Sponsored by Community First Bank
Everyone has a place to play in Westfield Youth Sports (WYS).
Understanding that sports are fundamental in a child’s development, WYS is serving the community by creating athletic programs that not only develop athletic abilities, but also instill core values, culture and a sense of community.
Serving 4,000 kids through track and field, tennis, basketball, baseball, cheer, football, field hockey, softball, volleyball, lacrosse, cross-country and club triathlon, WYS is vital to the community, and builds motivation, confidence and teamwork.
The mission is to promote amateur youth sports to school-aged children living within the Westfield Washington School District. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to play youth sports,” says Chad Schenkel, WYS president.
The goal with WYS is to provide equal opportunity for instructional, recreational and competitive sports leagues, regardless of race, color, creed, ethnicity or socioeconomic status.
WYS has a scholarship program for those who need financial assistance, which covers the entire cost of the program. The scholarship application is only available for sports programs that are currently open for registration, and must be completed one week prior to the registration deadlines.
WYS wouldn’t be successful without the support of the community. This includes contributing to fundraising efforts, local business sponsorships of the program, teams and scholarships, as well as volunteering. “We are a community-based organization where everyone involved are volunteers,” says Schenkel. “From the board members to coaches, to volunteers who help out even with the mundane tasks, every person has a value and there is always a value someone can bring.”
With a partnership agreement with Grand Park, WYS is able to utilize its facilities. Grand Park, a state-of-the-art sports facility that offers 31 multipurpose fields, 26 ball diamonds, as well as a 377,000-square-foot events center with three indoor, full-size synthetic fields, has been recognized as a hub for hosting sports at the local, state and national levels.
The cultural environment of WYS is very important. With its commitment to its athletes, the WYS leaders strive to ensure a safe environment, which includes having volunteers and coaches complete a background screening, and compelling players, coaches, parents and spectators to adhere to a code of conduct that embodies discipline, respect and good sportsmanship.
The goal of WYS is to foster skilled, well-rounded athletes through sports training and competition. “The reason why our youth athletes wear the shamrocks is to eventually have them compete at the high school level and represent Westfield High School,” Schenkel says. “The youth sports program has a lot of influence, and an example of that is the Westfield High School football coaches being involved in our youth football program.”
To find out more about how to get involved with Westfield Youth Sports, visit westfieldyouthsports.org. The website has up-to-date details regarding upcoming registration, volunteering and sponsorship opportunities.
