Statement of Purpose | |
Sports are an integral part of a youth’s life. The importance of physical training and mental toughness is just as essential as the concept of teamwork and sportsmanship. Whether you win or lose, sports offer much more than just games and competition. The significance of building a sense of camaraderie amongst players, coaches, and community; learning how to win and lose graciously; discovering new passions and opportunities; increasing physical awareness and self-esteem is what helps youth build their identities and their relationship with the greater community. The barriers for low-income youth to participate in sports programs are very high. However, many low-income youth do not have the same opportunities as other youth who are more fortunate. As a result of this lack of opportunities for this particular population, these youth are at a higher risk for substance abuse, obesity, depression, teen pregnancy, high school dropout rates, and gang involvement. Because of this lack of opportunity for low-income youth, a collaborative has been formed to establish the Youth Basketball League. Through the creation of this league, the goal is to provide youth from non-profits and local schools with the chance to develop new skills both on and off the basketball court. We believe this league will not only allow youth to learn the game of basketball, but it will also provide the much-needed chance for youth to grow physically, emotionally, mentally, and socially with the ultimate goal to help youth build a healthier lifestyle. This means reducing the prevalence of high-risk behavior including substance abuse, obesity, depression, teen pregnancy, high school dropout rates, and gang involvement through involvement in other programs and services offered by the team’s organization. |