Meeting Kids Where They Are: Six Questions With the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit
We talked to Tom Bender, Executive Director of Community Youth Sports with the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, about why sports shape children’s futures, the importance of giving kids a say in their programming and how organizations are coming together to build healthy futures for southeast Michigan youth.
What kind of programming does the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit offer local children, youth and families?
We have clinics and leagues for a variety of different sports – basketball, soccer and many others. We’ve also offer swim lessons, through both Detroit Swims and our Safety Around Water Initiatives, that we bring to communities all over the area we serve. There are two other great youth running programs – Girls on the Run and PACE, and we’ve got Y on the Fly, our sports-sampling program. We also have camps, both day camp and residential, youth employment programs, college and career readiness programs, and a whole lot more.
How do youth sports benefit kids?
Sports give kids a space where they can learn and build their confidence and skills. A fun environment to play with old friends and make new ones. They teach so many important life lessons, like how to face adversity and get back up after a fall, and to keep working at it. Dedication, sacrifice, teamwork – you learn all those skills playing sports without even realizing it, and they really pay off as you become an adult. Sports also offer a healthy way to create a sense of belonging. Everybody wants to be part of something, and when you’re on a team, there’s always an opportunity to contribute.
I’ll never forget the grandmother who reached out to tell me how much her grandson had benefited from one of our programs. She got so emotional, talking about how he was more confident and outgoing, how he wasn’t staying in the house as much, how he was more willing to go out and play with friends, try out for a team, all these things he wasn’t doing before.
Why are in-town sports leagues important for kids?
Many parents feel like they have to put their kids in expensive travel leagues because they’re scared their children will get left behind. But for most kids, local, in-town leagues offer more than enough competition, without all the added cost and pressure. So parents need to have honest conversations with their children about what they want. Are they just in it to have fun? If so, great! An in-town league is just right for them.
When I was a kid, travel leagues were mainly for kids who were serious about the sport and might want to play in college or professionally. That’s not a bad way to do it. The option is still there for kids who want that level of competition, while the rec leagues are perfect for the kids who just want to play.
What is Y on the Fly?
Y on the Fly is a free mobile youth sports-sampling program. Since 2019, with a partnership of four YMCA Associations, it has helped more than 110,000 young people across seven counties in southeast Michigan try out different sports, play and have fun, right in their communities.
There isn’t a Y in every part of Metro Detroit. But every kid still deserves the opportunity to participate in sports. Y on the Fly Detroit operates four vans that are dispatched primarily to communities and partners where YMCAs are not located. The program helps kids to try a variety of different sports. It could be one they know – like soccer, basketball or football – or something they may have never played before, like lacrosse, field hockey or pickleball. The important thing is that youth have a say in what they want to play.
We try to light a spark in sports, create healthy and fun engagement, and provide a local, safe space for play. Maybe a kid will get more interested in a sport, learn more about it and continue to play. Maybe they’ll just play outside more at home and not spend so much time on screens. If we can get kids to see the value in being active, that’s wonderful. In the end, it’s all about being a kid and having fun.
How is the YMCA of Metro Detroit connected to the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Project Play?
Y on the Fly has partnered with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, Project Play and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation since 2019. It has been an amazing partnership that has made a difference in the lives of so many young people throughout southeast Michigan. The Detroit YMCA serves Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Northeast Livingston counties, and we partner as a regional collective, called the “Y Positive Play Initiative,” with three other southeast Michigan YMCA Associations: the Blue Water YMCA in Port Huron, the Ann Arbor YMCA and the Monroe Family YMCA. Together, we’re bringing Y on the Fly to all seven counties in southeast Michigan.
How can people learn more about and support your work?
Our website is the best place to start. It has many opportunities to give, and we’re always looking for volunteers for programs like Y on the Fly, Girls on the Run, and PACE. However people want to give back and get involved – that’s great!
To learn more about Y on the Fly and the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit, visit Y on the Fly.