National Alliance For Youth Sports

Congratulations to Lisa Licata, our Senior Director of Youth Sports Administrators, on her 30th anniversary with NAYS! Check out this video highlighting her passion and commitment to enhancing youth sports. #youthsports #youngathletes #administration #sports #sportsadministration

Former Michigan State basketball standout Jenna Allen - now an assistant coach at Central Michigan - shares how she used visualization before games to help her focus and flourish as a player. She encourages volunteer coaches to help youth embrace these techniques to help cultivate a positive frame of mind and be better able to navigate rocky patches that pop up during games. Check out her insights in our latest SportingKid feature: https://lnkd.in/gZzf4ZS5 #youthsports #youngathletes #youthbasketball #basketball #visualization #focus #mindset #confidence

We are looking for engaging speakers to present on important youth sports topics, issues, trends and research at our 24th annual Youth Sports Congress in San Diego on Nov. 5-8. Session proposals can be submitted quickly and easily here: https://lnkd.in/dVYduGcp Also, if you have suggestions for sessions you'd like to see in San Diego, or recommendations on speakers, please let us know via email: [email protected] #youthsports #youngathletes #sports #recreation #leadership #speaking #sessions #experts #sandiego #california

Lisa Licata, our Senior Director of Professional Administrators, presented a session this morning in Chicago on “Understanding Our Role in Quality” at the annual Illinois Park and Recreation Association Conference. Later this year on Aug. 20th we are teaming up with the IPRA to offer a special Academy for Youth Sports Administrators Prep Session in Naperville, Illinois. Topics covered include youth sports philosophy, policies and procedures, volunteer management, child abuse and bullying prevention, parent management, conflict resolution, risk management, emergency preparedness, inclusion of children with disabilities, leadership, professional development, and more. Registration will open soon through IPRA. For more information about the Academy: https://lnkd.in/epvvn7j5 #youthsports #youngathletes #administration #leadership #youthprograms #IPRA #Illinois #recreation

Helping young athletes stay dialed into the moment while not allowing their thoughts to wander is a big challenge for volunteer coaches in all sports. We spoke with Dr. Desaree Festa, team sport psychologist for the Buffalo Bills, who shares ways to keep kids focused so they can flourish. Check out her insights: https://lnkd.in/eqr9veA7 She's also one of more than 30 leading sports psychologists featured in our free Mental Health and Youth Sports online training that you can check out here: https://lnkd.in/ePJZkXgc #youthsports #youngathletes #mentalhealth #focus #mindset #coaching #leadership #sportpsychology

Read more from our conversation with UNC women's basketball coach Courtney Banghart, a former Naismith Coach of the Year winner who Fortune magazine?once put on its list of the world's 50 greatest leaders: https://lnkd.in/ew-Qy4PS #youthsports #youngathletes #coaching #coachingkids #leadership

You Matter, They Matter - this clever and impactful campaign created by the dedicated recreation staff at the United States Army Garrison Fort Gregg-Adams Youth Sports and Fitness in Virginia earned it our prestigious Excellence in Youth Sports Award, which is sponsored by our friends at SCORE Sports. Check out our latest blog post to learn more about You Matter, They Matter: https://lnkd.in/erxv6H2i #youthsports #youngathletes #youmatter #theymatter #recreation #leadership #virginia #usarmy #fortgreggadams #coaching #coachingkids

Young athletes are stepping into sports programs at the Newton Parks and Recreation Department in North Carolina more prepared, and having more fun, thanks to the Pre-Season Skills and Drills Assessment Program that was introduced a year ago. The innovative approach to improve the team selection process features Newton’s recreation staff and a handful of specially selected trained volunteer coaches teaching youth the fundamental skills of their sport, ensuring a high standard of instruction and safety throughout the program. This effort earned the department our prestigious Excellence in Youth Sports Award,?which is sponsored by SCORE Sports. Read more about the great work being done in Newton: https://lnkd.in/e8pfHFwW #youthsports #youngathletes #recreation #northcarolina #newton #sports #skills #fundamentals

Young athletes have been running, jumping, smiling and laughing thanks to an innovative and exciting new offering rolled out by the City of North Las Vegas Parks and Recreation staff a year ago. Its Shooting Stars Youth Track Meet has been engaging and entertaining young participants – and parents, too! Instead of traditional track and field competition this one-of-a-kind meet features cleverly designed events that are fun, safe and stress-free - including throwing foam javelins! This widely popular track meet earned the department our prestigious Excellence in Youth Sports Award,?which is sponsored by SCORE Sports. Read more about the Shooting Stars Youth Track Meet in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/ek6tyKAk #youthsports #youngathletes #excellenceaward #recreation #youthprograms #lasvegas #nevada #trackandfield

Monday nights under the lights are special at Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation in North Carolina, thanks to the staff’s creation of a Girls Middle School Age Flag Football League for youth ages 11 to 13. Introduced in the fall of 2023, the program quickly grabbed the attention of girls thrilled with the opportunity to try an action-packed new sport. More than 50 youth participated in the debut season, and the program has become so popular that it has already doubled in size with 10 teams and more than 100 players - and it’s now offered in both the spring and fall. This widely popular and growing program earned the department the prestigious Excellence in Youth Sports Award, which is sponsored by our friends at?SCORE Sports. Read more about the outstanding work being done at Mecklenburg: https://lnkd.in/eYhRbrhP #youthsports #youngathletes #northcarolina #mecklenburg #sports #recreation #excellenceaward #flagfootball #femaleathletes?