Sports Academy

YMCA Sports Academy: Building Skills, Confidence, and Fun!

At the YMCA, we’re passionate about helping kids build a strong foundation in sports while having a blast! Our Sports Academies are designed to teach young athletes essential skills, boost their confidence, and improve their overall game, all while having fun in a supportive, team-oriented environment.

Sport Academy Structure:
Each session is 4 weeks long, with one 1-hour class per week. This structure ensures that kids get focused, effective instruction while keeping it manageable for busy families.

Basketball Academy Overview:

Locations: Arvada, Central Park – Isabella Bird Community School, Littleton, Southwest, University Hills YMCA’s

Ages 3-5: Introduce your little one to the game with fun, interactive sessions focused on basic basketball fundamentals like dribbling, shooting, and teamwork.
Ages 6-8: This age group will dive deeper into ball handling, footwork, and understanding game strategy in a more structured format.
Ages 9-13: For older kids looking to improve their skills, this academy focuses on more advanced techniques such as shooting form, passing, defense, and basketball IQ.

Volleyball Academy Overview:

Locations: Arvada, Littleton, and Southwest YMCA’s

Ages 8-13: Designed for young athletes eager to learn and refine the key fundamentals of volleyball, including serving, passing, setting, and spiking. Emphasis is placed on teamwork, sportsmanship, and individual skill development.

Soccer Academy & Urban Soccer Academy Overview:

Locations: Arvada, Aurora, Central Park – Isabella Bird Community School, Southwest, University Hills YMCA’s

*Aurora YMCA – The Urban Soccer Academy (3y-5y & 6y-8y) will be ran on the Urban Soccer Field outside the Aurora YMCA (An indoor style field that has walls on the side and end lines)

Ages 3-5:
Introduce your little one to soccer with fun, interactive sessions focused on basic soccer fundamentals like dribbling, passing, and teamwork. Activities are designed to be engaging and playful, helping kids develop motor skills and a love for the game.

Ages 6-8:
This age group will dive deeper into soccer skills, including ball handling, footwork, and understanding basic game strategy. The format becomes more structured, with an emphasis on teamwork, dribbling, passing, and positioning, helping kids build their foundational soccer skills.

Ages 8-10:
For older kids looking to take their soccer skills to the next level, this academy focuses on more advanced techniques such as ball control, dribbling under pressure, passing accuracy, and developing soccer IQ. Kids will learn about different positions and how to work as a team to execute plays in more competitive settings.

Baseball Academy Overview:

Locations: Arvada, Aurora, Southwest, and University Hills YMCA’s

Ages 3-5:
Introduce your little one to baseball in a fun, playful setting that focuses on hand-eye coordination, balance, and the basic concepts of the game. Kids will learn how to throw, catch, hit, and run the bases through interactive activities that develop their motor skills and understanding of the sport.

Ages 6-8:
For children ready to take their baseball skills further, this academy helps improve fundamental skills like fielding, hitting, and base running. The focus is on technique and teamwork, with an introduction to game strategies and a more structured approach to practicing these skills.

Why Choose YMCA Sports Academies?

Focused Skill Building: Each 4-week session is designed to help kids improve their skills one step at a time in a supportive, fun, and low-pressure environment.
Age-Appropriate Instruction: Tailored to meet the developmental needs of each age group, our academies create the perfect setting for players to build confidence, improve coordination, and develop a love for the sport.
One-Hour Sessions: Busy schedules? No problem! Each academy meets for just one hour per week, providing the perfect balance of instruction and fun.

Whether your child is just starting out or looking to refine their skills, the YMCA Sports Academy is the perfect place to grow, learn, and enjoy the game. Join us today and see how we’re making sports fun and accessible for everyone!

Frequently Asked Questions

Our YMCA Youth Sports Academies are specialized skill-building programs designed to help young athletes improve their fundamental sports skills in a fun and supportive environment. We offer Basketball and Volleyball Academies where kids can develop core skills, enhance their game, and build confidence.

We offer age-specific academies for the following age groups:

Basketball Academy

Ages 3-5: Focus on basic motor skills, teamwork, and introductory basketball skills.
Ages 6-8: More advanced skill development in dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork.
Ages 9-13: Advanced techniques, game strategies, and position-specific skills for older players.

Volleyball Academy

Ages 8-13: Focuses on mastering volleyball fundamentals like serving, passing, setting, spiking, and teamwork.

Each session is 4 weeks long, with one 1-hour class per week. This structure ensures that kids get focused, effective instruction while keeping it manageable for busy families.

The YMCA Sports Academies are all about building fundamental skills in a supportive, fun environment. Your child will focus on:

Basketball: Dribbling, shooting, passing, footwork, basketball IQ, and teamwork.
Volleyball: Serving, passing, setting, spiking, and overall game awareness.
Our goal is not just to teach sports skills, but to help children grow in confidence, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Our academies are designed for all skill levels! Whether your child is just starting out or looking to improve their game, the sessions provide age-appropriate skill-building, with a focus on fundamentals. We offer a fun and non-competitive environment, perfect for players of any experience level.

Each academy session lasts for 4 weeks, and classes are typically held once a week. Sessions are offered during various times throughout the week, and exact days/times will vary by location. Check with your local YMCA for specific session dates and times.

You can easily register for any of our YMCA Sports Academies by:

Visiting your local YMCA center.
Registering online through our YMCA Youth Sports page.
Or click the links above to find your session and register.

Spots fill up quickly, so be sure to sign up as soon as possible to secure your child's place!

The cost for each 4-week academy session is $56 for YMCA members and $81 for non-members. Financial assistance may also be available to ensure all children have access to our programs.

We understand that schedules can change! While we do not offer make-up classes for missed sessions, please contact us if you anticipate missing multiple classes. We’ll do our best to accommodate you in another session or offer alternative solutions.

Yes! We welcome volunteers who are interested in helping out with the academies. Volunteers must complete a background check and go through our training process. If you’re interested, please reach out to your local YMCA Youth Sports team to learn more about volunteer opportunities.

After completing an academy session, children will have gained a solid foundation in the sport, and we encourage them to continue practicing or joining a league. Many kids continue their journey by participating in our regular YMCA Youth Sports Leagues, where they can apply the skills they’ve learned in a game setting.

Absolutely! The YMCA Sports Academies are designed for athletes of all skill levels, including beginners. We focus on teaching the fundamentals and ensuring each child feels comfortable and confident as they learn.

Still have questions?
Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local YMCA or contact our YMCA Youth Sports Team for more information. We’re here to help and look forward to seeing your child grow in our Sports Academy programs!