Light-up sneakers squeak across the court as their owners scuttle after black and white balls gone askew. The coach is trying to herd the children in with a quick game of red light-green light. Parents watch on the sidelines, reminding their children to “listen to the teacher” and “use your feet, not your hands” as the children keep showing mom and dad what they can do. By the end of the 45-minute session, a few players have gone home after falls on the ground or bumps on the head got the best of them, but overall there are still smiles, giggles and enthusiasm from the little players. The team ends the day with a group chant of “have fun!” This is youth soccer with 5-year-olds, and it’s a step in the right direction.
From superhero training to all-ages dodge ball, gymnastics to soccer; the Whatcom Family YMCA has a program for almost any interest and any age. In a world filled with technology and overwhelming obesity rates in youth, Youth Sports Director John Bullard says the YMCA is a place for kids to get off the computer and onto the field.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that only about 25 percent of high school students are enrolled in physical education courses, and about half of America’s youth are not vigorously active. Derrick Mears, an associate professor in the physical education department at Western Washington University, says community programs such as the YMCA, which are designed to include all kids and not competitive, are the best programs for young children.
“We’re starting kids in competitive sports way too early. 5- and 6-year-olds should be learning hopscotch, not playing competitive sports,” Mears says.
The YMCA has set up good parameters for the programs that have age appropriate goals and activities for the children, Mears says. Well designed programs have the potential to extend beyond physical activity and encourage children to experience the social development that goes on with sports, such as working with others.
The YMCA attempts to build strong kids, families and communities with their programs by engaging children in activities together and having family events, as well as encouraging community members to volunteer at the YMCA to continue the programs. Bullard, who used to work with at-risk kids and teens before he came to the YMCA, says he sees these strong bonds every day.
“It’s definitely a nice break to work with children whose parents are so involved in their lives,” Bullard says.
Western Senior Nick Campbell volunteers as a youth soccer coach at the YMCA. He began volunteering as part of a field experience requirement for his kinesiology degree last spring, but has continued to volunteer since he finished the requirement. Campbell coaches teams between the ages of 3 and 6. He says his favorite part of the job is seeing the kids smile and laugh and have fun—and their faces when they make a goal can’t be beat.
The teams are designed to get kids interacting with one another and working together in a fun way, keeping in mind the YMCA motto of “respect, caring, honesty, responsibility.” Bullard says that at that age, soccer is more about not touching the ball with your hands than anything else. He says it often takes parents' help to keep kids from clambering over the one another to get to the ball. All of the YMCA teams are non-competitive and play rain or shine -- it is Washington, after all.
Raleigh Kukes just started her 3-year-old daughter Halsey in the YMCA youth soccer program. She says they tried to do soccer last year, but Halsey wasn’t quite ready for it yet. While Halsey was a little shy on the court to tell the coach her name, she joined in and played with the other kids. Kukes says she really enjoys the many different activities the YMCA has available for her daughter, so Halsey can get a wide variety of experiences to figure out what she’s interested in. Halsey is also in the ballet class.
Bullard says he is always impressed with kids' willingness to help one another. He recalled one basketball team in which every player had made a basket except for one kid. This boy was taller than most of the other players, but uncoordinated. At the last game, all the team members kept passing the ball to him to give him a chance to make a basket. He finally did and the whole team went into an uproar of cheers.
The YMCA offers a variety of other programs for children to enjoy. Dance, swim, rock climbing, and running are just a few of the many programs the YMCA offers. The YMCA also offers a wide variety of adult activities as well. Members of all ages have access to the gym, swimming pool, rock climbing wall, and fitness center. There are also many classes available including yoga, volleyball and adult ballet.