Local university basketball teams gather to show how 'Philly Girls Got Game'
These basketball teams from local universities were brought together for one purpose today.
As part of the "Philly Girls Got Game" event, young kids were inspired by their older peers and learned athletic skills.
It's thanks to the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) and their efforts to bring programming to local kids.
READ MORE
Get ready for the 2025 Youth Football and Cheer Conference
Dontae Privette, of the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative and Cherita Merricks, of Uptown Warriors Cheer join NBC10’s Erin Coleman to discuss the upcoming 2025 Youth Football and Cheer Conference that will be held on July 19, 2025 at the Creese Student Center at Drexel University.
READ MORE
Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative Awarded Grant from ESPN’s “Take Back Sports” Initiative
The Initiative, Powered by Disney, Includes a $5 Million Investment and Increases Access to Play for Young Athletes
ESPN and Disney Jr. Also Announce Collaboration with Every Kid Sports to Get Preschoolers in the Game
Today, ESPN’s new youth sports initiative Take Back Sports — created to expand access to sport for youth — launched its official website (www.TakeBackSports.org), debuted a new animated video, and announced the recipients of its inaugural Innovation Challenge grants. It was also announced that Take Back Sports and the ‘Disney Jr. Let’s Play!’ campaign have collaborated with national non-profit Every Kid Sports on a new preschool-focused initiative.
Innovation Challenge Grant Recipients
Building upon the $5 million charitable investment that ESPN has invested in to reimagine youth sports, ESPN announced the Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge at the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit. Through strategic investments in cutting-edge training models, inclusive programming and community-rooted solutions, the Innovation Challenge spotlights bold approaches that reimagine how kids engage with sports — fostering a more accessible and positive youth sports experience for all. ESPN doubled its original investment from $50,000 to $100,000 in response to more than 150 compelling applications from across the country. This year’s Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge recipients include:
- Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative (PYSC) earned a grant for its transformative Game On Philly! initiative, which places trained community coaches and AmeriCorps members directly into neighborhood recreation centers to deliver high-quality, trauma-informed sports programming. The program’s innovative partnership with Philadelphia Parks & Recreation ensures scalable, sustainable recreation for youth ages 6–14 where they live, play and grow.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
PYSC partners with ODAAP to use football to teach emotional regulation
Former Temple cornerback Chris Hutton stood at the end of Mastery Charter North’s football field and watched proudly as kids ran drills at Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention’s Juneteenth 10U Combine and Clinic on Saturday.
“ODAPP is really every kid’s saving grace,” Hutton said. “They’re able to learn about self-awareness, how to express their emotions appropriately, and communicate and talk that out.”
Despite the heat, more than 60 boys aged 11 and younger and three local high school football teams — Northeast, Martin Luther King, and Vaux Big Picture — participated in the free event. Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis also made a guest appearance. Participants participated in drills on the field and learned about violence prevention techniques off the field.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Parker announces $3M investment in youth sports to support families, prevent violence
Mayor Cherelle Parker joined Philadelphia officials this week in announcing $3 million in funding for local youth sports organizations. The money will be used to provide grants to support local teams, as well as help families pay for registration costs, with additional funding being used to purchase sports equipment for recreation centers.
The investment is aimed at violence prevention under Parker’s One Philly Budget plan.
“Philadelphia, we are responsible for ensuring our children are equipped with the tools necessary for success. It is up to us to make sure our children are surrounded by positive mentors, coaches, and leaders that will aid positive development because, as we all know, it takes a village,” said Parker. “That is why I made this $3 million a priority in my One Philly Budget and will continue to make sure these activities are well funded moving forward.”
City officials announced the first $1 million in a series of investments on Monday, aimed at easing the financial burden on parents, caregivers and neighborhood organizations. More than $300,000 of the funding will support local youth football and cheer teams, to make sure they get to their national tournaments, with additional funds available for championship qualifiers in other sports as seasons get underway.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
A Funding Boost for Nonprofits That Help City Youth
Players on the Vaux Big Picture High School football team call Valencia Peterson “Coach V,” but unlike the team’s other coaches, she’s not drawing up X’s and O’s.
Peterson trains the coaches in a specialized curriculum to teach their players how to recognize domestic abuse and prevent it in their homes and schools through her organization, Open Door Abuse Awareness & Prevention.
About 21% of men in the U.S. reported being victims of intimate partner violence before age 18, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When Peterson gathers the boys at Vaux to take a knee, she tells them she wants to create an environment where they’re comfortable talking about problems in their lives.
ODAAP is a small nonprofit that brought in about $141,000 in revenue in 2023. It works with a handful of boys’ athletic programs in the area and operates a separate non-sports mentorship program for high school girls as well as one for all genders.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative hosts 'Philly Girls Got Game' for second year
Hundreds of teen girls enjoyed a basketball clinic on Saturday, all thanks to the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative.
The second annual Philly Girls Got Game is all about inspiration and addressing the disparity in athletic opportunities.
"Today I feel like it's a great opportunity to be here. We're balling out, we're hooping today. Great experience, very grateful," said Amia Etreie.
Players from Big 5 women's basketball teams take time to spend with younger players.
"It feels good because I look up to them. Like, I pray to be like them so it's great," said Etreie.
Etreie is 14 years old. The Women's Sports Foundation says that's the age when girls are twice as likely as boys to drop out of sports.
Philly Girls Got Game Day is trying to combat that statistic with this clinic, particularly in underserved communities.
"It makes me sad because you shouldn't give up," Etreie.
READ THE FULL ARTICLE
PYSC Partners with Parks and Rec for Citywide Swimwear Drive
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative are leading a citywide campaign to collect and distribute new swimwear and swim accessories for Philly’s youth. Our public pools will open soon, and we want to ensure our kids are suited up for the summer.
This summer, Parks & Rec, in partnership with Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative is collecting new swimwear and swim accessories at six sites. All donated bathing suits and accessories will be distributed to children at the City’s outdoor pools.