Group launches new K-12 sports program
As the YMCA takes over the middle school sports programs for
three local schools, the agency is still working to add other new
programs to its roster. One of the programs, Afterschool Sports
League, will launch in January and is aimed at kids in kindergarten
through second grade.
The first sport offered will be T-ball and the season starts on
Jan. 10. The teams practice one day a week after school, with
tournaments on Jan. 29 and Feb. 19.
Group launches new K-12 sports program
As the YMCA takes over the middle school sports programs for three local schools, the agency is still working to add other new programs to its roster. One of the programs, Afterschool Sports League, will launch in January and is aimed at kids in kindergarten through second grade.
The first sport offered will be T-ball and the season starts on Jan. 10. The teams practice one day a week after school, with tournaments on Jan. 29 and Feb. 19.
The cost for the program is $50, with financial assistant available for qualifying families. The uniform will be a school T-shirt. Volunteer coaches are needed to coach each team. Team members will all be from the same school and will play against other local schools in tournaments.
“It produces a great thing between the student body,” said Kristie Agan, the regional program director for the YMCA of San Benito county, of the school competition.
Rochelle Callis, the regional vice president, said the program was designed to be convenient for parents.
“It offers an option for working parents,” Callis said. “That’s what was originally the intent.”
Callis said the practices are right after school so parents don’t have to drive kids to practice and the tournaments are on Saturdays so parents who work typical hours can see the games without missing work.
“We have the games on Saturday so parents can still come and see them,” Callis said.
But Callis added, the tournaments take place on just two Saturdays so weekends aren’t booked the entire season..
“We are starting small to see how the community responds,” Callis said, of the program, adding that if there is a good response the program will expand into third, fourth and fifth grades. “We’d love to get some sponsors.”
Like other after school programs, excluding the sports program at Maze Middle School, the Afterschool Sports League is open to all students.
“Our goal is to serve everybody with new leagues,” Callis said. “Our goal is to have all kids have an opportunity to be involved and get a love of sports.”
The goal, too, is to add more sports as the program develops.
In addition to the Afterschool Sports League, the YMCA will continue to offer its other sports programs, including Super Sports for kids 2 ½ to 5 years old.
“It gets kids to socialize,” Callis said. “At that age they are playing next to each other, not really with each other.”
But Agan said she sees the improvements in the kids from the start to end of the season.
“You see them blossom by the end,” Agan said. “Plus it’s time with their parents, aunts and uncles.”
Callis added that the parents learn to play and interact with their kids.
“Sports give a certain structure to be with kids,” Callis said.
Though a schedule is not set up yet, the YMCA is also looking at offering a family fitness class next year. The program would run for six to seven weeks and would offer a different type of fitness class each week.
The YMCA staff members are also partnering with Club Ed, a San Benito High School club where tutors work with students after school. The Y may be offering space for the tutors to work with students after school.
For more information on the Afterschool Sports League or other upcoming programs, call 637-8600, visit www.centralcoastymca.org or e-mail
ka***@ym**************.org
.
