Life Skills Through Sports
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” –Franklin D Roosevelt
Life Skills Through Sports
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” –Franklin D Roosevelt
Training for the future
Character Development
Our program uses an explicit approach to develop life skills through sports, community service, and team-building exercises
ALTRUISM
Through community service, youth can directly witness the benefits of helping others without expecting anything in return except the satisfaction of making a positive difference in their community, which is the basis of nurturing a sense of altruism.
Sportsmanship
By emphasizing respect, fairness, and positive behavior in our program, players learn to value good conduct and are encouraged to support teammates, respect opponents, and handle wins and losses gracefully.
Empathy
Building empathy through activities such as community service encourages understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives and develops compassion toward others.
Emotional Intelligence
Sports provide a natural setting for kids to experience various emotions. Our curriculum is designed around creating opportunities to help youth understand and manage these emotions in different settings.
LEADERSHIP
Playing in a team teaches kids the importance of collaboration, communication, and leadership. We emphasize these skills during practices, helping them understand different ways to be a leader, work with others, lead by example, and support their peers.
TEAMWORK
Our program teaches teamwork by incorporating collaborative activities and group projects into every aspect of the experience. Youth work together in sports, community service, and team-building exercises, where they learn to communicate effectively, share responsibilities, and support one another.
Growth Mindset
We encourage players to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and persist through difficulties by creating an environment where effort and improvement are celebrated, and mistakes are opportunities to learn
Character Development
Our program uses an explicit approach to develop life skills through sports, community service, and team-building exercises
ALTRUISM
Through community service, youth can directly witness the benefits of helping others without expecting anything in return except the satisfaction of making a positive difference in their community, which is the basis of nurturing a sense of altruism.
Sportsmanship
By emphasizing respect, fairness, and positive behavior in our program, players learn to value good conduct and are encouraged to support teammates, respect opponents, and handle wins and losses gracefully.
Empathy
Building empathy through activities such as community service encourages understanding and appreciation of diverse perspectives and develops compassion toward others.
Emotional Intelligence
Sports provide a natural setting for kids to experience various emotions. Our curriculum is designed around creating opportunities to help youth understand and manage these emotions in different settings.
LEADERSHIP
Playing in a team teaches kids the importance of collaboration, communication, and leadership. We emphasize these skills during practices, helping them understand different ways to be a leader, work with others, lead by example, and support their peers.
TEAMWORK
Our program teaches teamwork by incorporating collaborative activities and group projects into every aspect of the experience. Youth work together in sports, community service, and team-building exercises, where they learn to communicate effectively, share responsibilities, and support one another.
Growth Mindset
We encourage players to embrace challenges, learn from feedback, and persist through difficulties by creating an environment where effort and improvement are celebrated, and mistakes are opportunities to learn
Building a Support Network
As kids transition from childhood to adolescence, they experience significant changes in their self-perception and how they believe others perceive them. While youth are more likely to seek peer support, they may still feel reluctant to open up due to fear of being judged. The mindset of “I don’t need to wear a helmet because that will never happen to me” is similar to “I am the only one struggling emotionally or socially.”
If you think about when kids are toddlers, parents are there to step in and teach them about the importance of sharing and not hitting (or biting) other children. However, as kids get older, the opportunity to intervene is almost nonexistent. Yet, the interaction between teens and their friends/peers comes with many, if not more, teachable moments essential for their future.
Y2S Buddy System
Pairing Into Buddies
During the first practice, coaches will pair players up to work together during weekly practices.
Working Together
Weekly practices provide opportunities for buddies to collaborate and practice offering encouragement and support.
Accountability
Buddies are responsible for holding each other accountable outside of practice time (depending on age) to help each other stay on track with their goals
Support and Encouragement
During practice, buddies learn the importance of communication. Whether it’s how to communicate if they need support or how to support a friend in need. As accountability partners (depending on age), using various forms of communication, such as weekly phone calls, daily text messages, or meetups outside of practice are encouraged
Building Friendships
As kids transition from childhood to adolescence, they experience significant changes in their self-perception and how they believe others perceive them. While youth are more likely to seek peer support, they may still feel reluctant to open up due to fear of being judged. The mindset of “I don’t need to wear a helmet because that will never happen to me” is similar to “I am the only one struggling emotionally or socially.”
If you think about when kids are toddlers, parents are there to step in and teach them about the importance of sharing and not hitting (or biting) other children. However, as kids get older, the opportunity to intervene is almost nonexistent. Yet, the interaction between teens and their friends/peers comes with many, if not more, teachable moments essential for their future.
Our Buddy System
Pairing Into Buddies
During the first practice, coaches will pair players up to work together during weekly practices.
Working Together
Weekly practices provide opportunities for buddies to collaborate and practice offering encouragement and support.
Accountability
Buddies are responsible for holding each other accountable outside of practice time (depending on age) to help each other stay on track with their goals
Support and Encouragement
During practice, buddies learn the importance of communication. Whether it’s how to communicate if they need support or how to support a friend in need. As accountability partners (depending on age), using various forms of communication, such as weekly phone calls, daily text messages, or meetups outside of practice are encouraged
Improves Mental Health
Friendships not only provide a sense of belonging, but with a supportive friends can help us change the way we respond to stress, keeps up grounded, and help view situations from a different perspective.
Decreases Social Isolation
Research shows adolescents may not feel understood or comfortable discussing their feelings with parents. Having a friend they can trust reduces the instinct to socially isolate.
Provides a Safe Space
Knowing you can share your feelings without the fear of being judged or labled means you feel safe to open up and ask for support which can literally speaking be a life saver.