Why not just going to the local park or rec center with friends and then figure out the sport to play?

Refs are not needed. Most top football and basketball players grew up doing this! For some reason, upper middle class and rich kids seem to need structure and adult involvement all the time.

Field availability
Court availability
Insurance
Adult volunteers
Referees
Equipment
Fees per player
Background checks for adult volunteers

There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes of youth organizations that would need to be addressed.

Now, if you are suggesting have kid come to your backyard and play a game of pick up soccer, then it’s no problemo. But anything that is open to the community is going to require a tremendous amount of work. You’d essentially be competing with high schools/middle schools/elementary schools and youth sports organizations that have long been in existence.

Good luck. Let us know.

Fish football. Very stupid auto correct.
FLAG football.

Anonymous wrote:Clickbait. I thought this was picking up women.

Nice. I guess under the Sports heading, it would be competitive picking up of women.

Anonymous wrote:OP, try this is your local city/county and report back to us.

Perhaps.

Anonymous wrote:Have you ever volunteered to coach? Be on the board of a youth league?

You seem quite naive.

Other than what you perceive is naïveté, do you actually have a criticism.

I would think everyone on this board would be mildly interested in an idea that benefits youth + sports.

Anonymous wrote:Do you have children in youth sports now? If so, which sports? Are you in DC/MD/VA?

My dd is 12. She did soccer for several seasons. I was assistant coach as I had younger babies and a DH with a client-facing (late) work schedule. I could manage his arrival right on time at practice, and assistant coaching. Dd now does a lesson sport that is not on a field. Dance at diff times as well.

Ds is 8. Played a little soccer in two locations. Trying out a few new sports. This time it’s fish football.

Ds 6 is starting a first season in something. Soccer. Then later we have identified a basketball lesson-style program.

We have friends and relatives who have done everything collectively. We have friends and relatives locked out of sports because they didn’t get in at age 6. We are very supportive of coaches and refs. I keep almost signing up to be a ref but DH often works on Saturdays lately.

OP, try this is your local city/county and report back to us.

Anonymous wrote:Name your city Op

Won’t dox myself. Normally I’m open, but I won’t do it.

Have you ever volunteered to coach? Be on the board of a youth league?

You seem quite naive.

Do you have children in youth sports now? If so, which sports? Are you in DC/MD/VA?

Clickbait. I thought this was picking up women.

Name your city Op

Op here to maintain the stance that our government could provide this. I’d suggest a pilot at *any* scale.

Anonymous wrote:There aren't enough fields and courts. Public Schools are off limits bc they're in use by the school or a private club/rec league using it (with applicable fees).

A lot of counties don't have THAT many open fields b/c, you know, open spaces are snatched up by home abdcretail developers which generate a ton of money (way more than any loosey-goosey drop in game).

Where are you posting from Op?
Ffx Co has 1.4 million people abd I'm sure the surrounding counties and MD and DC have similar dense populations.

I could maybe (abd a big "maybe" at that) see your plan working if you lived in Mayberry

“Enough fields” or courts, is an excuse.
What is enough?

What if this program were introduced at a smaller scale until facilities potentially catch up?

What if this program only utilizes a single field? (For a smaller offering: fewer sports, fewer weight or skill groups)

I see many empty turf fields in my city. They should potentially be used at all hours of the weekend. And at all after school hours. At all hours of the summer (weather permitting).