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Will the YMCA provide coaches?

Prior to the season, we hold a meeting and clinic for all coaches. Coaches receive practice plans, rules of play, field/court expectations, etc.

Coaches also receive access to our league management platform, PlayerSpace. PlayerSpace provides you with your team rosters and includes tools (email/text) to communicate with your team.

When will I hear from my coach?

You will hear from your coach after our coaches meeting, which is about one to two weeks prior to the start of the season. Your coach will receive the team roster at this time, and they are encouraged to contact you, either by phone or email, with details on the upcoming season as soon as possible.

What should I do if I have not heard from my coach?

Contact the area coordinator at your location or the Association youth sports office. In many of these cases, we have found the contact information we have for you on file is incorrect so we will need to update your contact information.

What if I have a specific request?

We try to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee requests will be honored. Refunds are not provided due to an unfulfilled request. For teammate or coach requests, you must indicate whom you are requesting on the registration questionnaire.

What is PlayerSpace?

PlayerSpace is our league management system that assigns team schedules and rosters. Prior to each season, you will receive an email inviting you to create a username and password.

Once you log in, the YMCA and your coach will communicate with you through this system. You will also be able to view your team’s schedule for the upcoming season.

How do I register?

Visit the Youth Sports home page to view available programs and register.

Do you provide scholarships?

Yes, thanks to generous contributions to the YMCA’s Annual Giving campaign, scholarships are available to participants who qualify. Applications are available at your YMCA facility or by calling us at 615-256-4753.

How does the refund policy work?

Cancellations received before the first practice are eligible for a full refund. Once practice has begun, but before the first game has been played, we will offer a full credit for YMCA programs. After the first game has been played we are unable to give any refunds or system credits.

Who can play?

YMCA sports leagues are open to boys and girls of all skill levels. Participants do not need a YMCA membership to participate. Ages vary based on location due to field and/or gym access.

How are individual players placed on teams?

Participants are placed on teams based on their age and requests. The information you provide on the registration questionnaire plays a large role in how teams are drafted.

What if I have a specific request?

We try to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee requests will be honored. Refunds are not provided due to an unfulfilled request. For teammate or coach requests, you must indicate whom you are requesting on the registration questionnaire.

Do you accept team reservations?

Yes, but all participants must register prior to the season registration deadline and must indicate the teammate/coach you are requesting on the registration questionnaire.

Teams must also have a coach secured prior to registering as a team. Since our league is based on individual registrations, a team may have additional players added to their team if the team does not meet the maximum number of players allotted per team.

How much playing time can my child expect?

All participants play a minimum of 50 percent of the time.

When are practices and games?

Teams will practice once a week, Monday – Friday, typically in the afternoon or evenings for about an hour. Games are generally held on Saturdays and range from the morning through late afternoon.

Where are practices and games held?

All practices are held near the location that hosts the program for which you registered. Some games may require you to travel to other Y's in the YMCA of Middle Tennessee Association.

How are practice times determined?

Practice times and locations are scheduled by volunteer coaches, not by YMCA Youth Sports directors. Your volunteer coach will inform you of your child’s practice time and location about one to two weeks prior to the start of the season.

What should I do if the practice time that my team has doesn't work for me?

You may talk with your coach to see if the team has availability to change to a different day or time. If the team is able to, the coach will contact the youth sports office to determine if another practice day or time is available.

If another day or time is not available, you may then request to be placed on a different team by contacting the youth sports office directly. However, a change to another team is not guaranteed.

How many games will we play?

We provide a minimum of eight games during the season. If there is an odd number of teams in a division, some divisions could have double headers or bye weeks. Some age groups and leagues will have the opportunity for an end-of-the-season tournament at an additional cost.

What is Y-Gametime?

Y-Gametime is our online sports management system that provides families with easy online access to schedules, league updates, text alerts and more. Learn More

How will I be notified about weather cancellations?

If the YMCA cancels for weather, the YMCA is responsible for notifying the guardian and coaches. The guardian and coaches will receive an email or text message through Y-Gametime. If the coach decides to cancel, it is the coach’s responsibility to notify the team.

Who can play?

YMCA sports leagues are open to boys and girls of all skill levels. Participants do not need a YMCA membership to participate. Ages vary based on location due to field and/or gym access.

How are individual players placed on teams?

Participants are placed on teams based on their age and requests. The information you provide on the registration questionnaire plays a large role in how teams are drafted.

What if I have a specific request?

We try to accommodate requests, but we cannot guarantee requests will be honored. Refunds are not provided due to an unfulfilled request. For teammate or coach requests, you must indicate whom you are requesting on the registration questionnaire.

Do you accept team reservations?

Yes, but all participants must register prior to the season registration deadline and must indicate the teammate/coach they are requesting on the registration form.

Teams must also have a coach secured prior to registering as a team. Since our leagues are based on individual registrations, a team may have additional players added to their team if the team does not meet the maximum number of players allotted per team.

How many players are on a team?

The number of players on a team varies based on the age group on the number of players required on the field/court, plus 2-3 additional players. The maximum number of players on a team is usually based on doubling the participants required on the field/court. For example, if an age group plays 5v5, the minimum on a roster is 8 with a maximum of 10.

How are age/grade divisions determined?

We always strive to have single age/grade divisions. At times, we may have to combine certain age/grades together in order to have enough teams in each age/grade division. This is determined once registration has closed and we have an opportunity to build teams.

What is Y-Gametime?

Y-Gametime is our online sports management system that provides families with easy online access to schedules, league updates, text alerts and more. Learn More

Does the league supply uniforms?

For soccer and basketball: Returning players are encouraged to bring back their jersey from the previous season. If a player does not have a uniform from prior season or would like a new one, a jersey may be purchased at scheduled times leading up to the first game.

• Soccer: Full kits (jersey, shorts and socks) may be purchased for $20. Jersey top may be purchased for $18.
• Basketball: Jersey top may be purchased for $18.

Flag Football: Every player in our program receives an NFL team jersey and a flag belt to keep. The cost for these items is included in your registration fee.

What do I need to bring?

The following should be brought to all practices and games:

• Soccer: A soccer ball with your child’s name on it and a water bottle. Cleats are highly recommended, but not required (no cleats with toe stud). Shin guards must be worn during all games.
• Basketball: A basketball with your child’s name on it, water bottle and tennis shoes with non-marking sole.
• Flag Football: Water bottle, athletic shorts (no pockets) and mouth guard. Cleats are highly recommended, but not required.

What size ball will my child need?

• Soccer: U4-U8: Size 3; U9-U12: Size 4; U13+: Size 5.
• Basketball: Jr Tykes-3rd grade: Size 27.5; 4th-6th grade: Size 28.5; 7th-8th grade: Size 29.5.
• Flag Football: K-3rd grade: Pee-Wee Size; 4th-12th grade: Junior Size.

What types of awards are given?

Each player will receive an individual participation award.