UNLV and the Henderson Parks and Recreation Department have launched YouthFirst, a youth sports orientation program for parents.
The goals of the program are to encourage parental involvement, emphasize fun in sports participation, and boost retention of children in the programs.
"An added expectation is that parents, by learning their role in youth sports, will display appropriate and supportive behavior when watching games," said R.R. Apache, assistant professor of educational leadership in UNLV's College of Education.
Under the direction of Apache, students enrolled in the sports education and leadership program developed and conduct a one-hour orientation session that all parents enrolling their children in a City of Henderson sports program will be required to attend.
The orientation discusses the roles of the parent and the coach, as well as why children quit youth sports and what parents can do to foster participation. Parents complete a certification quiz and sign a code of conduct pledge at the conclusion of the orientation program.
In addition, UNLV students developed parental training manuals, a resource Web site, and a series of newsletters to educate parents on sports participation issues on an ongoing basis.
Sue Weakland, Henderson recreation supervisor, said the partnership with UNLV allows the city to offer a parent education program tailored for the local community.
"We wanted to take a proactive approach to curbing violence in youth sports," she said. "The unique thing about this program is that it was tailored specifically for our community and gives us direct access to experts in this field. We're very fortunate to have found the resources to create this program right here in Southern Nevada."
Teresa Jordan, chair of the department of educational leadership, said, "YouthFirst represents university and community collaboration at its finest. With continued support and active involvement of the sports education and leadership students, the program has the potential to make a considerable impact on the quality of life of families in the City of Henderson."
For more information, contact UNLV professor R.R. Apache at 895-2493 or Sue Weakland, recreation supervisor for the City of Henderson, at 565-4213.
