Youth Team Sports

The Youth Team Sports Funding is a grant program offered by Lewis County in New York, designed to support local community-based organizations and nonprofits in providing team sports activities for youth. The program's core objective is to foster youth development through organized physical activity, particularly targeting under-resourced communities within New York State. The grant period is from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025, and it emphasizes adherence to child protection policies and data collection for accurate reporting. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are youth under 18 years old residing in under-resourced communities within New York State. The program aims to increase participation in team sports, which are defined as organized physical activities where groups of two or more individuals compete. The impact goals include promoting physical well-being, fostering teamwork, and providing structured recreational opportunities for vulnerable youth populations. The grant prioritizes funding for programming costs directly related to supporting youth participation in team sports. This includes expenses for coaches, instructors, direct service staff, mentors (including training and professional development), referee fees, and the purchase of equipment or uniforms. Additionally, capital investments such as facilities, fields, fences, storage, and lighting are eligible. A notable focus is also on the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) by local organizations to meet current legal requirements. Expected outcomes of the program include an increase in the number of youth participating in organized team sports, improved access to sports activities for under-resourced communities, and enhanced safety through the implementation of child protection policies and the availability of AEDs. Measurable results will likely stem from the collected registration data, including participant demographic information, which OCFS requires for anonymized aggregate reporting. This data will allow for the assessment of the program's reach and effectiveness in serving its target population and achieving its outlined objectives.