Whether we consider ourselves athletes today, most people remember playing sports as children and the valuable lessons they learned. Sports serve as an opportunity to teach leadership and teamwork, build self-esteem and confidence, and understand how to win and lose. In New York City, children from low-income neighborhoods have limited access to organized sports and opportunities to exercise. As a result, 43% of New York children are overweight. But they are also missing out on the many other benefits that sports provide.

In 2009 Asphalt Green created a special league for public middle school children in Harlem to address these issues. This year over 350 students from 8 Harlem public schools will receive instruction and compete against one another in three sports: Flag football (fall, for boys), basketball (winter, for girls) and soccer (spring, for boys).

League players benefit in so many ways. Through top-notch instruction and practice they develop sports skills and healthy exercise habits. Through competition within the framework of the Positive Coaching Alliance, they learn life lessons and gain self esteem. By being on a school team, they learn how to be a student athlete and strengthen their connection to school. Already, our league players are showing academic improvement as a result of participation in this powerful program.

To find out how your school can participate, contact David Ludwig, Director of Community Programs, at 646-981-2243 or Dludwig@asphaltgreen.org.

Click here to make a donation and help bring the power of team sports to more middle school students.

Community Sports League Summer Season: Soccer

Saturday evenings at Asphalt Green 7-9pm
April 30
May 7, 14, 21
June 4, 11, 18