North Las Vegas, NV – On Saturday, November 18th, Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA) successfully hosted its annual Fall Track Meet at the Pearson Community Center in North Las Vegas. The event, a culmination of GYSA’s vibrant track season that commenced in late October, drew the participation of 16 elementary schools, bringing together over 200 enthusiastic students in grades 3rd through 5th.
The Pearson Community Center buzzed with energy as young athletes, donned in vibrant jerseys, showcased their speed and determination in a series of exciting track events. From the electrifying 100M dash to the thrilling 200M dash and the challenging 400M dash, the young participants displayed impressive athleticism and sportsmanship throughout the day.
One of the highlights of the Fall Track Meet was the 4×100 relay, where teams worked together in a display of teamwork and camaraderie. For many of the students, this marked their inaugural foray into the world of track and field, providing a memorable experience that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression.
The success of the event was made possible by the dedicated volunteers who generously contributed their time and efforts to ensure the smooth execution of the Fall Track Meet. Their commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment for the young athletes contributed significantly to the overall success of the event.
“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Fall Track Meet,” said Devonte Woodson, GYSA’s Executive Director and Co-Founder. “It’s heartwarming to witness the enthusiasm and determination displayed by these young athletes. The support from our volunteers, schools, and the community played a pivotal role in creating a memorable experience for all participants.”
Greater Youth Sports Association extends its gratitude to the participating elementary schools, dedicated volunteers, and the North Las Vegas community for their unwavering support in making the Fall Track Meet a resounding success.
Las Vegas, NV – On November 14th, 2023, Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA), a prominent non-profit youth sports organization in Southern Nevada, gathered at MLK Jr. Elementary School to host a special school assembly in recognition of the MLK Champions basketball team’s outstanding victory at GYSA’s All City Basketball Tournament on October 28th.
The MLK Champions not only clinched the All City title but also received prestigious trophies and the 2023 All City Champion banner, symbolizing their remarkable achievement on the basketball court. The school and its students were further honored during the assembly with the presence of esteemed guests, including Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick, who presented the students with symbolic “keys” to the Las Vegas Strip, Raiders Gear, and certificates.
The assembly, attended by GYSA staff, Commissioner Kirkpatrick, and the MLK Jr. Elementary School community, provided a joyous platform for the MLK Champions to celebrate their success. Words of encouragement and celebration were shared by the team’s coach, Chris Benizio, along with the student athletes themselves.
Beyond their athletic prowess, the MLK students garnered praise for their exemplary sportsmanship, dedication to completing homework, improved attendance, and more. Greater Youth Sports Association commends the undefeated MLK Champions for their outstanding performance and achievements throughout the year.
In the spirit of fostering youth sports and development, GYSA extends an invitation to elementary schools interested in joining the GYSA School Sports Solution program. For inquiries and further information, please contact info@gysanv.org.
About Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA):
Greater Youth Sports Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting youth sports and development in Southern Nevada. GYSA provides opportunities for young athletes to engage in organized sports programs that emphasize skill development, teamwork, and character building.
For Media Inquiries, please contact: Annalise Lullo, GYSA Co-Founder / Development Director, at 480-459-7270 or annalise@gysanv.org.
On June 10th, 2023 Bar Code Burgers, the ultimate sports restaurant and bar in the heart of Las Vegas, hosted a fundraiser in support of Greater Youth Sports Association. The event was a huge success, bringing together members of the community to raise funds for a great cause.
The highlight of the event was a chicken wing eating contest, featuring special guests Kolton Miller and Jermaine Eluemunor of the Las Vegas Raiders, as well as the host of the Raiders Report, Mitchell Renz. The three contestants faced off in a spicy wing-eating showdown, with bragging rights and the chance to be crowned “Wing King”.
The event was attended by residents, business owners, and of course lots of Raider’s fans, all coming together to support GYSA and watch the epic showdown. GYSA’s School Sports SolutionTM program provides opportunities for at-risk, elementary-age youth to participate in afterschool youth development programming centered around a variety of sports, all promoting health, wellness, and future success.
GYSA was honored to have this event presented in their name and for their cause. “It’s been incredible to see the collaboration between Bar Code Burgers, the Raiders, the Raiders Report and the Blackout Division all in the name of GYSA and its programming,” said GYSA Founder, Devonte Woodson. “We were pumped to see so many people come out to support the Greater Youth Sports Association and have some fun watching our special guests get down on some wings.”
Overall, the fundraiser was a huge success, raising thousands of dollars for the GYSA and bringing the community together for a fun and worthwhile cause. At the end of the day, Mitchell Renz walked away the new “Wing King”, but everyone involved is a winner for showing up for GYSA and our youth.
Greater Youth Sports Association’s (GYSA) Flag Football team at Cunningham Elementary got an exciting visit from the Las Vegas XFL team the Vegas Vipers this week. Students got the opportunity to spend time with the players and learn new skills and information. Players led the students through various drills to reinforce and build upon the skills they have been learning throughout the GYSA Flag Football Season. The players also shared with students the importance of working hard, paying attention in school, being kind, showing respect, setting goals, and why you shouldn’t shy away from failure.
The Vegas Vipers are the newest professional sports team in Nevada, joining the Raiders, the Vegas Golden Knights and the Las Vegas Aces. The Vipers, who kick off games in February of 2023, announced their new home at Cashman Field.
GYSA’s School Sports Solution program is an after-school, elementary sports program that provides 1st through 5th grade children competitive and recreational sports opportunities blended with education and character development. GYSA is incredibly thankful to the Vegas Vipers for coming out and supporting our mission of leveraging our three core values of Sports, Education, and Character to create an environment for our youth that fosters growth, development and success.
Summer Break is often the period of time that students look forward to most – NO SCHOOL! However, while it is important for our children to rest and be kids there are some underlying health issues that may occur.
We know that regular physical activity reduces the health risk of childhood obesity as well as mental health problems. And throughout the school year students have the opportunity to achieve much needed levels of physical activity through recess, P.E. class, and afterschool physical activity programs like GYSA’s School Sports Solution™.
But, what happens during Summer Break?
For starters, many children experience “Summer Learning Loss”, which is the loss of academic skills and knowledge over the course of summer vacation. It has also been observed that students show increased sedentary behavior during the Summer holiday in addition to increased screen time, poorer diet regimens and worse sleep quality. Overall, it seems important to continue child engagement over the Summer for both physical and mental health purposes.
For many children however, the opportunities to participate in physical activity is extremely limited due to transportation issues, costs, and lack of programming. A study found that during summer holidays overall moderate physical activity decreases by 53%.
Additionally, children from low-income households find themselves with less opportunity due to lack of programming or high-cost programming that is out of their reach.
At GYSA our mission is to ensure all children can improve their physical and mental health through sports programming.
This Summer GYSA launched its very first Summer Youth Sports program which provided 1-month of programming and concluded with an end of season Game Day event. Enrolled students had the opportunity to play soccer or basketball and also received program t-shirts, weekly skills and drills practice and games twice per week at each 90 minute session.
The rosters for each sport maxed out with 90+ students enrolled! The need was there and GYSA was happy to help fill it, even if only on a small scale!
It is important we continue to provide these services to our children and ensure that no matter their background they have the opportunity to live a fuller healthier life, and still enjoy their Summer Vacation.
Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA), the leader in after-school, elementary sports programming in Southern Nevada, is pleased to announce that Southern Nevada Health District has officially signed on to sponsor 80 low-income children to participate in the GYSA Ball & A Plan program.
The Ball & A Plan program is a deviation from GYSA’s regular programming in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which includes three sports seasons (soccer, basketball and football) will provide enrolled children with a GYSA custom sports ball and access to the Virtual Sports Academy which includes weekly sports instruction, weekly Social Emotional lessons and a character development workshop. Children will also have the opportunity to participate in the end of season Jamboree, which allows them to put their skills to the test in safe environment.
CCSD is currently facing $38 million in budget cuts, which means many schools have been forced to make tough decisions when it comes to cutting programs that provide extra support for their children. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has created less access than usual when it comes to extracurricular programming. SNHD’s donation will help ensure that GYSA is able to continue to serve children across Clark County despite budget cuts and the implications of COVID.
“We are so grateful to have received this donation which will help us provide much needed support to our children who are facing even more barriers than usual due to the challenging times we are currently facing in our Nation”, said GYSA Founder, Devonte Woodson.
The Health District works to assess, protect, and promote the health, the environment, and the well-being of Southern Nevada communities, residents, and visitors. Their donation to GYSA aligns perfectly with this mission and reinforces SNHD’s commitment to their community.
Nicole Bungum, Supervisor of the Office of Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion at SNHD explained, “One of our goals at the Health District is to increase the number of youth who are physically active and to ensure that everyone has access to safe, affordable opportunities for physical activity. We are pleased to support the work of Greater Youth Sports through our Move Your Way – Youth Initiative. Greater Youth Sports provides opportunities for youth to be physically active, especially youth who might not otherwise have opportunities to participate in sports. Their programs stress not only the importance of sport and physical activity but also character and education as well”. While our Nation continues to face a myriad of challenges it is actions like these that will help improve our community’s health, well-being, and future!
Local Nevada Non-Profit, Greater Youth Sports Association becomes an NYSS Champion.
(Las Vegas, NV) – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is pleased to recognize Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA) as one of the first organizations to join the National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champion program. HHS released the NYSS in September 2019 in response to Presidential Executive Order 13824, which called for a national strategy to increase youth sports participation. The NYSS is the first Federal roadmap with actionable strategies to increase participation in youth sports, increase awareness of the benefits of youth sports participation, monitor and evaluate youth sports participation, and recruit and engage volunteers in youth sports programming.
NYSS aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports — regardless of their race, ethnicity, sex, ability, or ZIP code. NYSS Champions represent organizations that are working towards achieving this vision.
As an NYSS Champion, GYSA has demonstrated their organization’s support of youth sports and commitment to the NYSS vision. GYSA will be recognized along with other NYSS Champions on health.gov as part of a growing network of organizations partnering with HHS to improve the youth sports landscape in America.
“We know children who obtain regular physical activity gain important physical and mental health benefits, which are more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic,” explains ADM Brett Giroir, M.D., Assistant Secretary for Health at HHS. “I’m thrilled to acknowledge the work of the NYSS Champions who are furthering the mission of the NYSS and helping to foster a lifelong love of sports and physical activity for our Nation’s youth.”
“GYSA is ecstatic to be one of the first organizations to join the NYSS Champions platform”, said Annalise Lullo, Co-Founder of GYSA. “At GYSA we believe sports can build success in the lives of our children by improving both their mental and physical health. We also believe that all children deserve access to sports and that cost should never be the reason a child does not participate. Therefore, it is with excitement that we work with HHS to achieve this new vision for youth sports.”
About Greater Youth Sports Association
GYSA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based out of Southern Nevada. GYSA believes that sports can build success in the lives of our youth. Sadly, more than 70% of low-income children do not participate in organized sports, often due to cost. GYSA created their signature program, the School Sports SolutionSM to combat this issue. Providing after-school sports programming to at-risk, low-income children is just one facet of the program, however. GYSA also provides enrolled children with character development workshops, weekly social emotional lessons and reading mentorship.
GYSA aims to transform the lives of low-income children by providing them with affordable programming that improves their physical and mental health and lays the foundation for a successful future.
About the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition (PCSFN) is a Federal Advisory Committee run by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and plays a vital role in keeping the Nation healthy. PCSFN and ODPHP accomplish this by setting national health goals and objectives and supporting programs, services, and education activities that improve the health of all Americans. PCSFN and ODPHP are part of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. To learn more about ODPHP visit health.gov.
The NYSS Champion is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. Participation by GYSA does not imply endorsement by HHS/ODPHP.
On June 8th, Raider Cody and Kenny King Jr., creators of the Raider Cody Podcast, announced that they were raising funds for local Las Vegas non-profit, Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA). The money raised will go to providing after-schools sports programming, reading mentorship and character development for at-risk elementary age children in Southern Nevada.
Raider Cody, who is viewed as a premier Raiders talk host and voice of Raiders fans, had been looking for a way to support the new Raiders community in Las Vegas, when he came across GYSA. After speaking with GYSA Co-Founder, Devonte Woodson, they decided to aim to raise $5,000 which would provide programming to one partner school and approximately 100 children.
Raider Nation wasted no time in supporting the cause and within several days had raised nearly $1,500. The goal of hitting $5,000 seemed likely considering the fundraiser was to run until July 4th (former Raiders Owner, Al Davis’ birthday). And reach the goal they did. Nearly two weeks before the end of the fundraiser, Cody announced that fans had raised $20,000! This will impact four partner schools and more than 400 at-risk children.
Nearly two weeks before the end of the fundraiser, Cody announced that fans had raised $20,000!
This Friday, July 3rd, 2020 at 10 a.m. the Raider Cody podcast will be live in Las Vegas at Stage Door Casino, where they will present GYSA with the funds raised. The event is open to the public and will be a great way to introduce the Las Vegas community to the strength of Raider Nation.
WHAT: Live Raider Cody Podcast and Check Presentation to GYSA
WHERE: Stage Door Casino, 4000 Linq Ln, Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Raiders have not yet played a game in their new home, but Raider Nation is already making an impact in the Las Vegas community by supporting local non-profit, Greater Youth Sports Association.
LAS VEGAS, Nevada. June 15, 2020. If you live in Las Vegas, Nevada, you can hardly miss the new stadium being constructed west of the strip for the Las Vegas Raiders. The city was thrown into a state of excitement in 2017 when the NFL officially approved the Raiders move from Oakland to Las Vegas and has been anxiously awaiting the team’s arrival.
While the Raiders have not yet played in Las Vegas, Raider Nation has wasted no time in sharing their Silver and Black pride with the city. On June 8th, Raider Cody and Kenny King Jr., creators of the Raider Cody Podcast, announced they were partnering with local non-profit, Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA), to raise much needed funds for their mission. So far, Raider Nation has come together to raise $1,500 towards the $5,000 goal and will continue to raise money until July 4th, Former Raiders Owner Al Davis’s Birthday. Raider Cody is viewed as a premier Raiders talk host and voice of Raiders fans.
The money raised will go to providing after-school sports programming to at-risk elementary age children. Sadly, 7 out of 10 low-income children do not participate in sports, often due to cost. GYSA, believes that all children deserve an opportunity to play and have been working since 2017 to make sure this happens for children who need it the most. If met, the money raised can impact up to 120 elementary-age children and give them the opportunity to play sports including flag football, basketball and soccer right at their school! GYSA does not only offer affordable elementary school sports but also weekly reading mentorship, a comprehensive SEL curriculum, and character development workshops.
So, even though we haven’t yet seen the Raiders run through the tunnel at Allegiant Stadium, we have certainly felt their presence in our city, and are more excited than ever to truly become a part of #RaiderNation.
2020 has been a challenging year to say the least. From the COVID-19 pandemic and all the implications that came with it, to the ongoing systemic racism that plagues our nation, these challenging times have been difficult for many to navigate and hardly improve the mental health of our communities. In fact, some researchers warn that the coronavirus pandemic alone could leave long-lasting emotional trauma (cnbc.com).
The state of our country today certainly could induce trauma, but the U.S. is no stranger to it. An estimated 70% of adults in the U.S. have experienced at least one traumatic event in their lifetime and more than two-thirds of children report one traumatic event prior to the age of 16. Those at even higher risk for experiencing trauma and repeated trauma are those at an economic disadvantage. In fact, the American Psychology Association stated that exposure to trauma is directly related to socioeconomic standing.
Two-thirds of children report one traumatic event prior to the age of 16.
At Greater Youth Sports Association (GYSA) our mission is to support children, particularly those in low-income communities. But how do we provide the additional support needed given all these children are up against. Trauma, whether it comes from within the home or at larger scales, carries many implications, especially for children. Let’s look at these now.
The Implications of Trauma
Anyone who has studied the Vietnam war knows how dangerous the implications of trauma can be. PTSD is one of the most talked about disorders related to trauma, but hand to hand combat is just one of the many ways a person can experience it. Trauma comes in many forms, including abuse, neglect, natural disasters, death, illness, to name a few and can have a multitude of impacts on mental and physical health. Some common symptoms include:
Depression
Anxiety
Low Self-Esteem
Chronic Pain
Lack of Self Respect
Addiction
Hormone Imbalance
Muscle Tension
Immune Dysfunction / Chronic Inflammation
Cardiovascular Disease
These are just a few of the symptoms of trauma that many children and adults suffer from today.
Childhood trauma is all too common, particularly in low-income households. Keep in mind that trauma literally reprograms and rewires the brain. This is why childhood trauma doesn’t simply fade over time, and often affects a child’s biological, cognitive and physical development and increases risk of lifelong emotional and physical problems.
Solutions to Trauma
But, there is good news when it comes to trauma. The brain’s wiring is not set in stone! There are steps that can be taking to rewire the brain and overcome trauma and many that can be implemented without professional intervention. Please note, in cases of severe trauma it is best to engage with a healthcare professional.
Sports as a Solution
At GYSA we believe that sports can build success on many levels. In addition to the obvious benefits such as improved physical activity levels, sportsmanship and discipline, sports when implemented correctly can also have many mental health benefits. In fact, JAMA Pediatrics published a study showing that people who had experienced traumatic events as children had improved mental health outcomes as adults if they participated in team sports during their adolescence.
Sports can teach many life lessons including resilience, grit and determination. Team sports also allow for improved self-esteem and better social interactions. GYSA conveys these important lessons during practices and games by using Social Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques.
Social Emotional Learning
SEL is the process through which children learn about and manage their emotions, set positive goals, show empathy for others, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
SEL is important when dealing with trauma because it places strong emphasis on evaluating and controlling emotion. It allows children to look inward and understand their feelings. A common trait in trauma is to bury pain when it occurs, but SEL encourages the opposite. SEL also places major emphasis on establishing and maintaining positive relationships. Relationships can have a major influence on mental health. If surrounded by a strong support system, children are able to handle traumatic situations with more confidence and hopefully avoid long-lasting effects.
The reason GYSA chose to convey these important techniques through sports is because we wanted children to really feel and relate to the message. Nelson Mandela once said, “[Sport] speaks to youth in a language they understand”. We are working to share these lessons in a language our children can easily understand in the hopes that they will continue to use them as they learn and grow.
PERMA
We believe sports have the power to impact and improve the lives of at-risk children across the country, however there are many ways to cope with trauma and maintain happiness. Martin Seligman, the Father of Positive Psychology, came up with a model that delineates what we need to achieve happiness. Striving to integrate the elements of this model into daily life and teaching it to children at a young age may help in reversing the impacts of trauma. The PERMA model is as follows:
Positive Emotion
This may seem obvious, but positive emotion is powerful when it comes to overcoming trauma and being truly happy. Positive emotion is developed out of optimism, positivity, and enjoyment. Some techniques that can be used to induce positive emotion include participating in hobbies or activities that bring real enjoyment! This might be participating in a sport, going hiking, etc. Find what truly brings you joy and practice it. The key here is not to confuse true joy with pleasure. Another helpful activity for increasing positive emotion, is keeping a gratitude journal. Each day write down all the things you are grateful for. Over time your brain will start to more easily recognize the good things in your life over the bad.
Engagement
Engagement involves finding activities that demand our full attention. This is that activity that makes “Time Fly” and that puts you in a state of flow, completely and totally focused on that one thing and oblivious to the outside world. This involves trying new things, maybe it’s playing sports, dancing, singing, playing an instrument, etc. Explore different things and don’t stop until you find that thing that you truly love.
Relationships
Humans need love and social interaction. We are social beings and cannot function at a high level without human connection. Make time to spend with the people who mean the most. Also, make sure that the people you do spend the most time with align with the happiness you want in your life.
Meaning
Having a purpose in life is necessary for happiness! Unfortunately, our world puts a lot of stock in material wealth, but money is often not the gateway to happiness. Finding your purpose may take time, exploration and experimentation. Ask yourself important questions such as, what would I want to do each day if money were not a factor? How do I wish to give back to my community? What brings me joy? By looking inward and asking deep questions your purpose will start to reveal itself.
Accomplishments
To truly achieve happiness, it is important to set goals and be ambitious. There is a sense of pride and satisfaction that comes along with achieving our goals. Start by setting small goals and appreciating the small wins as you achieve them. As you grow and flourish in these small goals you will be able to start expanding your goals and dreaming / achieving big.
Press On
The world continues to challenge us in new and unprecedented ways, but it is our job as members of society to offer solutions to these challenges. Mental health is not a conversation to be passed over, especially in such troubling times. We must press on and actively work to improve as individuals and in turn we will be able to improve our communities.
At GYSA we believe sports can heal, teach and prepare our youth for adulthood. This is our solution. This our mission. When we stand together, we all win!