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Abstract
This sports outreach program aims to engage African American adolescents in physical
activity while also preparing them for spiritual growth. Many individuals struggle to make the
connection between God's word and sports. Those who can make the link should share God's
agenda with anybody who will listen. Sports are a popular interest for individuals of all ages and
can bring people together who may not typically attend church services. The ideal approach to
accomplish this is by building a sports outreach problem.
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Introduction
This sports outreach plan aims to motivate at-risk African American adolescents in
Baltimore City, foster a positive environment for both genders, provide mentorship/coaching,
and offer organized sports/activities without competition. According to Proverbs 13:24, those
who don't discipline their children detest them. "Those who love their children are concerned
enough to discipline them." This community's youngsters face drug-related issues, high crime
rates, low income, and lack of parental discipline. In Baltimore, many families lack the necessary
resources to support their members, leading to risky choices, particularly among kids. This sports
outreach program demonstrates the potential for more something that at-risk youth can look
forward to in the future.
Target
Providing affordable sports choices for children in the city is just one aspect of
addressing their needs. The National Recreation Parks and Association (NRPA) aims to support
local parks and recreation departments in cities across America. NRPA strives to provide parks
and recreation departments for all, but access to these resources is limited in many places
(Creating Awareness About Youth Sports: Equity | Parks & Recreation Magazine | NRPA, Jan
2001). My outreach focuses on areas that the local parks and recreation department cannot reach.
The NRPA emphasizes the need of providing sports opportunities for adolescents in their
neighborhoods that are affordable, high quality, and accessible.
Throughout my athletic career, I received coaching from several individuals. My father
was the most effective coach for me. While some may argue that this is biased, I find that my
father connects with both me and my teammates. He was able to collaborate with us to better
4
understand the sport and assist us flourish. At-risk adolescents often lack a role model or
someone who understands their situation. Our program selects mentors who have personal
experience as at-risk adolescents and can interact with them effectively. Having a coach who has
been through the same experiences as the kids is highly valuable. According to Liu et al. (2020a),
the Self Determination Theory (SDT) explains how coaches can encourage players. Research
shows that combining physical activity with adult interaction benefits children more.
To assist at-risk adolescents with sports, non-competitive activities should be
implemented. Research indicates that children may cease participating in sports owing to a lack
of enthusiasm or competitiveness. Positive youth development (PYD) promotes positive
participation and mutual influence in relationships (Bean et al., 2021). According to the article,
competitive sports can disrupt PYD by focusing on performance and skill-based goals. At-risk
adolescents who are eliminated from a team due to a lack of abilities, equipment, or physical
attributes are more likely to engage in negative behaviors such as drug use, aggression, and
dropping out of school. Lack of positive outlets for promoting PYD can result in more youth not
receiving necessary support.
While assisting at-risk adolescents is challenging, it can be helpful. At-risk adolescents
can benefit from having a coach who can connect with them and provide positive sports
experiences. Making sports accessible and non-competitive can also promote discipline and
improve their lives.
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Appendices A
NRPA has spent the past year examining the youth sports landscape to support park and
recreation professionals in providing a safe and enjoyable sports environment for all children.
Research shows that participating in sports improves children's health, self-esteem, friendships,
teamwork, kindness, and respect, as well as their prospects of academic and career success. After
conducting research, NRPA established goals and principles for collaborating with park and
recreation professionals to ensure all adolescents have access to sports opportunities. NRPA
values the experience of park and recreation professionals in collaborating with youth, parents,
and partners to promote equity in youth sports. Our goal is to create safe, fun, and affordable
opportunities for all youth in the community. Promoting equity in local youth sports. This
October, NRPA began its first year of operation. We selected 16 towns as pioneers in NRPA's
Youth Sports Strategy, offering grant funding to park and recreation agencies to develop ideas for
increasing youth sports equity. While reviewing grant applications, we came across the following
excerpt from a letter submitted by a little leaguer to Mayor Jane Castor in Tampa, Florida: I've
been playing softball for four years and lately encountered an issue. My home little league has
only one softball field and at least four baseball fields. I believe baseball was invented first, but
softball deserves a little more recognition. I understand that boys are more likely to participate in
sports, but this is not the [1800s]. Girls are increasingly participating in sports, especially
softball. Some softball practices have been cancelled due to a baseball game on the field, which
cannot be moved elsewhere. I am writing to you to obtain more softball field EVERYWHERE…
Park and recreation workers should prioritize equity-based best practices in youth sports
programs, facilities, and policies to guarantee a safe and inviting environments for all children
participating. PARKSANDRECREATION.ORG | JANUARY 2022 | Parks and Recreation 25
The letter highlights unequal access to young sports, but also suggests methods to level the
playing field. However, we must remember that athletics were not always accessible to everyone.
The 1964 Civil Rights Act granted persons of color access to recreational facilities and legal
protection for mixed-race sports teams. Park and recreation professionals in Tampa saw the letter
as a call to action. After analyzing demographic and neighborhood data, just five of the city's 39
little league ballfields are suitable for softball. The city of Tampa plans to address gender
discrepancies in sports by turning numerous baseball fields to softball during the coming year.
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Appendices B
This study, guided by SDT, aims to explore the relationship between perceived coach
support (for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and desire for physical exercise among at-
risk kids. The study aims to analyze how perceived coach support for autonomy, competence,
and relatedness predicts ATM, CTM, and AM. The SDT research suggests that perceived coach
support for autonomy, competence, and relatedness can positively predict ATM, negatively
predict controlled motivation, and negatively predict AM. In the context of a sports camp, we
believe that perceived competence support (PCS) is the most important factor in predicting
motivation. Our study aims to explore the link between social support and motives in this at-risk
group. The findings may broaden the scope of SDT research to include disadvantaged
populations, such as at-risk boys. Our results can help sports camp directors plan and implement
SDT-based programs that encourage physical activity.
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Appendices C
The positive youth development (PYD) framework in sports focuses on how youth can
develop through good and mutually influential relationships with their settings.1 Sport programs
aligned with the PYD paradigm can promote psychosocial development, satisfaction of
fundamental needs, and good results.1-3 However, youth (aged 8-19) may have diverse
experiences and outcomes depending on the sport context. Competitive sports prioritize
performance, select participants based on skill through auditions, and hold official tournaments
and play-offs. Recreational sports aim to improve skills for youngsters of all abilities and require
less time commitment than competitive sports.4 Recent youth sport literature suggests that PYD
can be promoted in both environments. A study of four Canadian hockey coaches found that
competitive sports can help young people (ages 9-15) improve life skills while also promoting
physical growth.6 A recent study in the recreational sport environment reveals that coaches can
encourage enjoyment and positive kid development through play, experiential learning, and
youth input.7 These studies provide an initial knowledge of PYD in two scenarios, but more
study is needed to determine any distinctions between them. Additional research is needed to
create optimal conditions for psychosocial development in youth sports, as participation does not
always result in positive experiences and outcomes (e.g., coaches may resist diversity and
inclusivity efforts). This study adds to the field of sport psychology by examining differences in
PYD quality delivery and promotion across competitive and recreational situations. Contextual
elements such as program focus (e.g., prioritizing team win-record vs. athlete development) and
context type (e.g., competitive, recreational) can impact the quality of sport programs and the
psychosocial development of youth.4 While there has been qualitative study on program quality
disparities between these two contexts (10), no quantitative research has been conducted to
investigate juvenile opinions.11 Previous research has focused on the impact of sport
programming and coach-athlete interactions on youth psychosocial development. However, little
attention has been paid to the significance of the sport setting.11 There has been little research on
how setting affects quality programming and youth experiences. To enhance PYD promotion and
program changes, it's important to examine the quality of sport programs that provide positive
developmental experiences in various situations. This study compares program quality and
psychosocial experiences in competitive and recreational child sports, including satisfaction with
basic psychological requirements and growth opportunities. Quality youth programming,
including developmental structures and processes, is a key predictor of positive youth
development (12).13 Eccles and Gootman's14 criteria for quality programming (Table 1) have
been used to evaluate coaching practices and promote PYD in young sports.15,1
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References
Bean, C., Shaikh, M., Kramers, S., & Forneris, T. (2021). Does context matter? Unpacking
differences in program quality and developmental experiences across competitive and
recreational youth sport. International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 16(5),
1204–1213. https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211001879
Page not found | National Recreation and Park Association. (n.d.). https://www.nrpa.org/parks-
recreation%20magazine/2022/january/creating-awareness-about-youth-sports-equity/
Liu, J., Xiang, P., McBride, R. E., & Juzaily, N. (2019). Perceived coach supports and at-risk
boys’ motivation at a summer sports camp: A commonality analysis. International
Journal of Sports Science & Coaching, 15(2), 146–156.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1747954119897521
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