Fun places to take the kids

By Chris Singleton Staff Writer

Houma-Thibodaux has plenty of recreation options for young athletes looking to score a touchdown, shoot a basketball, deliver a cheer or for those who want to become active in other sports.

Recreation programs help keep young athletes busy with programs throughout the year.

• Terrebonne Recreation, 1192 Barrow Street in Houma, offers football, cheerleading, volleyball, basketball, baseball and softball. Information: 873-6584. • Houma's Bayouland YMCA, 103 Valhi Blvd., offers soccer, flag football, cheerleading, swimming and basketball for children. Call 873-9622. • The Houma-Terrebonne Soccer

Association has leagues for kids ages 7-16. Call 868-3897 or visit houmasoccer.com. • James Academy, 308 Venture Blvd., Houma, offers gymnastics for ages 3-18 and cheerleading for ages 5-18. Visit jamesacademy.com. • Jennings Gymnastics, 114 Robin

Lane in Schriever, offers gymnastics and cheerleading for ages 2-18. Call 446-0435. • The Bayou Black Recreation Center holds registration for swimming lessons starting in April and other activities for kids of all ages throughout the year. Information: 876-4270. The Bayou Athletic Youth Association offers softball and baseball leagues during the summer and fall for ages 6-18. Call 209-0733. • The Louisiana Baseball Academy,

3007 W. Park Ave. in Gray, offers private instruction in hitting, pitching, arm care and other skills. The academy has travel baseball teams from ages 9-and-under to 14-and-under. Call 876-4494 or visit lbabaseball. com. • The Louisiana Sports Gym, 544 S. Hollywood Road in Houma, offers cheerleading classes. Classes range from all-star cheerleading, elite cheer, tumbling, cheer tryout prep and private lessons. Call 580-9746 or visit lasportsgym.com.

The Terrebonne Parish 8U All-Star Baseball Team was invited to play in the Cal Ripken Regional Tournament in Daphne, Ala., after its performance at the state tournament in Destrehan in July 2019. [SUBMITTED]

• The Extreme MMA & Fitness Gym of Houma, 1226 Lafayette Street in Houma, offers various martial arts and boxing classes every week for kids and adults. For information, call 873-5722. • The Terrebonne Parish Tennis

Complex on Southdown West Blvd in Houma is open seven days a week (opening at 8 a.m. for all days but Sunday when it opens at 2 p.m.) with two courts available to be played on for free. For information, visit tprec. org/Facilities

LAFOURCHE

• Lafourche Recreation, 1612 La. 182, Raceland, offers softball, baseball, football and basketball. Call 537-7603. • Lafourche Soccer, 4049 La. 1, Race

land, offers leagues for ages 7-16. Call 537-8909 or email lafourchesoccer@ hotmail.com. • Thibodaux Recreation, 151 Peltier

Park Drive, offers baseball, basketball, bowling, football, golf, pool, soccer and volleyball. Call 446-7235. • Central Lafourche Baseball Association is looking for boys and girls ages 3-15 interested in baseball. Registration will be held Feb. 12-19 from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $60 for one child and $55 for additional children. For information, contact centrallafourchebaseball@gmail.com • The Cut Off Youth Center, 205 W. 79th St. in Cut Off, offers youth basketball, swimming and other youth-related activities. Call 632- 7616 or visit cutoffyouthcenter.org. • Nicholls State University's Continuing Education Department offers summer camps, including baseball, basketball, cheerleading, fitness, karate, soccer, tennis, volleyball and more. Call 448-4444. • Bayou Flag Football gives boys and girls ages 5-14 a chance to play on youth flag football leagues. Games are usually held during the fall, starting in September. Call 696-4889 or visit bayouflagfootball.com. • The nonprofit Bayou Titans Youth

Organization offers football and boys and girls basketball. Call 226-0047 or 688-4701. • The Babe Ruth and Cal Ripken Baseball Leagues in Thibodaux are open to players 4-5 (tee-ball), 5-6 (coach pitch), 7-8 (coach pitch), 9-10 (kids pitch), 11-12 (real baseball) and 13-15 (real baseball). The league plays games in Peltier Park in Thibodaux and may play in other areas depending on the number of kids who sign up and teams may play other Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken teams in the area. The league is set on providing a fun learning experience for any player willing to lean and practice with qualified coaches and is aimed at kids and parents looking for another youth baseball option. Practices start in March and leagues will run through sometime in June with several practices set for before the season. All-star teams will be selected starting at age 8. For information, message Thibodaux Babe Ruth/Cal Ripken president Kyle Maggio on Facebook or visit lababeruth.com/.