COLUMBUS, Ohio — Everyone knows kids are full of energy and can get out of control, but one central Ohio program is celebrating 15 years of promoting positive youth development through sport-based programs.

What You Need To Know

  • The LiFEsports program at The Ohio State University College of Social Work is celebrating 15 years of promoting positive youth development through sport-based programs

  • LiFEsports prepares youth for life and leadership

  • The LiFEsports program started in 2009 after funding for the National Youth Sports Program was taken away during the Bush administration, Joe Ingram III, senior program manager of LiFEsports, said

  • According to LiFEsports, the program has served over 11,000 youth since 2009, with 91% of participants being from a minority background, 74% living below the poverty line, and 81% of youth reported wanting to attend college after participating in the program

According to the United States Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, there were more than 424,000 juvenile arrests across the country, a 71% decrease since 2011.

Quinten Kimble, former LiFEsports camper and current employee, said the program puts kids on the right track.

“Poverty around neighborhoods, a lot of neighborhoods, and they are not exposed to a lot of different things that we present to them,” Kimble said. “So, being able to get a lot of different kids from different backgrounds to participate in LiFEsports, it helps out a lot.”

Close to 100 kids participated at the latest clinic hosted by LiFEsports at The Ohio State University at the Beatty Community Center in Columbus, Ohio. 

Kimble said LiFEsports prepares youth for life and leadership through sport.

“A lot of kids in these communities are just like so closed minded and it's not really their fault,” Kimble said. “It’s just what they’re presented with or what they’re taught. Positive development just like getting out, getting outside of your box, you know, just getting being comfortable, doing uncomfortable things.”

He said LiFEsports is meant to promote positive youth development.

“We actually teach skills through sport, but it’s a lot more bigger than that,” Kimble said. “So, just learning how to operate a day-to-day basis, you know what to do, how to be respectful, how to control yourself and how to put effort and teamwork into everything.” 

The LiFEsports program started in 2009 after funding for the National Youth Sports Program was taken away during the Bush administration, Joe Ingram III, senior program manager of LiFEsports, said. He said Ohio State wanted to continue bringing kids to campus and through the collaboration with the Ohio State University College of Social Work and university athletics, this program was possible. 

According to LiFEsports, the program has served more than 11,000 youth since 2009, with 91% of participants being from a minority background, 74% living below the poverty line and 81% of youth reported wanting to attend college after participating in the program.

Ingram said LiFEsports does not only host summer camps and clinics at Ohio State, but they also visit various locations across central Ohio with the goal of supporting as many community members as possible.

“It just speaks to kind of the impact that’s being made. And then also just like the buy-in from the community as well, it makes no sense that they can continue to do something that’s not actually like benefiting the community and they’re not asking for it, right?” Ingram said. “So, just based off of like the kind of turnout that we get at registration and participation throughout the summer, it just shows that families appreciate the work that's being done. And just for myself, like just being able to make an impact or make a difference in someone else’s life while also doing something I love that I know you can gain so much out of, it's just great to be a part of.”

Ingram said the program is meant to be impactful to central Ohio residents. He said they have partnered with the Columbus Blue Jackets to introduce the youth to street, ice and field hockey.

“We want to create a safe space, as well as, like, provide the opportunities for youth that may not have that opportunity otherwise,” he said. “A lot of what we do are the traditional sports, but we're also introducing them to new sports as well.”

Ingram said LiFEsports teaches youth self-control, effort, teamwork, and social responsibility, also known as S.E.T.S.

“Our curriculum is evidence-based,” he said. “We are always tying it back to the four specific skills that can easily be tied to a lot of leadership skills.”

Ingram also said that he hopes LiFEsports can expand, not only throughout central Ohio and Ohio State, but also throughout all Big Ten schools to change the lives of kids all across the country.

You can find more information about the LiFEsports program and how to register for clinics here.

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