YOUTH SPORTS
Youth
Super Sports Programs come from years of development by YMCA Sports
Directors and sports scientists who have built their lives around
youth sports. Our objective in YMCA
Youth Super Sports is to help young people not only become better players,
but also become better people. Not every child can win the
contest, but though YMCA Youth Super Sports,
every child can become a winner. That's
why our motto for the program is "Building Winners for Life."
Within each sport, we have a triangle of three programs:
YMCA Rookies - pre competitive, instructional program teaching
4 to 7 year-olds the basic skills and rules of the games.
YMCA Winners - the YMCA's unique, values-based competitive sports program for young people ages 8 through 14 years.
YMCA Champions - specifically designed for those who want
to advance in individual skill, this training program offers opportunity
for youth to challenge themselves, learning and mastering the skills
of the game while learning the rules and traditions of the sport
they love. This program is also geared toward youth ages 8 through
14.
Age
Group Guidelines
Youth
are placed in age-appropriate divisions according to the chart below.
The Decatur Family YMCA does allow children to move up an age group,
but only with prior approval of the Sports Director or the Associate
Sports Director.
Age
Group |
Birth
Date Guidelines |
YMCA
Winners |
U18
|
Sept
1, 1990 - Aug 31, 1994 |
U14
|
Sept
1, 1994 - Aug 31, 1996 |
U12
|
Sept
1, 1996 - Aug 31, 1998 |
U10
|
Sept
1, 1998 - Aug 31, 2000 |
YMCA
Rookies |
U8
|
Sept
1, 2000 - Aug 31, 2001 |
U7 |
Sept
1, 2001 - Aug 31, 2002 |
U6
|
Sept
1, 2002 - Aug 31, 2003 |
U5 |
Sept
1, 2003 - Aug 31, 2004 |
Your
Help Needed
The Mission of the Decatur Family YMCA says: "To put
Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy
Spirit, Mind and Body for all." In recent years, the number of
requests for financial assistance offered by the Decatur Family YMCA
have been increasing steadily. We believe that every child should
be able to participate in YMCA sports and will benefit greatly from
our programs. At the same time, every year the cost of producing sports
programming increases. In order to offset those costs and allow every
youth the opportunity to participate, the Decatur Family YMCA raises
funds each year through the Strong Kids Campaign. To find out how
you can help, please check out the link to the Strong
Kids page.
Financial
Assistance - YCares Program
If
you find yourself in need of assistance so that your child may
participate in YMCA Youth Sports, we want to help. Stop by the
Courtesy Desk at the Decatur Family YMCA and ask for a Y-Cares
Application packet or download the forms here.
LEAGUES
Soccer, Soccer and More Soccer!
The Decatur Family YMCA Soccer program has been in existence
for over 30 years. We provide an opportunity for area youth to experience
the great game of soccer, learn new skills, make new friends and
begin a lifetime of physical activity that promotes health and wellbeing.
Fall
Soccer
Registration for Fall Soccer is underway - earlybird
deadline is June 18th!
Spring
Soccer
With the season ended, would you assist us in
making your Spring Soccer program as strong as possible? Tell us your
thoughts - take the online
evaluation.
Parent/)Participant
Handbooks* are online this year as well as the
Decatur Family YMCA soccer rules book, the Laws
of the Game*. Please note that there are special
rules adaptations for the spring season on pages 38 & 39. Also a map*
of the layout for the South Shores Park soccer field area is
available here.
Youth
Soccer Referees
Youth
ages 12 and older are eligible to become Soccer Referees. Contact Gene or Alex for more details.
Basketball
Registration
reminders for 2009 YMCA Youth Super Sports Basketball will be distributed
in
October of 2008. We plan to replace the paper registration forms
with online registration for your convenience.
Questions on the Youth Super Sports Basketball program, contact
Alex Moody,
872-3835 x 132 or Gene
Mueller, ext. 146.
Program
Volunteers Needed!
Interested
in coaching your child's team now? The Decatur Family YMCA Youth
Super Sports program is successful because of the efforts of many
caring
adults who work with the youth toward a positive experience for
all. Click
here to download a Coaching
Application.
Interested
in coaching your child's team in the future? Check out the Coaching
Resources under the Partnerships tab in the left hand column
and indicate your willingness to coach on your child's registration
form. Another way you can serve the Soccer Program is as a Volunteer
Soccer Board Member - make a difference ...volunteer!
For those who simply want to help but on a short-term basis, we are always looking
for good people who are willing to help put up and take down nets,
to monitor fields or even to help distribute photo packets or
other information.
CAMPS & TRAINING
SESSIONS
YMCA
Champions Basketball & Soccer
Improve
individual skills, learn team tactics & have a great time doing
it - that's the foundation of YMCA Youth Super Sports Champions.
Youth
in the U10 through U14 age groups will benefit from additional training
in the skills of either basketball or soccer or both. Players will
learn the rules and traditions of the game plus technical & tactical
skills needed to play at a higher level. Youth will be challenged
to demonstrate their skills and knowledge through written and skill
tests, then have the opportunity to put their learning into practice
through small-sided games. Registratio forms for Champions
Basketball or Champions
Soccer are available for download
here.For
more information call 872-3835 x 146, email Gene
Mueller or
Alex Moody.
Challenger
Soccer Camp
Challenger
British Soccer will bring their camp experience to the Decatur Family
YMCA program lineup for the seventh consecutive year. This year's camp
will run from July 7-11 and will be open to youth ages 3 - 16. Online
registration for the 2008 Challenger Soccer Camp is now available.
Challenger Soccer Camps bring well-qualified British coaches to this
country to share their love of the game with our youth. Expect top-notch
skills education as well as a great cultural experience in this week-long
camp that keeps the youth active and having fun.
Volleyball Camp
Youth Volleyball Camp will not be offered this summer.
OPEN
GYM ACTIVITIES
Rocketball
Love soccer? Ever tried racquetball? Get ready for a fusion experience! Try
Rocketball - a fusion of soccer and racquetball, played in a
racquetball court with a special ball and played with your feet.
Open play available - ask the Courtesy Desk for a ball!
For a demonstration or more information, email Gene or call 872-3835 ext. 146.
Volleyball
Open
Volleyball/Gym for youth: if there is enough interest, we will
set up the net on the south end of the gym (Gym B) for youth
prior to adult open volleyball on Friday nights, 6:30 - 7:30
PM.
.
*
All forms are in .pdf format. If you have not downloaded a free
copy of
Abobe Reader, click
here.
