P.L.A.Y.S. (Pipeline Leadership for America's Youth Sports)



PLAYS is designed for those passionate and committed to developing and enhancing youth sport programs.  PLAYS will bring together advocates and administrators from youth sports from around the country to get on the same page by working together to create proactive and imaginitive approaches toward youth development, recruitment and retention, diversity, outreach, and strategic planning.


Goals

* Present successful youth sport models and provide example plans

* Engage NGB's and Youth Sports Councils on how to develop and enhance outreach and youth development programs

* Provide tools to implement strategies and program

* Develop strategies for recruitment, athlete retention and multi-cultutural awareness

* Initiate best practices discussion involving programs, parents, community support, and coaching

* Design action plan outlines for each NGB and Youth Sport Administrator

 


Blogs and Links 
Growing The Game Together
USA Volleyball is at the forefront of youth sport development.  John Kessel oversees grassroots and disabled programming for USA Volleyball.   Check out his USOC blog, Growing the Game Together here. 
Alicia McConnell and Sports Events Magazine
Alicia McConnell discusses the best practices for youth sports programs, developed from the USOC PLAYS’ Conference in a monthly column for Sports Events Magazine. Check here to visit Alicia's monthly article.

World Sport Chicago Urban Youth Initiative
Working with the U.S. Conference of Mayors Olympic Task Force, Chicago 2016 is promoting the Olympic Movement and the importance of youth sport throughout the country. The U.S. Conference of Mayors passed a resolution in June 2009 supporting World Sport Chicago’s Urban Youth Sport Initiative. In addition, five cities agreed to work with World Sport Chicago in this effort to increase the involvement of urban youth in sport.

World Sport Chicago, the legacy organization created as part of Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, has already reached more than 20,000 youth through its efforts over the last three years. The cities that have signed up to be part of the program will work with World Sport Chicago to replicate Chicago’s successful program.  For more information, please visit the World Sport Chicago website here.

The White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport
The USOC is in the process of finding out more information about this exciting Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport. The White House Office of Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport will recommend federal policies and programs to the President to enhance opportunities and access for youth participation in sport, with particular focus on youth in urban areas as well as foster and encourage youth sporting, educational and cultural events involving Olympic values-based programs and the participation of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians.  Check the White House website here for more information on this post.
Multi-Sport Organizations
Alicia McConnell will take over as the Multi-Sport Organization liaison and will continue to work with these 36 partner organizations, many of which are involved in youth sport.  Check this link for a complete listing of Multi-Sport Organizations.
PLAYS Working Group
In late April of 2009, the PLAYS working group came together to revisit the goals and discussions created during the 2008 PLAYS Conference.  Please see this link to find notes from that working group meeting.