What Makes YMCA Youth Sports So Special?

About our Program
Your son or daughter is entering the most unique sports program offered in America. In fact, we’ve named the program YMCA Youth Super Sports because we’re confident it’s the best-designed sports program for young people available anywhere.

What Makes YMCA Youth Sports So Special?
First, we built the program by bringing together the knowledge of sports scientists who have spent their careers studying children’s sports with the practical wisdom of YMCA youth sports directors who have guided literally millions of young people through sports programs.

Second, to ensure the highest quality coaches, officials, and sports administrators, YMCA Youth Sports offers training and educational resources for all adults involved in the program. This training emphasizes the positive objectives of the program and de-emphasizes the winning-at-all-costs mentality that leads to so many negative practices in youth sports.

Third, to make the sports experience more fun and to help kids learn skills faster and be able to apply them in game situations more readily, we use the "games approach" to teaching tactics and skills. With the games approach, kids play modified games, beginning with the very first practice, and focus on particular tactics and skills they need to employ to be successful. After games, the coach asks the players what tactics and skills they needed to use to be successful. Rather than telling the players what they need to learn, the coach guides them to discovery through questioning. The coach then teaches those skills. It has been proven that athletes learn skills better and apply them quicker in real competitions when they learn through the games approach.

And fourth, YMCA Youth Sports goes beyond teaching tactics and skills by weaving in simple but important fitness and character-development concepts (in the form of brief activities and discussions) in every practice. YMCA Youth Sports focuses not only on skill development but also on the overall development of youth in areas that are important for the season and also for a lifetime.