1.
Everyone plays. We do not use tryouts to select the
best players, nor do we cut kids from YMCA Youth Super Sports.
Everyone who registers is assigned to a team. During the season
everyone receives equal practice time and plays at least half
of every game.
2.
Safety first. Although some children may get hurt
playing sports, we do all we can to prevent injuries. We’ve
modified each sport to make it safer and more enjoyable to
play. We ask you to make sure the equipment and facilities
are safe and to teach the sport as we’ve prescribed,
so that the skills taught are appropriate for children’s
developmental level. We ask you to develop your players’
fitness levels gradually so they are conditioned for the sport.
And we ask you to constantly supervise your young players
so that you can stop any unsafe activities.
3.
Fair play. Fair play is about more than playing by
the rules. It’s about you and your players showing respect
for all who are involved in YMCA Youth Super Sports. It’s
about your being a role model of good sportsmanship and guiding
your players to do the same. Remember, we’re more interested
in developing children’s character through sport than
in developing a few highly skilled players.
4.
Positive competition. We believe competition is a
positive process when the pursuit of victory is kept in the
right perspective. The “right perspective” means
adults make decisions that put the best interests of the children
above winning the contest. Learning to compete is important
for children, and learning to cooperate in a competitive world
is an essential lesson of life. These are the lessons we want
to teach through YMCA Youth Super Sports.
5.
Family involvement. YMCA Youth Super Sports encourages
parents to be involved appropriately along with their child’s
participation in our sport programs. In addition to parents
being helpful as volunteer coaches, officials and timekeepers,
we encourage them to be at practices and games to support
their child’s participation. To help parents get involved
appropriately, YMCA Youth Super Sports offers parent-orientation
programs.
6.
Sport for all. YMCA Youth Super Sports is an inclusive
sport program. That means that children who differ in various
characteristics are to be included rather than excluded from
participation. We offer sport programs for children who differ
in physical abilities by matching them with children of similar
abilities and modifying their sport. We offer programs to
all children regardless of race, gender, religion or ability.
We ask our adult leaders to support and appreciate the diversity
of children in our society and to encourage the children and
their parents to do the same.
7.
Sport for fun. Sport is naturally fun for most children.
They love the challenge of mastering the skills of the game,
of playing with their friends, and of competing with their
peers. Sometimes when adults become involved in children’s
sport, they over-organize and dominate the activity to the
point of spoiling children’s enjoyment of the sport.
If we take the fun out of sport, we are in danger of our children
taking themselves out of sport. Remember, that these sports
are for the kids; let them have fun.
The
true meaning of fair play
YMCA sports
are based on the concept that fair play is the very essence
of competition. Everybody should have an equal opportunity
to compete and a fair chance to win. This fundamental virtue
is a special inherent attribute of sport.
