Jan. 9 - Jan. 22, 2016
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i9 Sports Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek is a recreation youth sports league that offers a variety of children’s programs. i9 Sports emphasizes the importance of good sportsmanship and having fun while playing. Submitted photo
i9 Sports focuses on good sportsmanship By Alison Stanton
Almost eight years ago, Andrew Paulo decided to sign his young son, Drew, up for sports. In addition to wanting his son to get involved with sports, Paulo said he also hoped Drew would learn the value of good sportsmanship. After hearing about i9 Sports, Paulo said he knew he found exactly the type of sports program for which he was looking. Over the years, Drew, now 11, has played baseball and flag football through i9 Sports. Drew’s little brother, Jayson, 8, is also involved with the program. “I’ve also coached basketball and flag football every year my sons have played,” Paulo said. Kim Olsen, executive director for i9 Sports Chandler/Gilbert/Queen Creek, said the recreation youth sports league franchise opened in October, 2007. “We started with flag football and cheer and we added basketball and soccer in 2009, and then T-ball and coach pitch baseball in 2011,” Olsen said. i9 operates five seasons per year. More than 6,000 kids participate annually in the sports league, Olsen said, and i9 Sports offers programs for boys and girls from 3 years old through seventh grade. “We are the fastest-growing youth sports league,” she said. Olsen said five core principles help to set i9 Sports apart from other youth sports leagues. “The first is fun. Our No. 1 focus is for the kids to have fun,” Olsen said. Second, she said, is i9 Sports’ focus on inclusivity. “We offer equal playing time so all kids play,” she said. The third core principle, Olsen said, is
safety. “Coaches are background checked and rules are made to protect everyone,” she said. Next—just as Paulo had hoped— participants of all ages are taught about good sportsmanship. “We teach the kids what good sportsmanship is and lessons that they can take with them and use in everyday life,” Olsen said. “We do this by having our coaches teach their team different sportsmanship values each week. Then the player who demonstrated that value during the game is given a sportsmanship medal.” Finally, Olsen said i9 Sports teaches kids that winning is not everything. “So many other leagues have a win at all costs mentality and that’s not what we are all about,” she said. “Winning is fun, but it shouldn’t be the priority. Kids just want to have fun. Playing sports should be about learning the game and having fun while doing it and i9 Sports offers that.” Olsen said it’s not uncommon to have families like the Paulos return and enroll more than one child in their programs. “Because we are offering multiple sports, we can cater to an entire family,” Olsen said. “We also appreciate our coaches. Their hard work, dedication, and commitment to support the i9 Sports philosophy is what makes us so successful.” As a parent and coach, Paulo said he is impressed with how organized the program is, and Olsen’s commitment to the kids. “It’s really organized and Kim makes sure everything is very convenient and will organize games together so that both
boys can play,” he said. “Kim is amazing and always works with our schedules and answers all of our questions.” Paulo said he also appreciates not having to drive Drew and Jayson long distances for their games. “In a lot of other leagues you have to travel, but i9 is very central,” he said. The emphasis on equal playing time is also important, Paulo said. “No other sports leagues do this. When I’m coaching, I have to set the lineups before the game so that everyone plays equally,” he said. “Kids that have not played sports as much as others are doing much better at the end of the season than in other leagues, where they wouldn’t play as much.” Paulo said both Drew and Jayson look forward to their games. “It’s been a good experience and the kids love it. For anybody who wants to start out with sports with their kids, i9 Sports is great,” he said. For more information about i9 Sports, call (480) 664-4039 or visit www.i9sports. com.
RESOURCES: “The Kids’ (and parents’, too) Book of Good Sportsmanship: An easy-to-read guide for families,” by Leslie A. Susskind “Help Me Be Good: Being a Bad Sport,” by Joy Berry