Our Members
Our Vision
For every child in Salem to participate in the sport that they choose
We believe every kid should have the chance to play whatever sport they enjoy. Our group exists to help make that possible through helping connect kids with sports opportunities that fit their situation. We desire to see a healthy, active community and an increase in the number of kids who are playing sports and continuing to be active into adulthood.
2. For sports to be accessible in price, time commitment, and geography for all.
We exist to help make sports easier for families to access in our community. This comes through three areas:
Eliminating financial barriers through connecting families with scholarships or programs that fit their budget.
Identifying geographical and transportation related access issues to sport in our community and making strategic plans to create opportunities close to home.
Communicating the different offerings and levels of commitment so parents can make educated decisions for kids to do “sport sampling” or pursue the sport they love to a greater level.
3. For a unified, community-based approach to sport for Salem in areas such as calendars, levels of competition, coach education, and player development.
We desire to work together to make it easier for families in Salem to navigate having their kids participate. This comes through logistics, such as having a shared calendar, but it also comes at a philosophical level. Our members all agree to a set of principles and beliefs about what youth sports is and how it should be approached. We want all coaches, players, and parents to know what they are going to receive when they sign up for different programs in Salem or through their school.
4. To advocate for the importance of youth sports participation in our community.
Sports matter! It is about so much more for our kids. Study after study shows that kids who play sports are healthier physically, emotionally, and socially. They do better in school and are more likely to graduate from high school. They stay away from trouble and grow up into responsible citizens.
The Salem Youth Sports Alliance exists to help educate parents, policymakers, and community leaders on the benefits of youth sports, and to advocate for greater financial support, facility planning, and community integration for our sporting clubs and groups in Salem.