Local NV Nonprofit Provides a Solution for Title-1 Elementary Schools

In 2017, the concept for Greater Youth Sports Association’s (GYSA) School Sports Solution program grew organically out of the desire to help one student. This student spent most of his time in the Principal’s office. He was angry, poised to distract others and altogether unengaged with his schooling. If you’re an educator or administrator you know this student… you’ve seen him/her before and the question you always ask yourself is “what can I do to motivate this child?”.

That very question was the spark that ignited the School Sports Solution Flame. After, GYSA Founder, Devonte Woodson (then Elementary School Teacher) discovered this particular student went home each day after school and did “whatever he felt like” with his older brothers, he decided to host a soccer camp at his school. The camp brought in more than 100 students which was when Devonte realized that many children could benefit from inexpensive, after-school sports programming.

Did you know that 7 out of 10 low-income children do not participate in organized sports? The two biggest reasons for this lack of participation are cost and transportation. GYSA is the solution to this problem.

After months of pilot programming and problem-solving, GYSA entered the 2019 school year partnered with 14 local, Title-1, elementary schools to provide them with after-school sports programming. The School Sports Solution program provides three sports seasons (Flag Football, Basketball and Soccer), reading mentorship and character development.

From the inception of the School Sports Solution program to today, the GYSA team and families have seen some truly transformational stories. This program is much larger than sports and hopes to have a lasting impact on the lives of all students they serve.

With their impact last Football Season the program is on-track to service 1200+ students this school year. But for the GYSA Founders this is just the tip of the iceberg. They hope to take the program to a national level and impact 100,000 students each school year.