Thank you for trusting us to be a part of your child’s development. We take that responsibility seriously and do everything we can to continue earning your trust. We’ve created this section to provide you with general information about our Y employees, volunteer coaches, and refs. We also have some helpful tips to make your Y sport experience the best that it can be.

FAQs

My child has no experience – Is that OK?
Absolutely!!! We welcome beginners. Our goal is to give them the opportunity to grow a passion for the sport.

My child is highly experienced – Is that OK?
Absolutely!!! YMCA Leagues are about building upon current skill level. Email us requesting an age override if you feel it would be appropriate.

What are the exact times/locations of Games?
The entire season’s games schedule as well as team assignments, practice day/time/location, and a detailed parents hanbook are all sent out the week before the season start date. This is because we must monitor enrollment, coaches, and field/court reservation statuses up until registration closes.

What days/times are practice?
Upon registering for the league, you may enter any days you CANNOT attend a weekly practice. We do our best to accomodate everyone’s schedule, however it is not 100% guaranteed that your preference is met.

How often is practice?
Typically our teams practice once a week. Practices will last around 1 hour.

Can I stay and watch practice?
YES. In fact, we have a strict no drop-off policy unless your child is age 12 or older with a signed release form.

Do you take buddy requests?
Yes, we can take up to two buddy or coach requests. Again, while we do our best, there is no guarantee of being placed exactly as requested.

What are League Assessments?
Assessments are simply a way for us to gauge where kids are already at skill-wise so that we can create evenly matched teams to the best of our ability.
Asessments are MANDATORY for certain age groups of certain sports, but not all. It will specify in the registration page whether assessments are mandatory, and what the assessment day/time options are.

How are the coaches picked?
All of our coaches are volunteers. Most are parents helping coach their kids, while others are folks from the community who share the same Y values. ALL of our coaches go through a background check as well as training. Your child’s safety is our #1 priority.

What equipment will my child need?
Upon registration you will receive additional details on equipment requirements as well as recommendations. All sports require the purchase of a jersey.

How do I purchase a Jersey?
Jerseys are purchased online through our jersey vendor, Augusta Sportswear. The link is on the registration page.
Basketball Jerseys are required for Basketball; All other sports will purchase the Multi-Sport Jersey.
Jerseys can be reused for several seasons!

Why are there no Playoffs?
We are all about fun here at the Y. The goal is to give kids the opportunity to grow and thrive in a low-pressure environment, as well as learn sportsmanship and character values. Playoffs place an emphasis on winning, which is difficult for beginner players to face. If they stick with the sport, they will certainly get the opportunity to compete in Playoffs and high-pressure scenarios down the road!

How is Communication managed throughout the Season?
We use a website called YGametime for you to easily access the schedule online, as well as league details. We use Email to communicate important admin information to you, and your coaches will use the App Groupme to communicate directly witih your team only.

What is the Inclement Weather Policy?
It is our intent to get every practice and game in as scheduled. However, safety is our top priority. Practices or games that are cancelled due to inclement weather are not guaranteed to be made up.

Is parent involvement required?
YES. If you are not a coach, all parents must be part of a rotating schedule of volunteer scorekeepers, bench/dugout/field assistants, & snack duty for the whole team.

 

Helpful Tips

Here are some helpful tips to ensure you have a great season!

  1. Make sure you read the Parent Handbook and join your team’s GroupMe messaging chain!
  2. Keep the YGametime website at your fingertips by downloading the website as an app! (Directions included in Parent Handbook)
  3. Sign up for Weather and Emergency Text Alerts – We want to get you the right information at the right time. This is a great resource to help in that communication.
  4. Make sure your athlete has the equipment they need.
  5. Be on time – We want to honor your time and effort by providing the best quality sports experience we can, we need your help though. By showing up on time, ready to play, for practices and games it makes a world of difference. Picking up your athlete on time is a huge help to our coaches too. We understand that can’t happen every time. When those situations occur the best thing to do is notify the Coach ahead of time via GroupMe.
  6. Make it FUN! At the Y we encourage fair play, positive competition and family involvement. Every child gets to play so make sure to cheer loud! (For both teams!)