Kids in Sport

Born of the spirit of volunteerism arising from the 1984 Olympics, Kids In Sports (KIS) was founded in 1994 to create community-led after school sports programs for children and youth in underserved areas of Los Angeles County. Now in its fourteenth year, KIS has brought high quality league sports to more than 110,000 low- and very low-income boys and girls, ages 5-17. Fifteen sports clubs, located in some of the area’s poorest neighborhoods, provide year-round soccer, baseball, softball, T-ball, basketball, volleyball, swimming, and lacrosse programs open to all, regardless of skill level or ability to pay.

Targeting areas where most children have no access to organized sports or other healthful, adult-supervised activities when not in school, KIS coordinates with public agencies, other nonprofits and community leaders to operate its sports clubs. Recruiting parents, teachers and community leaders, KIS assists them to create and manage sports clubs in existing facilities at public parks, schools and one housing development. In addition to the Vermont Sports Club, KIS has clubs in Culver City, Hawthorne, Los Angeles (Watts, Compton, Los Angeles, Boyle Heights), Montebello, Pasadena (Southeast), Huntington Park, El Monte, Harbor Hills, and Whittier. KIS is preparing to add two to three clubs in 2009.

Leveraging neighborhood assets, KIS builds community institutions by training and supporting parents, teachers, parks and recreation staff and other interested adults to organize and manage clubs at schools, parks and a housing development. This makes good use of scarce play facilities, involves parents more deeply in their children’s lives, strengthens schools community standing and helps forge relationships among area residents and community agencies. Building community is inherent to the Kids In Sports club model and its volunteer corps now exceeds 700. A growing number of these volunteers are older teens and young adults who have aged out of the program but come back to give back to their community.

KIS sports programs are of the same high quality as those offered in more affluent neighborhoods. KIS supplies well-designed uniforms and all the necessary regulation equipment and safety gear. It arranges for training and certification of all coaches and officials. To add to the professionalism of the experience, KIS makes sure that its certified game officials receive stipends. Separate boys and girl’s leagues give girls a safe and nurturing place to play. Where possible, KIS works to refurbish run-down fields and then trains volunteers to maintain them.

KIS’ year-round, after school sports programs contribute to the betterment of its participants and the entire community in a variety of ways. By giving youngsters a viable alternative to unsupervised activities, KIS helps them stay safe, stay active and avoid dangerous and undesirable behaviors. The rule that everyone plays, regardless of ability or financial means, builds self-discipline and self-respect, raises fitness levels and enables every child to experience success. Bringing local adults in to lead and mentor the children ensures the children have contact with positive role models and involves parents more directly in their children’s lives. These benefits combine to improve educational outcomes, develop conflict-resolution skills in both children and adults and enhance the future of our community’s disadvantaged youth.

KIS’ main office is located in the EXPO Center 3980 S. Menlo Avenue, Suite 237, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (213) 765-1900 www.kidsinsportsla.org.

Story by: Tony Giarla