HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 3 SUMMER SPTS 08-19-91Nil ITE: August 13, 1991 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROTv1= COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: SUMMER YOUTH SPORTS PROGRAMS STATUS REPORT RECOMMENDATION: Receive and file. BACKGROUND: REPORTS NO. 3 8-19-91 At the request of the City Council, the Community Services staff developed a Summer Youth Sports Program. The program consisted of a Basketball and a Soccer League for youth 12-14 years old. Staff met with representatives of the Tustin Unified School District, The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), and The Tustin Boys and Girls Club. These groups were contacted to provide guidance and advice, as well as to encourage inter -agency cooperation. The sports leagues were advertised on the back of the June school lunch menu and through flyers sent to Intermediate Schools. Both leagues met on Thursdays and began on July 11, 1991. Soccer was held at Currie Intermediate School while Basketball met at the Tustin Boys and Girls Club Gymnasium. The Basketball Program consistently had a good turn out. Attendance averaged 25 youth per week. The success of this program was due in part to the cooperation between the City and The Boys and Girls Club. The Basketball program met Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. The league was instructional with informal team play. Two volunteer coaches worked alongside two paid staff members. Shirts were donated by The Fast Action Basketball League. The program will continue through August 29th and culminates with a pizza party. The Soccer Program met with relative success. The program was held at Currie at 12:15 p.m., following Summer School dismissal. Over the course of the five week program, there were never more than a few children in attendance. In order to further publicize the - program, prior to the first meeting, flyers were released through Currie Summer School. In addition, one of the bilingual members of the sports staff translated the flyer into Spanish and that was handed out to children as they left school. Staff also passed out punch and cookies and talked about the program. This turned out to be the most effective method of reaching the youth as it gave the staff the chance to build some rapport with the students. In order to be more successful with future programs, the Community Services Department needs to establish a presence in the neighborhood and give the children more of a sense of belonging. Both programs are examples of positive alternative activities for an age group that is traditionally difficult to program for. Gar agi Rec eation Supervisor GM/svr SVR2: YthSptPit . WAS fc. Ra A. White, D rector of Co mm ity & Administrative Services