included, regardless of their differences.
Non Competitive
Competition is where one person can succeed only when others fail, which contradicts our goals. Y2S Sports players only compete and compare themselves to who they were yesterday.
Charitable
Each season revolves around a community service project, fostering kindness, compassion, and altruism. We plan to collaborate with other youth sports organizations to host games dedicated to raising funds or awareness for a charitable cause.
Supportive
In today's world, a solid support system is crucial, especially during adolescence. Our buddy system creates teachable moments and opportunities to practice asking for support and being supportive.
Core Values
Mission
To equip the next generation through social emotional learning and essential life skills to navigate today’s challenges and create a better world for future generations.
Vision
To be in every community nationwide and change the world within one generation.
Core Values
AUTHENTICITY: Remaining true to our values regardless of external pressures and expectations.
LOVE: To do everything from a place of love
COMMITMENT: Staying committed to our mission and vision regardless of the circumstances.
COLLABORATION: Working with all key stakeholders involved in raising the next generation
CREATIVITY: Staying innovative flexible, and thinking outside the box to stay aligned with the youth culture and create a fun environment for everyone involved.
Our Promise
Our promise is to create a fun, safe, and non-judgmental environment to build confidence, sportsmanship, and leadership skills while working in collaboration with parents and all key stakeholders
Board Of Directors
Jennifer Kidder
Executive Director
Heather Ferguson
Board Member
Nicole Zuralow
Board Member