Discussion Thread: Sport Outreach Programming Activities

Donald 1

Sports Outreach Programming Activities

Jordan Donald

Masters of Sport Management

SMGT 504: Foundation of Sport Outreach

Dr. Kevin Heisey

September 8, 2024

Key Participant Activities

With our program, we know that for many of these kids, it will be their first time playing certain sports, and we want to offer the best opportunity for these kids to grow and develop athletically. It serves us and them no purpose for us to just roll out a ball and say, “Here you go, play.” With our knowledge of sports and the seasons that respected sports are played within we will plan our program around that. For example, football, volleyball, and soccer are sports that are played during the fall season. In the winter, you typically have basketball and wrestling active. In the springtime, you have sports like baseball, softball, golf, and track & field. Now for our participants there might not be high interest in a lot of these sports for them and we completely understand. We don’t want to strip anybody of the opportunity to learn a. new sport. Therefore, we will offer specific activities every week a season before the sports respected season. For example, a kid newly interested in football will begin football activities in the spring leading up to the summer. While participating in these activities we are building up their skill development of each specific sport which will translate to others promoting a great amount of carryover. An article from the National Academy of Athletics states, there is no doubt in my mind that attending a clinic or camp before league participation is invaluable for children’s sports journey, enhancing their comfort, skills, knowledge, confidence, and safety awareness, leading to a more fulfilling and successful sports experience while reducing the likelihood of early quitting. (Locks 2024) We will have a continuous push of nutrition, health, and safety with each sport we promote every time we come around to it. We want to provide the best opportunity for our kids and that’s the. The only way we can keep them safe is by instilling these things into them repetitively.

Initially, we won’t have our teams to go out and compete in the local leagues against other teams. We believe we should develop our brand a little more and have it within our five-year plan where we will have that opportunity for our kids. We will have opportunities for our kids to compete throughout the season whether it is just a scrimmage against each other, other teams we invite or travel to, or even tournaments that we put into place. Unfortunately, we don’t believe obligating ourselves to a league will be as beneficial to us before we can develop our kids our way.

Another way for us to get everything we want to get accomplished and help serve our community is through having after-school programs and a summer program. It’s not always easy for parents to take off work to go home and watch after their kids every day, which is why we want to offer our programs to develop. Through these programs, we want to continue to develop them personally and academically to show continuous growth. An article from Connections Academy shares, that children aged 6-17 should engage in at least an hour of physical activity daily. Getting active this summer is a great way to build healthy habits that carry over into the school year. (Polzin 2023) We want to do this because when they go back to school there will be a balance of school and sport which is why they’re called student athletes. When they get to college it will more likely be the same way, so it is crucial to lay the foundation before they get to that stage.

Travel

Regarding traveling for our participants and the young people who will be serving our community, we will have adequate plans for everybody top to bottom. Anytime we have to travel within city limits we would like to rent vans until we build ourselves up financially to get our vans that we can keep. Now when we have other activities planned that allow for the whole program to go, we will easily charter buses to get from point a to point b. We will also provide hotels to participants and staff if we ever take a trip out of town where we would need to stay through the night. There will always be adequate supervision no matter whether it is a local or an out-of-town trip. At the end of the day, the safety and progression of our kids are the is vital for us achieving our goals. Anytime with travel, we will find a way to serve the communities we are going to and find a way to serve others. Serving others will help our kids develop and become better people while also changing the lives of others. For any trip we plan on taking an itinerary will be set at least three days before departure that way all staff, parents, and chaperones know what is going on and when events are supposed to take place.

Facility

Initially, we know we will not have the facilities to benefit our complete mission, but we will work with the city of Memphis and the state of Tennessee, to receive funding to build our facility before we become fully operational. Working with the city of Memphis, we will be allowed to host our daily events in the Memphis Sports & Event Center located in Liberty Park. The Memphis Sports & Events Center is home to 16 basketball courts, 32 volleyball courts, a soccer field, a football field, a pair of multipurpose rooms, and classrooms, alongside several event spaces. This is major for us with the target audience we are looking to extend a helping hand towards. This community where the event center is located is right in a rough neighborhood where kids aren’t fortunate enough with the same resources as other kids around the city. Orange Mound is a well-known community in Memphis and has produced some of the best athletes to come through the City of Memphis. With us initially starting there in this facility will only grow and develop our brand. The facility will promote something similar to a big playground for kids and adults. An article from Safe Homes Movement shares this about playgrounds, beyond individual development, playgrounds play a significant role in boosting community engagement and well-being. They act as communal hubs where families gather, friendships form, and neighbors meet, strengthening the social fabric of the area. In low-income communities, where such communal spaces might be scarce, playgrounds become even more critical. They offer a free, accessible place for children and adults alike to engage with others, promoting inclusivity and a sense of belonging. The presence of a playground can transform an empty lot into a lively gathering spot, contributing significantly to the overall health of the community. (Medlife Movement 2024) With all the things we want to bring and promote to the community, we are virtually offering a big playground. Once we finally get our facility up, we have the opportunity to not only build up our community but the city as a whole.

Equipment

The equipment needed for us to adequately support and give the kids the opportunities in sports that they deserve will be no easy task to get. We completely understand that, and we embrace it. One of the main reasons for our program is to make sure these kids have accessible equipment on and off the court. The items we will need include helmets, shoulder pads, basketballs, softballs, baseballs, tennis rackets, tennis balls, and cleats/shoes. When looking at uniforms we will need jerseys, pants, and shorts which we will supply for the kids, so they don’t have to worry about the money to get them. Now when it comes to training these kids, we will need equipment such as cones, speed ladders, nets, agile bags, score clocks, weights, and resistance bands. This way we can have the best resources to develop our kids to compete and improve their skill sets over time.

References

Locks, A. (2024, May 14).  The importance of sports fundamentals. National Academy of Athletics. https://nationalacademyofathletics.com/importance-of-sports-fundamentals/#:~:text=There%20is%20no%20doubt%20in,reducing%20the%20likelihood%20of%20early 

Medlife Movement. (2024, April 5).  MEDLIFE network sites. Safe Homes Movement. https://www.safehomesmovement.org/2024/04/05/the-social-benefits-of-playgrounds-in-low-income-communities/ 

Polzin, C. (2023, August 7).  Keep your child healthy and active over Summer break. Connections Academy®. https://www.connectionsacademy.com/support/resources/article/keep-your-child-healthy-active-over-summer-break/