Born and raised in a Rwandan refugee camp, Patrick and his family came to America in search of a dream. See how the YMCA Farha Sport Center helped Patrick achieve that dream. Watch this
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These days, we have cameras in our hands nearly all the time. Taking great photos has become a national obsession. If these photos are of the people that matter most to you and they look like they came straight...
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Recent Stories

Summer break is almost over and school is about ready to start. That means kids are already starting to get prepared for fall sports with summer camps and conditioning. The most important step in being prepared for the upcoming season is having the PRE-PARTICIPATION EVALUATION/PHYSICAL (PPE) completed. This is the first step in safe athletic participation. All schools require a physician's certificate stating that the individual is physically able to participate in their chosen activity or...
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Children who play sports in hot weather can be at risk for heat illnesses. There are several types of heat illnesses that range in severity, from heat cramps and heat exhaustion to heat stroke. The good news is heat-related illnesses can be prevented and successfully treated. Children sweat less than adults, making it harder to cool off. Athletes need to get used to the heat and humidity gradually. Coaches and parents need to be aware of temperature and humidity levels. Practice length,...
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8 Ways to be a Good Sport Parent A lot has been said about bad sports parents. So what makes a good sports parent, one who helps their child by giving them the best overall sports experience? Here are some tips: Support the coach. The coach’s decisions and ways of conducting practices and games are intended to benefit the kids and the team and your support goes a long way. Criticizing or arguing with your coach does not produce good results. Remember to treat your coach as your ally...
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“Basketball doesn’t build character it reveals it.” James Naismith couldn’t have spoken truer words to this day. The sport of basketball was invented in 1891 at a YMCA in Springfield, Massachusetts by James Naismith. At the time, Naismith was a physical education teacher at the YMCA International Training School.The game of basketball grew so quickly that by 1939 basketball was played internationally at YMCAs, made an official Olympic Sport, and the NIT and NCAA tournaments were...
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Play On My Team - What can youth sports offer?
Ryan Shanklin, YMCA of the Fox CitiesPublished 5:55 p.m. CT Nov. 2, 2017
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