@ the nays blog...

over contributing at the nays blog today. be sure to check it out and leave some comments!

Youth running: Come as you are

View All Blogs Share on bloggerShare on facebookShare on emailShare on twitterMore Sharing Services By: Kacey Lake, Director, Ready, Set, Run! National Alliance for Youth Sports My runner’s heart is smiling. Full-toothed. You see, youth sports are featured in news stories all of the time. For better or worse. But running? And youth running, at that? Not a lot of ink. Last week, however, two different stories caught my eye. And they weren’t even just youth running stories; they were inspirational youth running stories. Enter Meghan Vogel from West Liberty, Ohio. Meghan had just won the 1600 meter run and up next was the 3200 meter. At the state track meet, mind you. As she came into her final stretch, a competitor, yes COMPETITOR, fell down in front of her. Without hesitation, Meghan helped the other runner up and supported her to finish the race and cross the finish line together. Actually, the result was that Meghan came in after her competitor.(article here) Like I said, my runner’s heart is smiling. Seen as an “individual sport” many don’t understand the full camaraderie that occurs between runners. In my humble opinion, knowing someone else is as insane as you for loving the sport, builds a bond just as strong as any “team” sport. The chatter, encouragement and can-do attitude that occurs amongst runners in any given race is truly special to the sport and sure makes me proud to be a runner. Enter Franklin Park Borough in Pennsylvania. A recent article featured their community and their involvement in Ready, Set, Run! The focus of the article? The teamwork that has been such a key element in the success of their running program and the entire community that they have effected. (article here) As the director of a character-building, goal-setting youth running program, the fire in my heart is burning even hotter than usual. Running encourages kids to come as they are, no special skills required. But it also challenges them to set goals and push themselves and, in doing that, encouraging other runners seems to come naturally. Not always, of course. But when done correctly, it’s a beautiful thing and quite unique to the sport. In the words of Meghan Vogel, "I knew any girl on that field would do that for me so I was going to do that for Arden." She just knew. Yes, it’s been a good week to be a runner.

national running day!

happy national running day! did you know that? yup, the first wednesday in june.

"a day when runners everywhere declare their passion for running. It is a coast-to-coast celebration of a sport and activity that’s simple, inexpensive, and fun. It’s the perfect way for longtime runners
to reaffirm their love of running and for beginners to kick off a lifetime and life-changing
commitment. National Running Day is a collaborative effort of the foremost running
organizations in the U.S. including Atlanta Track Club, Boston Athletic Association, Chevron
Houston Marathon, Chicago Area Runners Association, Competitor Group, Inc., Little Rock
Marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, New York Road Runners, Oregon Track Club,
Running USA, Twin Cities In Motion, and USA Trac."

me? i ignored my alarm for the early morning run. i shoo-ed away thoughts of going to run some really cool path in a new place with different terrain, interesting scenery. i went without my pacer and expectations. today was about me and my loyal friend, lunch-run-around-my-own-neighborhood. and it was glorious. finding a happy running place is a gift and today we honor that gift! 

i would love to hear about your happy running place... comment or email: klake (at) nays.org. #runningday

greenville

one of our sites in greenville nc just wrapped up their season. received an awesome email yesterday with a few highlights:

As far as success stories…I wish you could actually hear things parents say about the program.

-          One Dad said his 11 year old son told me he was sad the program ended. His son was very active when he was younger and as time went on he decided he didn’t want to play sports anymore and this was the first sport/organized physical activity he had done in 3 years.

-          One the last day the program met before the 5K a mother told me how her 9 year old daughter had been experiencing problems with lashing out and not getting along. After seeing a behavioral therapist and them recommending daily physical activity they enrolled her in Ready, Set, Run! Once starting the program is gave her an outlet for her frustration and throughout the time of the program she did not experience any problems with lashing out.

-          In a program satisfaction survey sent to parents at the end of the program parents said:

·         “My daughter now has a greater understanding of goal-setting.”

·         “My daughter liked all the games that were played. They made the program enjoyable to her versus just running.”

·         “This program got my child excited about running.”

·         “I liked that the activities and games offered were not about running but also build endurance.”

·         “I liked the fact that my son ran, he didn’t have to remember any plays or anything else, he just ran.”

certainly the best part of the job for me :) they are excited to offer the program again this fall! thanks greenville! any other sites out there want to bring this dynamic to their program selection come fall? let's chat! klake (at) nays.org

thousand

we are closing in on 1000 kids in year 1. with several sites starting this june, we should exceed the number. and it's way past our original goal.  numbers aren't everything, but they sure get me excited. this mix of 1000 kids includes some running enthusiasts who set out to beat their past running goals. it also includes kids who were disenchanted to other sports, for whatever reason, and found a home within the running program... just as they are. it also includes some special needs kids, a kid with a hurt collar bone who was unable to play other sports, and so many more unique individuals and circumstances. this mix of 1000 kids accomplished their running goals this year.

as we begin planning for next year, i'm hungry. i'm hungry for more kids to get involved. more WHOLE communities touched by observing the determination, dedication, and FUN had by the kids. one of my favorite all time stories is a site in franklin park borough, pa. they held a special run just for the kids. not only were kids involved, but parents joined in on the run. not only were families involved, but a high school football team practicing nearby, stopped to clap & cheer on the runners. not only were numerous people encouraged & active, but when the last kid was finishing, the rest of the team ran out to him and completed the last couple hundred yards with him. unprompted. gives me chills.

are you a coordinator or a parent interested in making this happen in your community? let's talk, please. i'd love to get to know you and see if we could work something out.

press on

Great perspective from our VP of communications at NAYS. Great example of a mom sticking up for her son and for others who may come across similar obstacles.

Youth league drops ball with absurd decision

View All Blogs Share on bloggerShare on facebookShare on emailShare on twitterMore Sharing Services0 By: Greg Bach, VP, Communications, National Alliance for Youth Sports Gas prices got you ticked off? Idiots thinking they can text and drive at the same time have you spewing obscenities? Well, here’s something else sure to shove your blood pressure into the triple digits. Get this: In Pennsylvania a 7-year-old boy wanted to play in his local youth football program. Now, the child has ocular albinism, a rare condition – it affects 1 in 60,000 males – that renders him blind in direct sunlight and requires the use of tinted eye protection whenever he steps outside. His parents informed the league that he just needed to use a tinted visor on his helmet to shield his eyes from all sides. A simple solution, right? Well, believe it or not, the league slammed the door on that, saying they weren’t going to allow him to use a visor. Really. Now, I’m pretty sure that tinted visors don’t provide unfair advantages and enable players – 7-year-olds – to run faster or hit harder. The league said they would permit sunglasses or goggles – because that’s what the rules they were following allowed – though the boy’s parents were rightly concerned those could be knocked off, putting their son in danger. Apparently the league didn’t have specific rules in place regarding protective eyewear, so in those instances it uses the rules of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletics Association. The PIAA uses that rule because when a player at the middle school, junior high or high school level suffers a concussion medical responders need to be able to see a player’s eyes without removing the helmet. And that makes a lot of sense at those levels, but not so much at age 7. Plus, think about this: on the rare chance this youngster did suffer a concussion medical people would not be allowed to remove his sunglasses or goggles on the field anyway to examine him because his eyes can’t be exposed to sunlight. So why didn’t the visor get the league’s stamp of approval from the beginning? Thankfully, the child’s mom didn’t give up and went in search of others with a few more working brain cells than this league’s hierarchy. She found them at the Justice Department, which ruled that the league violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by failing to make a reasonable modification of its policies, practices and procedures to permit the boy to use a tinted visor. I’m happy this youngster is taking the field and also thrilled that part of the settlement requires the league to develop and implement a disability rights policy, but it’s so far beyond ridiculous that it ever reached this point. And it’s unthinkable how no one overseeing this program had a shred of common sense to recognize that this 7-year-old boy wasn’t in search of an unfair advantage. He was simply asking for a chance to play. Isn’t that what every child deserves?

Posted:4/12/2012

running store sponsorship

one of our sites in riverton city, utah found a creative, community-building way to get their kids involved in ready, set, run! by partnering with their local running store, they have expanded the reach of the program as well as providing additional resources for the participants. many of our sites could benefit from partnerships like this!

Kids: get “Ready, Set, Run” in Riverton

By Kari Merrill Kenner4 days ago

• 
  
  Graphic courtesy of Riverton City

Riverton youth should lace up their shoes for the first annual “Ready, Set, Run” youth run training program.

The program started out as an idea of Riverton city employee Marci McClement, and, according to Assistant City Manager Jeff Hawker, encourages youth fitness.

“Basically, it’s a physical fitness education program designed to encourage physical fitness in the youth,” he said. “It’s a self-funding program, where registration fees cover the cost of the program, so there isn’t any cost to the city.”

“Ready, Set, Run” is a youth 5K training program for youth ages 8 to 13. It began Tuesday, March 27, and will run every Tuesday and Thursday through May 17.

The program takes place at the C.R. Hamilton Family Sports Complex located at 13800 South 3700 West from 4:30 to 6 p.m. The cost is $50 per child, which includes two days of instruction per week, a T-shirt, runner handbook, drawstring backpack, and participation award.

The program and lessons will guide the youth through warm-ups, running exercises, cool-down periods, and goal setting, as well as emphasize teaching and discussing character building topics such as nutrition, self-esteem and personal image.

At the end of the eight weeks of training, youth will be prepared and registered to participate in the Running with Angels 5K at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, at no extra charge.

The program is sponsored by Running Gr8, a local fitness store, which is providing items such as bottles and backpacks.

the bully project

really excited about this. hoping many get out there & commit to making a difference. being different.

the bully project.