Youth that are involved in sports have opportunities to build character, develop lifelong healthy habits and enjoy the benefits of healthy relationships with adults. Youth in low-income urban and rural communities that often face difficult and persistent challenges benefit from involvement in sports in ways that impact their ability to survive and transcend their environments. Sports programs can target the needs of low-income youth and provide services and attention they might not receive in their homes, schools or communities.
After-school Programs
After-school sports activities provide supervision and safety for youth in low-income communities. Millions of children are alone each day for hours after school, according to the After-School Project. Hours of unsupervised time leaves youth vulnerable to risks of substance abuse, tobacco use and sexual experimentation. Children left at home often spend hours in sedentary activities, such as watching television. After-school sports programs are important community resources for youth development and protection.
Mentoring
Sports involvement exposes youth to mentors from all walks of life that serve as role models and teachers. Mentors help guide character and leadership development for youth. Mentors expose youth in low-income communities to life outside of their communities. Team-Up for Youth's Fellows program trains coaches to serve as effective mentors and uses youth-led service-learning projects to augment its sports-based youth development programming. Mentors can be especially effective when they are from the youths' community or have overcome similar odds.
Health and Fitness
Concern over childhood obesity, poor nutrition and lack of physical activity generates support of youth sports in low-income communities. Regular participation in sports helps youth meet recommendations for physical activity and fitness. The National Youth Sports Program, or NYSP, provides federal funds to colleges and universities to support summer sports programs for low-income youth. NYSP programs provide health and fitness services to participating low-income youth that they might not otherwise have access to, including free or reduced cost meals, health screenings and substance abuse prevention education.
Academic Success
Youth that participate in sports show improvement in school; however; youth in low-income communities often have limited access to sports programs and the attention and resources those programs provide, according to The After-School Project. Youth that participate in sports are constantly learning new skills, demonstrating those skills and learning how to work hard to achieve goals. These habits transfer to academic preparation. Many sports programs include an academic component, such as tutoring, or they might require minimum grades in school for participation. Through participation in sports, youth in low-income communities have access to consistent support and encouragement which improves their confidence and self-motivation.
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