Youth Sports Alliance After-school Programs Thrive Despite Covid

PARK CITY, Utah - While schools and youth sports programs are still closed across much of the country, the Youth Sports Alliance is successfully (and safely) running after-school programs.  Since the beginning of the school year, 1184 students in 1^st through 9^th grades attending schools in Summit and Wasatch County have participated in our programs.  Nearly a quarter of our registrations come from low-income homes.  To provide programming safely, YSA drastically reduced the number of participants in the classes.  For instance, ice skating sessions usually have 60 students.  This year, they are capped at 20.  Nearly all of our programming -- whether skiing, mountain biking, ballet or theatre – is conducted outside.

“I think it would have been easy to close up shop this year and say it was too hard to run programs, but we saw the need in the community and knew we had to make them happen for our kids,” said Emily Fisher, Youth Sport Alliance Executive Director. “We didn’t exactly know all of the details of how the programs were going to run, but we did know that all of the students had been stuck inside on their screens for way too long.  It was time to get them outside to have fun. "

Learn-to-ski and learn-to-snowboard classes offered at Park City Mountain and Deer Valley are the most popular classes offered during the school year.  In a typical year, more than 500 first through fifth graders rush to the lunch rooms where teams of volunteers stand ready to help students pull on snow pants, tuck mittens into sleeves and gather ski gear before climbing onto motor coaches heading to the resorts. 

But this year isn’t typical.  For our snow programs that run through March 5^th, we maintained our commitment to inclusive programming, by hiring SUVs to transport students who would be unable to participate without it.  They were supervised by volunteer chaperones from Advice Media, Ski Utah, and even some retirees from Midway and Heber City, along with a cohort of parent volunteers.  The rest of the students were transported by their parents.  Again this year, Switchback Sports outfitted more than 100 scholarship students with skis and snowboards, even opening up on days they were closed to make sure these kids could get their equipment.  Also, we worked with the National Ability Center to help five students learn to ski with their friends - one with autism, one is in a wheelchair, and others that need the extra help.

  “Over the last eight weeks, our staff stepped up to give local kids the chance to ski and snowboard," said Shawn Meile, Chief Executive Officer of Advice Media. “One day was so windy and snowy, that the students had to move from Canyons’ base to Park City base. But despite heading to unfamiliar territory in tough conditions, the kids loved it. YSA provided an opportunity to try something they many had never thought they'd be able to experience. It was truly rewarding to help make that happen."

Since launching after-school programs in the 2007/2008 school year, programming has increased from serving students at four elementary schools to providing opportunities for students at 15 schools in 1^st through 9^th grades.  Program offerings range from skiing to mountain biking to photography.  Also, YSA raises funds for seven affiliated sports teams, and provides scholarships to kids in financial need. YSA member teams include:    Figure Skating Club of Park City, Park City Ice Miners, Park City Ski & Snowboard, Park City Speed Skating Club, Utah Olympic Park Skeleton & Bobsled, Wasatch Freestyle Foundation, and Wasatch Luge Club.