Youth Sports OrientationAlief Houston Family YMCA

YMCA Sports StaffRichard McDougal: Youth Development Lead of Sport, Camp and Play

Thank You• The Alief YMCA thanks you for

volunteering in youth sports!• Your involvement will be critical to the

success of the program

Agenda• YMCA Youth Sports

Mission, Core Values, 7 Pillars, Code of Conduct• How teams are formed and coach expectations• Practices/Parking• Games/rain outs and make ups• Officials• Emergency procedures/child abandonment and abuse/appropriate

touch/Raptor• Character development• Pictures/Trophies/Awards• Communication• How to handle corrections to rosters/need for coaches• Important dates

YMCA Mission Statement• To put Judeo-Christian values into practice

through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all

Youth Sport Philosophy

Everybody Plays, Everybody Wins– Every team member plays at least half

the game regardless of score– Team members have the opportunity to

play different positions– Child First-Sports Second– Sets the child’s well being above the

cost of winning the game

Core Values

• Respect• Responsibility• Honesty• Caring• Faith

Please make this a part of your practice routine. We expect it from parents and players!! Children will follow your lead!!!!!!

7 Pillars of YMCA Youth Sports

• Everyone Plays• Safety First• Character Development• Positive Competition• Family Involvement• Sport for All• Sport for Fun

Coaches & Parent Code of Conduct

Points to remember:1. Be kind to your parents and other

coaches2. Let the children have fun!3. Be kind to the officials and other teams4. Be realistic with complaints/criticisms

How teams are formed

• By age (1 year, 2 years, 3 years)• By sex (female, male, coed)• By request (for a coach or teammate)• By school• By subdivision• Random assignment• No tryouts; No “no practice, no play” rule

Coach Expectations• Establish good ongoing communication• Agenda for practices (warm-up/stretch,

skill development, play/scrimmage, cool-down/stretch)– www.ymcahoustontraining.org

• Know rules of play (coaches given these)• Exhibit and model core values• Follow all policies and youth sports

philosophy

PCA Coach’s Training• PCA Coach’s Training is now required by the

YMCA of Greater Houston• By taking this course, you will also help us earn

a sports grant• Instructions are on Quickscores.com/aliefy

Practices• Starting date –week of June 4• 1 hour per week• All games/practices will be played at Alief

Family YMCA and Killough Middle School • No Practice week of July 1- July 7• Sports referees – on site during games• Trash/food, kids unsupervised• Problems – coach call the YMCA

Facility Use Policies• Coaches are held responsible for

care of facilities• No tobacco products in buildings or

by entrance/exit doors, or on fields • All children (siblings of players) must

stay in the gym or be attended to if exiting the gym

• Have team pick up any trash after games

Games• Games are typically all on Saturdays, 9:00am

to 5:00pm• Locations – will vary• How to cancel or reschedule a game (coach

will call the YMCA as well as opposing coach)• 10 minute wait if no official, then start• 8 games (June 16-Aug 4)• No games on July 7

Rain Outs/Make Ups• Decision will be made by 7:30am on Saturdays

(Call the YMCA you will be playing at)• Decision will either be “fields are closed” or

“fields are open”• For game rain-outs, coaches will be contacted

by the YMCA the following week to reschedule• We will schedule make up games and provide

officials. If new time does not work for the team/coach it will be up to the coach to find a new game time!

• Practice rain outs are up to the coach’s discretion.

Officials • Most officials are 16-22 years old• All are trained• Any serious problems, coach should address

with official in appropriate manner (not a parent), then call YMCA if necessary

• Please be courteous• Harassment of officials will not be tolerated• First games are usually the toughest – be kind!

Emergency Procedures

• Coach contacts Parent or Guardian Immediately– Make sure you can get a hold of all

parents- have correct contact numbers (Rosters)

– Do not just drop your child off at practice/game

• Accident Reports, Incident Reports– Must fill out and turn into YMCA within

24 hours

Abandoned Child Procedures

• Ask all parents to stay at all practices and games – If they leave do following:

• Coach will call YMCA for other contact information if they cannot reach parents

• Coach will ask the assistant coach or another parent to stay until abandoned child is picked up, if he/she cannot

• Last option – two adults drive child to the YMCA

Child Abuse Prevention

• We make an active effort to prevent child abuse. These efforts include but are not limited to:– Background checks on staff and

volunteers– Allegations and suspicions are taken

seriously and are reported to the proper authorities

Child Abuse Reporting Procedures

• The YMCA has a no tolerance position on child abuse

• If you suspect child abuse you can report it to any Director in the YMCA or call CPS (Child Protection Service)

Appropriate Touch• Kids need touches of encouragement, but

there are appropriate and inappropriate ways of touching a child

Character Development• Incorporate into practices, games• Coach’s manuals are available on

Quickscores (www.quickscores.com/aliefy) with ideas of how to do this

Pictures, Trophies and Awards

• Pictures will be done by Me and My Pal Portraits and coach will be contacted with shoot time the week prior to pictures.

• Picture Day-June 23rd • YMCA will provide the end of the season

trophy or medal. Other trophies or awards, will have to be arranged independently.

• End of Season Awards Ceremony- Aug 11th

What the Front Desk Can Do for You

• Your first stop for questions 281-495-9100• Coach contact info, schedules, practice

times, maps, rain out information• They will determine if the question needs

to be forwarded to Management • Goal is to get you quick and correct

answers!

Refunds/Credits

• Refunds and credits are given on a case by case basis and must go through the Sports Department

Important Dates

PRACTICES - Begin week of June 4th

SCHEDULE/FINAL ROSTERS- Please contact your teams by May 30th with practice

information

PICTURE DAY- Saturday June 23rd

FIRST GAMES - Saturday June 16th

LAST GAMES - Saturday August 4th

End of Season Awards - Saturday August 11th

Coming Up!

• Check out what’s going on at your YMCA! adult sports, health and wellness,

aquatics, teen and family programs, after school programs, seniors programs

• www.ymcahouston.org/aliefy

Parting Shots

Thank you again!

Have a great season!

We are here to assist you in any way possible

-Youth Sports Committee Interest

YMCA Contact Info

281-495-9100 Richard McDougal

Youth Development Lead of Sport and PlayRichard.McDougal@ymcahouston.org