Sports4kids (.ORG)'s Igloo

Sports4Kids is a nonprofit organization that brings safe and healthy play back to the school day.

Schoolyards are supposed to be places where kids are active and have fun. But in many communities today - especially low-income communities - kids come to school not really knowing how to engage in healthy play. They don't know how to make up and follow the rules to games or how to resolve conflicts. Too often, games end in fights - and more complicated games break down before they can really get going. Most kids end up on the sidelines, disengaged. Many schools feel they have no choice but to cut recess.


What We Do
Sports4Kids addresses the physical, emotional, and cognitive needs of children by coordinating full day play and physical activity programming - during lunchtime, recess, and after school - taught from a framework of youth development. At each school, enthusiastic, well-trained Sports4Kids’ Site Coordinators:
create a structured, safe and inclusive environment on the playground by coordinating a variety of schoolyard sports and games during recess and lunch;
work with classroom teachers to reintroduce physical activity into the school curriculum;
develop and coordinate after school physical activity and academic enhancement programs; coordinate interscholastic evening basketball and volleyball leagues; implement a youth leadership program at each site; and employ play as a tool for generating more community and family involvement.
The result? Kids are at greater risk for obesity, diabetes and attention difficulties. And they're showing signs of increasingly anti-social behavior. We're learning the hard way that play really is important for our kids.

School Based Training Series
To enable school communities to develop opportunities for students to lead healthy and active lives, Sports4Kids is now offering a comprehensive training program for schools that do not have a full time Sports4Kids staff person. This training program provides the entire school community (teachers, yard staff, volunteers, and principals) with accessible tools and resources that will help create a school culture that inspires every child to play and be physically active.


Contact Info
San Francisco Bay Area:
Jeremy Lansing
Community Training Program
Coordinator - Bay Area
jlansing@sports4kids.org
Phone : 510-893-4180

Washington DC and Baltimore area:
Timmae Wilson
Community Training Program Coordinator -
Washington DC
twilson@sports4kids.org
Phone: 202-822-0097