Salina Family YMCA officials announced an update to their youth sports programs that will begin with the upcoming basketball season.
Starting this season, official scores will be kept for all youth sports for kindergarten through sixth grade. YMCA leaders say the change is intended to support youth development while continuing to emphasize sportsmanship, skill-building, and personal growth over wins and losses.
YMCA officials stressed that keeping score does not shift the focus of youth sports away from development. Instead, they say it provides another opportunity to teach life lessons such as resilience, humility, and perseverance.
Before each game, YMCA athletes recite the YMCA Sports Pledge, which begins:
“Win or lose, I pledge before God, to do my best to be a team player; to respect my teammates, opponents, coaches, parents, and officials; and to improve myself in spirit, mind and body.”
According to the YMCA, recording scores helps reinforce the idea that both winning and losing are part of growth.
“The scoreboard says one thing; however, it is how we respond that reflects us,” said Jessica Biegert, Sports Director at the Salina Family YMCA. “Does the loss motivate us to get better, or to quit? Does the win motivate us to continue winning, or does it leave us in a state of content or arrogance? What matters most is how we respond to those wins and losses.”
Chris Lehecka, President and CEO of the Salina Family YMCA, said competitive experiences in youth sports help prepare children for challenges they will face later in life.
“In life, we are faced with competitive moments every day,” Lehecka said. “When kids learn to win with humility and lose with dignity, they are building perseverance, confidence, and leadership. This is a shared responsibility. Coaches, officials, parents, volunteers, and staff all work together to deliver that message and support our kids. The scoreboard fades, the lessons of teamwork, leadership, perseverance, and character stay for life.”
The YMCA says the updated scoring approach aligns with its mission to help children grow in spirit, mind, and body, while continuing to provide a positive and supportive youth sports environment.