We have exciting news to share! A roller/street hockey rink is coming to town! And NEW, the Rink will be lined to accommodate Pickle Ball as well!! And the kids are EXCITED!! And, the adults will be too! Please Click Here to Learn
With deep appreciation and thanks JSF Founder & Chairman, Terry Singer, recently presented board service awards to the following: Katie McComb – Vice President, 2018-2020 (remains on the board)
The best resources that we’ve found to date to help guide youth sports organization board members, coaches, athletes and families. Project Play- https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/coronavirus-and-youth-sports/reports Great Sports Minds – https://www.greatsportsmindsllc.com/blog/ Positive Coaching Alliance – https://positivecoach.org/ask-pca/dealing-with-disappointment-during-coronavirus-cancellations-postponements/ Changing the Game Project- https://changingthegameproject.com/i-already-miss-watching-my-kids-play/ HHS Sports Safety Program – https://www.hss.edu/sports-safety-program.htm Aspen Institute – Return -to-Play Rish Assessment Tool – https://www.aspenprojectplay.org/return-to-play?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=update-050520&utm_content=Coronavirus+and+Youth+Sports+Update+-+5%2F5&fbclid=IwAR12ebhwWV6HjUmHnIFq7R55WjtF9_FaXB9NeEj4Zp24ltptj3BgTz_3C4A More
With financial support from PNC, and in cooperation and partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance and Hershey High School, the Joy of Sports Foundation is pleased to continue with the Triple-Impact Competitor Scholarship awards program. Two Awards of $500 each will be granted in 2020 to Hershey High School Seniors. One for a female and
For 9th – 12th grade Hershey-area boys and girls who want to socialize, learn ultimate, compete and have FUN on a Sunday evening beginning on March 29th this is for YOU. There will be some instruction and drills, and then games. Teams of 7 (either 4 boys and 3 girls or 5 boys and 2
For further information regarding sponsorships, registration, auction items and more, please click here.
For rising 4th – 8th grade Hershey students (boys and girls) who want to try new sports and enjoy familiar ones with their classmates and friends, this is for YOU. Over the course of 4 days from June 15 – 18th, from 9:00 a.m. – 2: 30p.m. daily, kids will cycle through 12 sports (three
The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program and National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development have forged a partnership with the goal of exploring the role youth sports can play in developing young people’s social and emotional skills. With funding from the Susan Crown Exchange (SCE) and guidance from a strategic advisory group of
Derry Township Better Together has partnered with the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program’s Project Play and Penn State College of Medicine to undertake an inventory and analysis of our community’s recreation options to determine how well stakeholders are serving the physical activity needs of residents and to chart a path forward for how interested
Positive Coaching Alliance Coach Training Workshop – Culture, Practices and Games The Positive Coaching Alliance session being offered for rec coaches on November 13th, 2019 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Hershey Middle School will be Culture, Practices and Games. The workshop will be preceded by a dinner with the HHS Athletic Director and school coaches beginning
Inside the JSF Boardroom As JSF continues to evolve, and as do the busy lives of its volunteer board members, Mike Angelo and Donna Cronin have recently rotated off the board. Donna has been with JSF for over 3 years and has made enormous contributions to a variety of JSF’s initiatives, but particularly in the
Check out all the photos from the June 13, 2019 dinner, including award recipients and lots of candid shots. Click here!
The Hershey Aquatic Club is hosting a Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) workshop entitled “The Second-Goal Parent: Developing Winners in Life Through Sports” which will be held from 7 – 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 4th at the Hershey Country Club. HAC has graciously offered to accommodate the participation of representatives from other Derry Township rec organizations
DODGEBALL REGISTRATION
The Derry Township School District and Joy of Sports Foundation are collaborating to bring a couple of Positive Coaching Alliance workshops to Hershey High School from 4-7 p.m. on August 1st. While the workshops will run simultaneously and be uniquely designed for each respective audience, the sessions will be followed by a dinner for all
We’re very happy to share with you JSF’s first-ever Activities Report (JSF Final Report Updated Feb24). From cricket to a sports sampling camp, from rec coach training to an educational symposium for rec org leaders, from partnerships with The Sun, the township and school district, and Milton Hershey School, to our inaugural rec volunteer recognition
At it’s January 10th board meeting Ashley Searing was unanimously elected to serve a three-year term. Ms. Searing grew up in Franklin County, Virginia where she played softball and volleyball. Ashley studied Food Science and Technology at Virginia Tech and graduated in 2016. While at Virginia Tech she played club softball and served as the team’s treasurer for two
By SEAN GREGORY (A link to the tool can be found on on the homepage or by clicking here.) October 12, 2018 Kids these days: they have so many options when it comes to sports. There are organized travel teams, it seems, for every game: soccer, lacrosse, hoops, the works. While a child’s decision about which
Click here for further information and registration.
Everyone wants to win. That’s the first goal in sports. But in youth and high school sports there is a second, more important goal: teaching life lessons through sports. If you embrace your role as a Second-Goal Parent, it will transform the way you see youth sports. It will help you seize the endless procession of teachable moments that will come your way again and again when you are looking for them. This workshop will help parents learn more about how to guide
If you’re a Derry Township rec organization or Hershey High School booster club, it’s time to incorporate as a non-profit if you have’t already done so. Beginning January 1, 2019 the Derry Township School District will be implementing a new ‘use of facilities’ policy that will offer non-profit orgs the lowest fees. JSF is offering
The Derry Township School District recently revised its ‘use of facilities’ policy. The policy will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019 and, among other things, the policy revises the fee schedules depending upon the classification of the organization requesting the use of facilities. The most favorable rate for non-school-related organizations will be to be
Below are the 25 campers who sampled 12 sports over 4 days from June 25th – 28th, along with three camp counselors/coaches, Ben Hand (center), Michael Cronin (rear center right) and Kyle Hand (rear center left), pictured on the final day of camp following a Rita’s treat. The camp was held at Derry Township
On Thursday evening, June 14th at Purcell Friendship Hall, the Joy of Sports Foundation (JSF) held its First Annual Rec Sports Volunteer Recognition Dinner. The event was held to celebrate youth rec sports and the volunteers who make rec sports possible. In partnership with the township’s recreational organizations, JSF honored seven individuals who had been
For families who have signed up a child(ren) for the upcoming Sports Sampling Camp, please complete the checklist below and submit it at your earliest convenience, but no later than June 20th.
The Joy of Sports Foundation is planning a twelve-sports sampling camp for rising 5th 4th – 8th grade Hershey kids. This is an AWESOME way for kids to try new sports and enjoy familiar ones without a large commitment. A bonus is that they can do this with their friends right here in Hershey this summer!! Click
Entering week 3 of the newly established flag football league, the Milton Hershey Spartans and Hershey Trojans have been having spirited, competitive games against one another and with their school teams. The kids (rising 8th – 12th graders) have been having a lot of fun, and this weekend some spectators showed up to watch and
The Spring 2018 Flag Football League kicked-off on Sunday, April 15th at Founder’s Fields. Click here for the schedule, results and standings.
Dr. John J. O’Malley, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Scranton, brings a bundle of energy, talent, expertise and passion to youth, high school and college sports. Professor O’Malley combines his academic preparation in philosophy and experimental psychology, a lifetime commitment to coaching baseball, basketball, softball and even gymnastics, over twenty-five years of teaching exercise &
Who: Hershey students entering grades 5th through 8th When: June 25- June 28th (Monday -Thursday) Times: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Where: School district and township fields/facilities Cost: Early bird fee $120, regular registration $135 __Click Here to Register!__ This is an AWESOME way for kids to try new
The Hershey High School Football program, Hershey Youth Football Association, Derry Township Parks & Rec, Milton Hershey School, and the Joy of Sports Foundation are collaborating to start a flag football league to operate during the weeks April 9th – May 28th. NOTE – Registration Deadline Extended to April 20th! Click here for more information and
For information on available Sponsorship Opportunities, please click here.
On December 17th sixty-five Hershey High School 9th – 12th graders finished up a four-week co-ed rec volleyball program to get some exercise, socialize, and to log some prep-time for the Annual HHS Holiday Volleyball Tournament. The program was held each Sunday from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the middle school with each of 8
Joy of Sports Foundation (JSF) has established a 1-year partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), a national non-profit developing “Better Athletes, Better People” by working to provide all youth and high school athletes a positive, character-building sports experience. The partnership provides Joy of Sports Foundation with access to PCA’s training for coaches, sports parents,
Time to Sign-Up for Nov. 9th Rec Coach Training Opportunities – The Hershey High School Athletic Director has opened up the afternoon high school coach training session to Derry Township rec coaches. In addition, JSF has partnered with the HHS AD to offer an evening session for rec coaches. To learn about the workshops and
One element of feedback that JSF received from the 2017 State of Play Symposium was to develop a mechanism through which recreational organizations could engage in ongoing collaboration regarding challenges and obstacles they may face. To launch this initiative, JSF has created private Facebook Groups for rec organizations to exchange information about different topics. Please
Save the Date for the November 9th Rec Coach Training Session to be held at the Hershey High School LGI.
JSF is pleased to welcome Angela Mullen and Ann Zaprazny as new 2017 Board members.
Kathy Sicher, JSF Vice President (far right), Joins in as JSF Treasurer John Abel (left) and JSF Board Member Bill Morgret (right) Present $300 Checks from JSF to Amy Norris and Barb Daniels of the Hershey Boys and Girls Volleyball Booster Clubs at ‘Meet the Trojans’ Night!
JSF is pleased to welcome Katie Nolan McComb as a new 2017 Board member.
The Hershey Aquatic Club (HAC) has been awarded a $1,500 micro-grant from the Joy of Sports Foundation to launch a new initiative called the Race with Endurance retreat. The goal of the retreat is to expose both middle school and high school female athletes to team building, goal-setting tools, and mentors who could contribute toward building their
Nature imposed it’s will on Thursday, June 22nd just before the official ending of the clinic bringing down the curtain just a little early, but it didn’t dampen the spirits of the 35 rising 6th – 12 graders who came out for the 4-day clinic. The last day consisted of continued instructional activities, several contests and some great games
On June 21st at the Hershey Middle School LGI Skye Eddy Bruce, a soccer legend and coach educator from Changing the Game Project, led a highly interactive and fast-paced workshop focused on three broad topic areas: The Important Role of Rec Orgs – Why Kids Play Sports and What Makes Them Want to Stop Playing What Kids
At its 2016 annual meeting in December, the JSF board elected its 2017 officers as follows: Terry Singer, Chair Kathy Sicher, Vice Chair Kip Shaw, Secretary John Abel, Treasurer
If your recreation organization would like assistance in helping market its program to the community, please click on the link and complete and submit the form.
If you’re interested in supporting JSF’s mission and its activities, please consider making a tax-deductible donation by clicking here.
Joy of Sports Foundation joined with HLL in offering training for beginner, experienced, and advanced recreation coaches in Derry Township. The training focused on improving athletes’ experience in sport and each module was 2 hours. The training was provided by the Positive Coaching Alliance
JSF has recently received an anonymous $1,000 donation to establish a JSF Scholarship Fund. This will enable JSF to offer a modest level of financial assistance for Derry Township residents who would like to participate in sports, but have financial limitations. To learn more about the Scholarship Fund please click here.
The Joy of Sports Foundation has partnered with The Sun to start covering Derry Township rec sports on a dedicated basis. JSF will pay for a 4 x 10″ space on a monthly basis and The Sun will match it with a 4 x 10″ space dedicated to rec sports coverage on a NO-COST basis. If you’d like
The United States Olympic Committee, in partnership with the National Governing Bodies, created the American Development Model in 2014 to help Americans realize their full athletic potential and utilize sport as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle. The model utilizes long-term athlete development concepts to promote sustained physical activity and ongoing participation in sport. These concepts
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play aims to help make that happen, at scale. It is founded on the notion that anecdotal successes are great, but the progress we need lies in providing all people, starting with children, access to sport activity that builds healthy, vibrant communities. It is an act of collective impact, an understanding that no
JSF has joined nearly a dozen other companies/organizations as a 2015-16 sponsor to help underwrite coach background checks and supplement the registration fees of children from families with limited resources.