Accessibility Info
Youth Sports Programs & Instructional Clinics
Parks & Recreation offers a wide array of sports for children ages eight and up. All programs are free, but participants must be registered members of a recreation center. Check with your local recreation center or BeFitNYC for more details.
Featured Program
New York Rangers Youth Street Hockey presented by Live Positively, Coca-Cola
Parks is offering free youth street hockey clinics for boys and girls aged 7-15. The clinics will provide instruction on how to play street hockey and tips on the importance of exercising and eating a balanced diet.
Learn more about the New York Rangers Youth Street Hockey clinics.
Year–Round Programs
Parks organizes affordable athletic programs for all abilities.
Learn More About Accessible Programs
Parks provides a variety of free, water–based programs for all ages and levels, ranging from swim lessons to recreational swimming to training for swim team competition.
Learn More About Swim Programs
Contact Information
Sign up to receive notification of program dates and registration details, or contact your borough recreation office for more information about our sports programs for children:
Citywide: (212) 360–3300
Manhattan: (212) 408–0103
Brooklyn: (718) 965–8938
Bronx: (718) 430–1825
Queens: (718) 520–5916
Staten Island: (718) 390–8020
Seasonal Programs
Unless otherwise noted, please contact your borough recreation office for more information.
Baseball⁄Softball
Citywide Softball League (May 21– June 14)
The Citywide Softball program, sponsored by the City Parks Foundation and The Police Athletic League (PAL), provides competitive games for boys and girls ages 8 through 13. Teams compete at the borough level before the top teams advance to compete for the citywide title.
Participants should bring their own gloves, but the rest of the equipment will be provided. They should also already be familiar with the sport.
Please check with the borough coordinator for this program to find available teams and locations.
- Manhattan: (212) 408-0103
- Bronx: (718) 367-3658
- Brooklyn: (718) 965?8938
- Queens: (718) 520-5954
- Staten Island: (718) 667-3545
Instructional Baseball Clinics (Turn 2 Foundation)
The Turn 2 Foundation, in collaboration with Parks & Recreation, provides basic instruction in hitting, fielding, and throwing for boys & girls ages 8 to 13 in early August. Contact Wanda Mojica, Turn 2 Program Supervisor, at (212) 360–3308 for more information.
For dates and locations, view our Turn 2 page or visit http://www.derekjeter.com/.
SNY Play Ball! Learn to Play Baseball Program
Presented by Sports Authority, this free program teaches young New Yorkers ages 6-15 to play baseball at Marble Hill Playground in Manhattan and in Brownsville Playground in Brooklyn.
More information on BeFitNYC.
Basketball
Instructional Clinic: Learn to Play Basketball
Learn to Play Basketball teaches our up–and–coming young players the fundamentals of the game. Dates and times vary from borough to borough.
Cycling
Star Track (April – October)
This free eight-week afterschool track cycling program in New York City runs out of the beautiful, newly renovated Kissena Velodrome in Queens. It aspires to improve the lives of some of New York City’s underserved children, ages 9–13, by teaching them teamwork through the principles of bicycle racing.
Star Track hopes to enhance children’s physical and psychosocial development through their relationships with adult coaches. In addition, the program hopes to give the children a sense of pride and accomplishment through regular athletic activity.
Football
Flag Football (September – November)
Our Flag Football league, sponsored by the NFL, begins in September and runs through November. Flag football is open to both boys and girls ages 8 to 11, and to boys from the ages of 12 to 14.
Golf
CityParks Junior Golf Center
Located next to the Dyker Beach public golf course in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, the CityParks Junior Golf Center is a state–of–the–art facility that offers free golf instruction to New York City children between the ages of 6–17. Highlights include a 6–hole golf course, practice putting and chipping greens, covered driving range and clubhouse with classroom space.
For further information, please visit the CityParks Junior Golf Center website.
Soccer
Instructional Clinic: Learn to Play Soccer (July–August)
Learn to Play Soccer is a ten–week instructional program for children ages 10 and under at Chelsea Recreation Center, Macomb's Dam Park, and Haffen Park. Our recreation staff and soccer coaches put together a curriculum suitable for the age group and gather all the necessary tools to run the program. {C}Registration is not required.
Indoor Soccer League (April–May)
This eight–week league focuses on developing offensive and defensive skills like dribbling, shooting, heading, trapping, team attack, and defense. Weekend games provide the opportunity for twenty–six teams of over 250 children to showcase their skills while building individual self–confidence and team unity.
The top team in each borough is given a chance to prove themselves at the league championships. The top two teams are rewarded for their hard work and competitive play with trophies, and all teams receive prizes and certificates while enjoying refreshments. Plans to expand the age groups for the league are in the works.
Track
Hershey’s Track & Field Games
The Hershey Company has been sponsoring this exciting and memorable track & field program for more than 30 years. Children ages 9 to 14 have the opportunity to compete in the following events: 50 meter, 100 meter, 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter, 1600 meter, 4x100 meter relay, standing long jump, and softball throw. Participants compete against other children from their local area and have the opportunity to advance to state and regional competitions and ultimately qualify for the North American Finals in Hershey, PA. Finalists enjoy a fun–filled weekend that includes a tour of the Hershey Chocolate Factory and a day at Hershey Park.
The 2011 track and field games was held on May 14 (rain date: May 21) at Van Cortlandt Park. Please check this website for updates on future track and field events.
For further information, please contact Wanda Mojica at (212) 360–3308.
Related Information
View the latest list of sports programs and clinics on BeFitNYC.
City Parks Foundation: Free Golf, Tennis, and Track & Field Programs for Kids and Teens
Related Video
Learn to Swim
Video: Wheelchair Tennis
Video: Track and Field
Video: “Star Track” at the Kissena Park Velodrome
Video: Swim to Safety
