Youth Center sports program scores

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Hubby
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Many parents today may be concerned about the physical wellbeing of their children due to consistent media coverage on the obesity epidemic that threatens American children. Such concerns are not unfounded, as studies have shown that under-exercised children are more at risk for health problems, poor academic performance, and emotional and mental stress. For military parents with similar concerns, one base program has a proactive solution.

For approximately 15 years, the Dover Air Force Base, Del., Youth Center has worked to meet the fitness needs of the base's children and help quell parent's concern as to whether their children are physically healthy. Their solution is this - to give every child the opportunity to stay active in whatever way appeals to them.

The recreation program offers children the opportunity to learn from a list of sports ranging from soccer to cheerleading. For children ages five and six, the referee is the coach, teaching them the fundamentals of the game. As the children get older, the coach focuses more on educating them on skills while a separate referee steps in to adjudicate.

For example, when the children are playing basketball, each child plays at least half of the game, giving them the chance to participate. They practice once a week, and play a game Friday or Saturday.

"Our goal is to get the kids up and moving, and build a firm fitness foundation. Any of the sports they play also count toward their score in the Air Force FitFactor program," said Roxanne Lee, the Youth Center recreation specialist with the 436th Force Support Squadron.

FitFactor is an Air Force initiate that gives its members points based on their activity level. They can redeem their earned points for prizes, such as music cards or ear phones.

"We also host various Air Force fitness camps; they're all free and give the children an opportunity to move around. There is rock climbing and robotics camps, among others," said Lee.

The Youth Center also works with the local community. Last year, the Youth Center's Baseball League merged with a local program to form a single league. The transition went well, according to Lee, and plans are in place to repeat the process with the Youth Center's Soccer League in the fall.

"A number of military children live on-base and go to the base elementary and middle schools, so we want them to integrate with the local community. It's good for the children because they get to meet and interact with others they will potentially be going to high school with," said Lee.

All the programs the Youth Center offers are volunteer run. All volunteer applicants have a thorough background check performed before they can become certified to work with children.

"We are always looking for more volunteers," said Lee. "Anyone interested in volunteering should swing by the front desk of the Youth Center; we will give them a packet to fill out so we can start the process. We still need time-keepers and score-keepers for this year's basketball season."