Downtown YMCA

719-473-9622 207 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO, 80903

YMCA Sports Seven Pillars

Posted by jess lyons on 3/29/2014
Mission: To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all.

Motto: YMCA Sports – Everybody plays, Everybody wins.

Goals of YMCA Sports:
  • To build self-esteem
  • To teach social skills – values, communication, human relations
  • To teach physical skills, fitness and health
  • To develop responsibility and decision making skills
  • To enhance leadership skills in youth and adults
  • To build relationships among peers and between parent and child
  • To support and strengthen family life
  • To create fun experiences for children and their families
YMCA Sports Philosophy Pillars:
  • Pillar One – Everyone Plays
  • Pillar Two – Safety First
  • Pillar Three – Fair Play
  • Pillar Four – Positive Competition
  • Pillar Five – Family Involvement
  • Pillar Six – Sport for All
  • Pillar Seven – Sport for Fun
1. Everyone Plays – We do not use tryouts to select the best players, nor do we cut children from YMCA Sports. Everyone who registers is assigned to a team. During the season, each team receives equal practice time and each player is expected to have equal playing time.

2. Safety First – We do all we can to prevent injuries. We modify each sport to make it safer and more enjoyable to play. We make sure the equipment and facilities are safe and that coaches teach the sport in a way that is appropriate for athletes’ developmental and skill levels.

3. Fair Play – Fair play is about playing by and respecting the rules of the game. It’s about coaches and players showing respect for all people involved in YMCA Sports. It’s also about coaches being role models of good sportsmanship and guiding their players to do the same.

4. Positive Competition – We believe that competition is a positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept in proper perspective. This happens when adults make decisions that put the best interest of the child before winning the contest. Learning to compete is important for youngsters, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world is an essential lesson of life. Through YMCA Sports we want to help kids learn these lessons.

5. Family Involvement – YMCA Sports encourages parents to be involved appropriately in their child’s participation in our sports programs. In addition to parents being helpful as volunteer coaches and timekeepers, we encourage them to stay at practices and games to support their child’s participation.

6. Sport for All – YMCA Sports is an “inclusive” sports program. We offer programs to all youngsters regardless of their race, gender, religious creed, or ability. We ask our adult leaders to encourage and appreciate the diversity of our children in our sport society and to encourage the kids and their parents to do the same.

7. Sport for Fun – Sports are naturally fun for most kids. Sometimes when adults become involved in children’s sporting activities they over-organize and dominate the activities to the point that it destroys kids’ enjoyment of them. If we take the fun out of sports for young athletes, we are in danger damaging their confidence and desire to participate in sports.