YMCA of Columbia-Willamette Youth Sports Testimonials

Youth Sports Testimonials
Please read these personal testimonies and see what people are saying about YMCA Youth Sports programs.

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Boys Basketball Focus On Having Fun
Basketball Coach Tracie Reid focuses on the fundamentals of the sport with her YMCA boys’ basketball team, including team building and having fun. Her son, who is a member of the team, learned the importance of being a team player as well as the value of families playing together and being together. Coach Reid says, “Youth sports at the Y help children build relationships and develop lifetime friendships and kids gain self-confidence through these experiences.”

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Volunteer Coaches Rock
Some flag football coaches can be pretty intense. Others, like Steve Pettingill, are the exception. According to Steve, “It’s about having fun, not the final score.” Every child on Steve’s teams at Mt. Hood plays every position. In fact, every child has the opportunity to be a quarterback and every child has a chance to score. For Steve, flag football is truly a family activity. His son is on the team and can’t wait to play. Steve’s wife Heidi handles all of the paperwork, while Steve keeps parents informed and the practices fun. With so many families struggling to make ends meet Steve and his family ensure that every child feels special and every family is important. Steve tells us, “This is a great way to give back to the youth community. Kids stay out of trouble and we can be a positive influence in their lives.”

Clackamas Coach Encourages
Continued Involvement at the Y
“I wasn’t a star athlete as a youth and neither are my sons,” says Eric Friedman. “But I think it is really important that kids get exercise and play in a team sport.” That’s where the Y comes in. Friedman started coaching basketball in 2005 at the Clackamas YMCA and tell us, “I like the ideals of the YMCA and agree that sportsmanship and working as a team are more important than winning.”

Eric’s sons have participated in YMCA Youth Sports over the last few years. Friedman says, “These activities have offered my boys the opportunity to be physically active, interact in a positive way with other kids, be involved in team sports and develop a positive outlook.” Each week Friedman spends approximately five hours volunteering at the YMCA, which includes practices and games. “This is worthwhile. Everyone should consider being a part of activities like this.”