The i9 Sports Association was established in 2006 as a non-profit organization and reorganized in 2011 to expand its reach nationally. With several local chapters nationally the i9 Sports Association is making a difference in communities nationwide.

MISSION

Our mission is to promote youth athletic participation, provide financial assistance to boys and girls who cannot otherwise afford to participate in athletic activities and educate the public on the health and wellness benefits of athletic participation.

WHY WE DO IT

1. Financial Need: Playgrounds are no longer crowded with pickup games and kids choosing teams. Today, if a child wishes to play a team sport, he or she must look to join an organized league or program. Yet most are out of reach for many families who are struggling in today’s economy.
2. Academic Success: Studies show that students who participate in youth sports have higher grade point averages, attendance rates, standardized test scores and educational aspirations.
3. Healthy Lifestyle: According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity rates have nearly tripled in the past thirty years. Not only does exercise help children maintain a healthy weight, adolescents who play sports are eight times as likely to be active at age 24 as adolescents who do not play sports.*
4. Fun: The number one reason kids play sports is to have fun and we think all kids should have the chance to play and have a good time.
5. Self Esteem: Research shows kids who play sports, especially girls, have higher levels of confidence and self-esteem. In fact, a survey of 400 female corporate executives found 94 percent played a sport and that 61 percent say that contributed to their career success. **
6. Stress Relief: Sports help adolescents to feel less stressed and have better mental health as young adults, according to a University of Toronto study. Researchers said that nearly a third of youth suffer from high levels of stress and feelings of depression.
7. Skill Development: Strategic thinking, teamwork, leadership and motor skills are learned by playing sports – all valuable skills for a successful future.
8. Goal Setting: Participation in sports helps children learn to set goals and work hard to accomplish them whether it’s individually or as a group.
9. Teamwork: Kids who play sports learn that being part of a team means working together toward a common goal, encouraging others when they make a mistake and celebrating together during a victory.

*(Sports Participation Predictors of Participation in Sports and Physical Fitness in Young Adulthood, Perkins, 2004).
**(EY Women Athletes Business Network/espnW, 2014)

NATIONAL GRANT PROGRAM

1. The National i9 Sports Association offers grants of up to $150 for youth recreational activities across the nation, focused on areas that do not have a local i9 Sports Association Chapter. Grants are to offset registration fees. Grants are awarded in February, May, August and November.