Photo Credit: NAYS
In 2003 the City of Arlington (Texas) Parks and Recreation Department decided to resume its youth-sports programming after more than a 20-year hiatus. And what a return it has been. Starting with 250 kids in that first year, the department now averages more than 5,000 participants annually.
“Based on customer-survey responses, we started offering youth sports again due to our community asking us to get back in the youth-sports business,” says Wendy Parker, who has been the athletic director at the city for the past dozen years. “Our purpose was simple: Have kids participate without the pressure of competitive sports, while having fun.”
And the kids have certainly been having a lot of fun through the years, thanks to the “Playing is Winning” philosophy, which the department uses for all of its programs. “Our program goal focuses on the child and their involvement instead of the score,” Parker says. “Participants are winning in social skills, teamwork, and physical fitness while having fun.