Youth Athletics

STORY BY MAGGIE GOVE PHOTOS BY AUDRA SPEARS, CLIFF WILLIAMS & HENRY ZIMMER

TThe Lake Martin area is booming with activities for children. Getting settled and making friends in a new city is difficult for some kids, but these programs could help to ease that stress and allow for smoother transitions.

Programs in Alexander City

The Alexander City Parks and Recreation Department offers many youth sports leagues, as well as other classes. “We are really a quality-of-life department,” explained

Nick Hand, athletic supervisor with Alexander City Parks and Recreation. “We try to do anything we can to give the kids things to do.” The department is community-focused, with members and volunteers who go the extra mile with their time and efforts. Youth sports offered by the department include baseball, both boys and girls basketball, cheerleading, football, soccer and softball. Along with these sports, the department is considering starting a flag football league, depending on kids’ interest in the sport. The parks and rec team frequently polls children to see what sports and activities they might be interested in trying. Hand said the parks and rec team’s desire is to gather the kids together and get them to get out and enjoy each other – to enjoy a structured, organized event. He explained that parents are typically more comfortable with more structure for their children – an environment where the kids are learning while having fun. Not only does the department host sports leagues, but it also conducts post-season camps. “We have had recent success with post-season sporting events and training,” Hand said. Many of the kids want to keep playing and training, even in the off-season. The department also provides support for the schools’ sports camps, as well as other community events held by other organizations. But sports are not the only thing the department has available for kids. “There is always something going on,” Hand said. Swimming lessons are offered during the summer, and a new life-skills class is opening soon. The parks and recreation director, Sonny Wilson, shared that a class for children ages 10 and up would be held to teach basic skills, such as how to change a tire, check the oil in a car and use a measuring tape.

More information and updates on sports leagues, including announcements about tryouts, draft selections and games, can be found on the Alexander City Parks and Recreation Facebook page. To learn more about what Alexander City has to offer, visit alexandercityal.gov and check out the Parks & Rec page. Alexander City Youth Soccer is offered to children, ages 3-12.

Programs in Dadeville

Dadeville has many opportunities for kids to get involved in sports and activities to help them settle into the community. Two programs that are impacting a lot of the kids in the area are Dadeville Dixie Youth and Dadeville Youth Football and Cheerleading. Dadeville Dixie Youth is a youth sports program focused on helping kids learn and grow their skills. The program offers leagues for children ages 3 to 12 in T-ball, baseball and softball. The programs have grown over the last several years, said Mike Simmons, the head coach and vice president of Dadeville Dixie Youth.

“We had more kids sign up this year than we have in the past,” Simmons explained.

Because of the progress the program has made, kids from surrounding areas, including Horseshoe Bend and Eclectic, are commuting to join the teams.

Simmons’ heart is to give back to the community, and he is not alone – all the Dadeville Dixie Youth board members are invested in the kids. Their goal is to provide every child in the area with a way to get better at these sports and give them a chance to earn college scholarships.

“One coach changed my life,” Simmons said. “If I can make a difference in one kid’s life, that’s all that matters.”

The baseball and softball leagues are split into three age groups: 7 to 8 years old with an adult pitching; 9 to 10 years old; and 11 to 12 years old. They also have two age

Youth athletics programs help students develop coordination and life skills

Youth athletics teach good sportmanship as well as teamwork and fitness

groups for T-ball: 3 to 4 years old and 5 to 6 years old.

All the teams have done well in their leagues this year, but one is particularly impressive. The 11- to 12-year-old boys have won the state championship three years in a row. Other coaches are now recognizing their talent and remembering the names of the players. This team will be competing in the World Series this year, going in undefeated in both the district and the state.

Simmons is very proud of his team and their hard work.

“They have a lot of heart. They’re good teammates,” he said.

While the current cut-off is 12 years old, Simmons is looking to open a Babe Ruth League next year for kids ages 13 to 15 years old. For more information about the Dadeville Dixie Youth program, visit the Dadeville Dixie Youth Softball/Baseball Facebook page (@dadevilledixieyouth).

Another great sports program available for children is Dadeville Youth Football and Cheerleading. This small, non-profit organization is invested in the lives of the kids they encounter. They desire to help provide activities for children, getting them out of the house and spending time with people.

Registration for the season begins in April, and they provide equipment for the players. While there is a registration fee for equipment, the organization is working to build the program and decrease the cost for families.

“We want to see the kids do good,” said Lashica Cox, vice president of the organization.

Dadeville Youth Football and Cheerleading hosts fundraisers to help pay for the equipment and provide sponsorships for players. Cox has been impacting the lives of Dadeville youth through this program for nearly 20 years.

“We get to watch them as they transition from youth sports to middle school sports and then to high school sports,” she said. “That is one thing I love about getting to do this.”

More information about this program can be found on the Dadeville Youth Football and Cheerleading Facebook page (@DYFL2020).

In 2021, Alexander City boys won the first state championship for 11-under baseball