Williamstown Youth Center Sports Philosophy Statement
We believe early participation in sports helps children develop lifelong interests, abilities, and habits that support healthy and active lifestyles. To this end, our focus is on physical literacy and long-term athletic development. We design research-based, age-appropriate programs for grades K-8 in many sports. Our philosophy follows the American Development Model, as interpreted by the national governing bodies of the sports we offer. These groups include US Soccer, USA Basketball, and US Lacrosse. All of these organizations have developed detailed youth programs with guidelines and resources adapted to each age group we serve. In addition, we are fortunate to have local resources coming from our high school programs, youth sports organizers, community wellness professionals, and regional college-level coaches.