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 Programs

Team Handball

The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation in partnership with the USA Team Handball is proud to introduce a new youth sports program, Team Handball. U.S. Olympians will train and coach youth ages 12 to 17 to promote the fast-paced, action-packed game of handball. This three-month program, which will begin on February 20, will provide teens with weekly instructional clinics at our participating recreation centers.

For more information, download the Team Handball flyer. (PDF, 364 KB)

Learn to Play Soccer

This free fun program teaches children ages 6-13 to play the world's most popular game. Learn to Play Soccer runs every Saturday through March 20 from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Visit Chelsea Recreation Center's website, or call the center at (212) 255-3705.

Year–Round Programs

Accessible Programs

Parks organizes affordable athletic programs for all abilities.

Learn More About Accessible Programs

Swim 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) 360–3333
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
Basketball
Cycling
Football
Golf
Handball
Soccer
Track

Baseball⁄Softball

Citywide Softball League (May – June)
The Citywide Softball program, sponsored by the City Parks Foundation, The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, New York Fast Pitch Softball League and The Police Athletic League (PAL), provides competitive games for boys and girls, ages 12 & under. Teams compete at the borough level before the top teams advance to compete for the citywide title.

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 July. 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.

Basketball

Parks Summer Classic (July – August)
This basketball league is open to youth 14–16 who are recreation center members. At the close of the regular season, the winners of each borough face off in the playoff rounds, until two teams are left for the Citywide Championship.

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.

Hoops & Leaders Basketball Camp (August)
The Hoops & Leaders Basketball Camp (HLBC) is a free, intensive, two–week youth leadership and mentoring program designed in response to the shortage of male mentors throughout New York City. HLBC leverages the game and joy of basketball as a means of teaching leadership skills to 40 teenage boys while recruiting 40 college–educated young men to mentor these teens during the upcoming school year.

Cycling

Star Track (April – October)
Star Track, the first year–round 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.

Learn more about Star Track

Football

Flag Football (September – November)
Our Flag Football league, sponsored by the NFL, begins in September and runs through November. Any child under the age of 14 can join, regardless of skill level.

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.

Handball

Team Handball
The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation in partnership with the USA Team Handball is proud to introduce a new youth sports program, Team Handball. U.S. Olympians will train and coach youth ages 12 to 17 to promote the fast-paced, action-packed game of handball. This three-month program will provide teens with weekly instructional clinics at our participating recreation centers.

For further information, please download this flyer (PDF, 2.8 MB).

Soccer

Instructional Clinic: Learn to Play Soccer (January–March)
Learn to Play Soccer is a ten–week instructional program for children ages 6–13 at Chelsea Recreation Center. 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.

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 (May 1, 2010)
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.

Please note: registration is on the day of the event only—no pre–registration is necessary. The track and field games will be held on May 1 (rain date: May 8) at Van Cortlandt Park at Broadway & West 242nd Street in the Bronx. Registration begins at 9 a.m.; the first race begins at 10 a.m.

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