Child's play

Cedar Rapids' focus on youth earns community SI Sportstown honor

By Andrew Schulman

When you consider how seriously Iowans take the sport of wrestling, it’s no surprise that children living in Cedar Rapids can start learning the art of takedowns, breakdowns and reversals as early as age 6. What is surprising is that kids can start participating in soccer, t-ball and basketball when they're two years younger that than, and they can begin swimming classes at the tender age of six months.

“We’ve found a niche,” said Matt Siders, the Youth Sports Supervisor at the Cedar Rapids Recreation Department, speaking about the city’s extensive youth programming. “We offer quality sports opportunities that provide proper instruction in the fundamentals, no matter what sport you choose.”

And there are plenty to choose from. Starting with two swim programs –- Water Babies (for children 6-18 months) and Puddle Jumpers (19 months-3 years) –- kids in Cedar Rapids can then progress to the Tiny Tots program. Now in its fourth year, Tiny Tots introduces basic sports concepts for four different sports to 3- and 4-year-olds.

When they turn 8, Cedar Rapids kids can take advantage of the city’s full complement of offerings -- from soccer and flag football to baseball, softball, basketball, track, volleyball, roller hockey, tennis, swimming and even team handball. In addition, Cedar Rapids hosts special events throughout the year –- more than 20 camps, clinics and contests, specifically for local children.

By allowing area children to begin playing sports at a young age, the Cedar Rapids Recreation Department staff says the participants begin enjoying the benefits that come with taking part, and that they’re learning more than just sports.

“If kids start playing early, they have the opportunity to get exposure to different sports and really find their favorites,” said Siders. “And, in addition to the great conditioning and physical skill development that come with participation, we’re making sure these children learn more than just how to kick a ball –- our well-trained coaches and instructors are incorporating life skills messages into their practices and games to show how sports relate back to life.”

The organization makes a point to remain cognizant of the needs of the community's paretns, so each young-child sport only meets once a week, packing practice-time and game play into one session.

Said Siders: “Like everywhere else, we have busy parents, with busy kids, and by scheduling our sports for one day or night a week, we can make things a little easier on our parents, and give our kids the chance to try different sports or other activities.”

With an ever-increasing demand for its programs and a 29 percent jump in participation over the last year, Cedar Rapids Recreation has hit on a winning formula. Proving that it’s never too early to begin playing, the department’s motto –- “Start with us” -– now not only guides area children looking for a way to get involved in sports, but also applies to other recreation programs across the country looking for an example of how to responsibly involve their kids in sports programs at a young age.

And that motto recently took on another meaning: Iowans now know where to start when looking for their state’s Sports Illustrated Sportstown.