A Lifelong "Pledge"
Summer is always a fun-time for kids, school is out, family vacations, and calling up your pals to play ball in the driveway or local parks. Kids are inherently designed to seek out the fun in sports along with comrades to share the thrills of victories, and the agonies of losses. These galactic moments when laughter is echoed through neighborhoods like emergency sirens is the purity and innocence of sports. This is why we play the game, and the YMCA Youth Sports Pledge is a symbol of this innocence prior to each game.
In an era where multi-million dollar athletes are perceived by the media as more important than school teachers, and college coaches are trusted to be surrogate parents to student-athletes, but squander off circles of trust the YMCA Youth Sports Pledge is now more relevant than ever before. “To be a team player, respect my opponents, the rules and officials,” is not only conducive to sports, but should be a life long pledge. Did you know; children are more impressionable by the time they hit the 3rd grade, and after this stage middle school when peer pressure becomes exceedingly more apparent? The YMCA of Greater Omaha Youth Sports provided over 11,734 Kindergarteners through 3rd grade with positive impressions on sporting activities, refereeing and volunteer support in 2010. Backyards and sandlots “when I was a kid” triumph stories are boastfully shared by parents in the stands weekly. Those fun, pride-felt moments are the purity and innocence of sports, and is the essence as to why kids should participate in YMCA sports.
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Molly Negrete found the love of sports at the YMCA at an early age....
The YMCA was my first real experience with any sports. I began playing tee ball and basketball for the Y when I was about 5 years old. The teams I first played on were coed until I reached the older groups. When on the coed teams I would always try to be just as good as the boys even though I’m a girl. I know that my competitive spirit really grew being able to compete with both boys and girls. I can remember earning my first trophy on my Y tee ball team. It was one of my prized possessions at that age. The coaches and teammates I had from those teams I can still remember today. Y sports help provide children with ways to become involved in athletic activities in a safe and fun environment. The coaches and officials are there to help the children to learn become better and show the attributes of good sportsmanship. I learned the fundamentals for both softball and basketball through Y sports. The fundamentals have been the base for all my other abilities in sports to grow upon. I was a four year letter winner and three year starter for my high school varsity basketball team. I was an All-State high school varsity softball player for two years which has led me to the great opportunity of now being a University of Nebraska at Omaha student athlete on the softball team. I have the YMCA to thank for my great achievements as an athlete both on and off the field.
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Mark your calendar--you won't want to miss out on our Fall Sports!
Upcoming Soccer, Volleyball, and Flag Football League Registration is going on now through July 17!!
Nebraska YMCA Leagues:
• Soccer (ages 3-4 through 8th grade)
• Volleyball (Recreational, grades 1-12; Spirit/Competitive, grades 5-8)
• Flag Football (grades K-8; must be going into Kindergarten in Fall)
• Cheerleading (grades 1-4; must be going into 1st grade in Fall)
• Game days are on Saturdays for soccer, volleyball, flag football. Cheerleaders will practice once per week, and cheer at football game on Saturdays. Click here to register.
Iowa YMCA Leagues:
• Iowa YMCAs offer "Mighty Kickers" for boys & girls, ages 3-4.
• Council Bluffs Y also offers soccer for K - 2nd grade. Flag Football offered for K-8 grade, Volleyball for grades 3-6.
• Game days are on Saturdays.
Other Notes:
* Season runs August 20-October 15.
* Team t-shirt fee is included in fee for Mighty Kickers (3 & 4 year-olds). Additional $12 jersey fee for Kindergarten through 12th grade.
* Individual or team registrations are accepted. Teams must register at the Y or download a team registration form from our web site. Click here to get a team form.
* To get the team fee, coaches must collect money and turn it in with the full roster by the registration deadline. No individual registrations accepted for this.
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Purchase a Y membership before signing up for your next youth sports program and save up to 50%. Reduced rates on youth sports is one of many benefits you receive when you join the Y.
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Did you know that hundreds of kids are able to play youth sports because the Y provides financial assistance? When you give to the Y, your gift ensures that kids can keep coming to the Y to play. Support our cause by donating to the YMCA of Greater Omaha Youth Sports Campaign today. If you wish to support Iowa YMCA Youth Sports, please direct your contribution to either the Mills County Y or the Council Bluffs Y.
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