The Benefits of YMCA Sports for Your Kids: A Parent’s Guide

Kids learn so much more than athletic skills at the Y.

They are coached to be team players, to work together, to encourage each other. They learn to be leaders on and on the field, and how to be a great team mate. They are cheered on by their coaches, team mates, and fans.

Here are the leadership lessons kids learn by playing Y sports:

• How to have fun while being physically active
• How to be a team player
• How to communicate
• How to try again after defeat
• How to set goals
• Read the full article

Do you want to make it possible for more kids to be a part of a team?

Our Hope & Possibilities fund makes it possible for families to sign their kids up for the soccer team and so much more.

You can make it possible for more kids to play sports and learn teamwork by donating to the YMCA of Coastal Carolina’s Hope and Possiblities Fund today.

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The Benefits of YMCA Sports for Your Kids: A Parent’s Guide

by Gavin Ockert, Bank of America Student Leader

Throughout human history, sports have proven themselves to be popular and worthwhile pastimes in virtually every civilization. From ancient Egypt and Greece to modern day America, the act of physical play has served as a cornerstone of societal life, the glue that holds communities together. It builds camaraderie while encouraging a competitive spirit that will serve players well, even off the field. It’s no surprise that getting kids active early is a great idea; there are many benefits sports provide children with that will help them during their youth and into adulthood.

Kids learn so much more than athletic skills at the Y.

Here are a few reasons you should make sure your kids are participating in sports from a young age: 

1. Sports are great for children’s physical health. 

At the Y, we encourage kids to be active. Our youth sports programs and coaches teach kids the importance of physical activity. Our programs focus on learning and playing, not winning. Every child gets to play and the games are safe, exciting, and fun. We encourage fair play, positive competition, and family involvement.

And not only are they great for kids’ health in the short-term, but they also increase the chance that your child will stay active into adulthood, too. Organized sports have been linked to decreased rates of childhood obesity and have been shown to boost motor skills and overall fitness. Moreover, people who participated in youth sports are more likely to be physically active as adults, indicating that early participation may help kids develop good physical habits later in life. Sports get kids running, throwing, catching, and kicking, all of which can elevate their heart rates while improving dexterity, coordination, and even flexibility. Kids live to play, and games like soccer, football, basketball, baseball, and more take this energy and channel it into a constructive and consistent activity that can greatly improve physical health. 

2. They encourage kids to socialize from an early age. 

The Y helps kids become not only better players, but better people as well.

A key element of most sports is teamwork. To win, a good team needs to work together and communicate effectively. Youth sports at the Y lay the groundwork for this kind of communication. For some children, sports are the first time they interact with a large group of kids in an organized environment. Oftentimes, children are taught how to work together and consider others when making decisions. Furthermore, the combination of play and teamwork that is inherent to most sports fosters close connections between children and can lead to strong relationships even off the field. As with physical exercise, these social skills will serve young athletes well far beyond their youth. In fact, some studies have even found that students who played youth sports are more likely to earn higher incomes than students who did not play youth sports. 

3. They teach kids about leadership. 

Beyond the scope of the game, sports also reveal important life lessons that young athletes can carry with them for the rest of their lives. All of our coaches are volunteers. Some of them are Y staff, some are parents helping coach their kids, while others are folks from the community who share the same Y values. ALL of our coaches go through a background check. Your child’s safety is our #1 priority.Here are just a few truths about leadership that sports can teach children: 

• How to work with a team: Kids learn that, when they work together, everyone has the potential to do incredible things. 
• Discipline and ambition: Players learn to improve the things they can change, like their play style and their technique, without worrying about things out of their control. 
• Mind-body connection: Sports encourage a link between the mind and the body; they show kids that for the team to improve physically, each player has to have a positive mental attitude. 
• Perpetual refinement: Sports foster an environment of continuous improvement in play and in life, which helps kids avoid mental stagnation as they grow older. 
• Dealing with defeat: Sports teach kids that failure isn’t the end of the world. Kids learn how to channel failure into motivation to do better in the future. 
• Goal setting: Team games teach kids how to set strategic goals. By breaking down large plays into shorter steps, teammates can work together to achieve something big. 

4. Sports make us feel good! 

Perhaps the greatest benefit of sports is that they make kids happy! The thrill of scoring a goal or hitting a home run can boost children’s confidence and self-esteem, which will help them succeed in the long run. Sports have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins, which boost one’s mood and act as painkillers in the body. In our modern technological world, the sedentary lifestyle that affects more and more children can also lead to sadness and lethargy. By getting your kids involved in sports, you are taking the necessary steps to make your kids happier, more well-rounded individuals. 

You can make it possible for more kids to play sports at the Y.

Make it possible: donate to the YMCA of Coastal Carolina’s Hope and Possibilities Fund.

Youth Sports at the YMCA

The YMCA offers

• Hurricanes Swim Team at all three branches
• Youth Soccer in Georgetown and Myrtle Beach
• Flag Football in Georgetown and Myrtle Beach
• Youth Basketball in Myrtle Beach
• Donate and shop for used sports equipment with our Gear up for Good Used Sports Equipment Collection Drive & Sale