Youth Sports educates next generation Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  We have all heard about the youth sports programs designed to fight childhood obesity. There is the "Play 60," "Champions for Healthy Kids," and "Go Out and Play," all aimed to teach children about responsibility and leadership while combating the rise of childhood obesity.

Dover AFB is doing its part in fighting this growing problem by offering its own sports through the Youth Center.

The Youth Center offers several recreational sports throughout the year and three league sports during the fall and spring. Soccer is offered in two age groups, 5-6 and 7-8, while basketball and cheerleading is offered for children 5-12 years old. The Youth Center is also hoping to offer Tae Kwon Do beginning in November.

Roxanne Lee, Youth Center acting sports director, said sports teach children at a young age about sportsmanship, safe sport skills, independence, cooperation and leadership.

"Sports are a vital part of helping our youth develop their physical skills", said Lee. "It also helps children to mature emotionally and socially while keeping them active."

Registration for basketball and cheerleading will begin Nov. 1 and will last through Nov. 30, and games will begin in Jan. 2015. The cost to participate is $25 for youth center members and $50 for non-members.

Each sport is supported by a coaching staff that is made up completely of volunteers. Volunteers who want to become coaches can fill out an application and background check through the Youth Center. Once cleared, they are certified to begin coaching and can choose which sports they would like to coach.

Cari Boehne, Youth Center soccer coach, has coached youth soccer for two seasons at Dover AFB and said she enjoys coaching the younger age groups and hopes more volunteers will sign up to become coaches in the future.

"I absolutely love coaching the younger children because they are open to learning new things and they are excited to be out there," said Boehne. "This is one of their first experiences with organized sports. Many of the children have older siblings that they have seen participate in organized sports and now they have a great opportunity to participate as well."

The youth sports program is also broadening the relationship between Team Dover and the community. The program has started a partnership to play community teams from Parks and Recreation, Holy Cross and the YMCA in an effort to raise the children's skill levels.

Lee said it will be the volunteers and parents' participation and dedication that will see that this new endeavor with the community is a success. 

"Our sports program gives youth an equal chance to play and grow regardless of their skill level," said Lee. "We believe that volunteers are the heartbeat of our program and an essential element in the success of our programs."