Partnering with the Athens YMCA: The Why of the Athens Y Says It All

Did you know that the Athens YMCA is celebrating 165 years of dedicated service to our community?! St. Mary’s Health Care System is a proud partner with the Athens YMCA and is committed to addressing the social determinants of health including early child development. Today’s blog is provided by the Athens Y about the Athens Y.

The Y is for Youth Development. The Y is for Healthy Living. The Y is for Social Responsibility. These principles of the YMCA are translated every day through youth programming. Our mission is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build a healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. These programs help develop our youth into becoming leaders in our society.

Youth sports not only help promote social and cognitive development but also physical. The Athens YMCA is a high-energy environment that encourages all children to be active. Our youth programs consist of one-hour structured practices which include stretching, drills, and scrimmages. As our youth are growing, it’s important that we start each practice with stretching to protect their growing bodies. Having structured practice not only allows children to learn more skills but also sets clear expectations and creates a healthy routine.

One of our goals for all youth program participants is to build self-confidence throughout the quarter. Our hope is that confidence will translate over to other facets of their life as well. One of the benefits of youth sports is that children make new friends and discover new talents. Children being able to have positive social interactions with not only their peers but also adults will have long-lasting effects as they transition from adolescence to young adulthood.

At the Athens YMCA, we serve not only Clarke County but also other surrounding counties. Through our programs, our youth build relationships with other children who they may not see at their school. These relationships flourish throughout the quarter as they learn the value of teamwork and sportsmanship. While children are learning skills such as dribbling, passing, and making free throws; they are also learning communication skills, perseverance, and resilience. It’s these soft skills that are going to help shape them into successful young men and women.

As peer relationships build, mentorship is also occurring between our coaches and our youth. As youth develop, it’s important that they have individuals in their lives that lead and encourage them to be their best selves on and off the court. Our coaches instill the importance of goal-setting in every practice or rehearsal. Having individual and team goals serves as a way for children to measure their achievements throughout a quarter.

Our winter basketball program is a prime example of the importance of youth sports in development. Our program is open to all skill levels and children from the grades of Kindergarten to Ninth grade. Those in our Kindergarten program who may have never touched a basketball at the beginning of the season will come out of the season learning the basic fundamentals of basketball. Likewise, those in our 5th and 6th-grade program are excited to get the chance to try out for their middle school team and apply all the skills they have learned.

The quarter begins with all grade levels learning skills and building a team culture. As the quarter progresses, teams will get the opportunity to play against each other. Finally, the season concludes with a tournament-style playoff series. While the basketball season brings excitement and adrenaline to our facility, it also brings a sense of community. That sense of community helps our children develop into great leaders in all areas of their life.

More information can be found at https://athensymca.org/