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 reads: "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 2009 will begin in May with
an Early Bird deadline of July 1st. You may have receivedyour copy
of the registration through the schools or in the mail, but if not,
you may download and print the Registration Form here. Online registration
will be available through QuickScores.com - follow the link that will
be
live
soon.
U14
Boys & Girls (Junior High) and U18 Girls (High School)
Here's
your opportunity to put together your own team, to gather your friends
and register together and have a great time playing soccer. Using the
above button, you will soon be able to help us gage interest in U14
and U18 soccer divisions. We will make available a form just for you
this week, allowing you get on board, and to give you the chance to
then form your own team and pay a reduced rate by coming into the league
as a team. Team size will be limited to 10-12 players, playing seven
on a side on an appropriate sized field. Team registration fee will
be $400, less than the member rate for 10 individuals. Get your friends
together and register as soon as possible. If you don't
have a team, or only have part of a team, please fill out the registration
form and turn it in. We still want to hear from you and you will be
placed with others who are in the same situation. If we can put together
a team of individuals or small groups of players, we will still assess
that theam the team rate. We
will not require any fee payment until the league has been formed;
individuals
will
be offered
roster spots on teams that are short of a full roster. If you prefer
to register by mail or in person, you may still get the registration
form to the YMCA - simply send no money at this time.
Parent/)Participant
Handbooks* are online
this year as well as the Decatur Family YMCA soccer rules book,
the Laws
of the Game*. Also
a map*
of the layout for the South Shores Park soccer field area will
be available here when finalized.
Youth
Soccer Referees
Youth
ages 12 and older are eligible to become Soccer Referees. Referee
schedules for fall soccer will be posted here.
Contact Gene or Alex for
more details.
Spring
Soccer
All registration is now closed for the Spring Soccer Season.Check
for online registration for Fall Soccer 2009 coming in May. Take
the Spring
Soccer Evaluation Survey - help us make
the program better!
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 is coming back to Decatur the week of July
13-17 in Decatur, working with about youth ages 3 - 14.
Challenger Soccer Camps brings well-qualified British coaches
to this country to share their love of the game with our youth. Top-notch
skills education as well as a great cultural experience kept
the youth
active and having fun. Click on the logo to the right to access
the Challenger website for online registration information.
Flag
Football
New
to the Decatur Family YMCA, Flag Football premiers this summer for
youth ages 4 - 10 years of age. We will work games & drills to build
skills in a non-competitive environment with a great coach-to-player
ratio. Contact Alex
Moody, 872-3835 x 132 for more information or download a Flag
Football Registration here.
Volleyball Camp
Youth Volleyball Camp will be offered this summer in August.
Check back for more information and registration.
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.
