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The City of Glendale Parks and Recreation youth sports program lives by the motto, The outcome of the child is more important than the outcome of the game. Indeed, no one keeps score at games. There are no standings for the teams. "Our goal is for children to play sports, feel good about themselves doing it and learn skills for life," says Jen Godbehere, Glendale's recreation coordinator.

The department runs spring, fall and summer sports programs for children ages three to 15. This year spring and fall sports each had more than a thousand players for kickball, T-ball, soccer, flag football, basketball, cheerleading and other activities. And last summer, more than 1,000 played baseball and softball. Most of the teams are coed, and older kids serve as umpires and referees.

While the town's everybody-wins philosophy sometimes butts heads with "society's propensity to be overly competitive," says recreation programmer Mykael Wright, Glendale has had success indoctrinating residents on the core beliefs of the program. Head coaches and officials go through formal training and certification, and clinics for parents and coaches include guest experts and professional athletes from area teams. The department also raises money through donations and special events—this year's Family Night in July doubled as a Good Sports launch celebration (above)—to provide "scholarships" for children who can't afford registration fees.

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