YMCA Youth Sports: Accessible. Equitable. Development-Driven.
At the YMCA, we believe youth sports should be accessible to all—fostering equity, building character, and nurturing growth. Our programs are intentionally rooted in safety, youth development, and community, inspired by top national research like Project Play’s “Sport for All, Play for Life.” We remove barriers to participation, cultivate values through positive coaching, and continually evolve our approach so every child thrives—on and off the field.
Support the Next Generation of Athletes.
Our youth sports programs thrive because of caring volunteers like you. Whether you love basketball, soccer, or another activity, your time and energy can create unforgettable experiences for kids.
Sign up to coach or volunteer today!
Sports Programs in Chester County
Discover YMCA sports programs in Chester County, including basketball, soccer, NFL flag football, swimming, gymnastics, pickleball and more. Our leagues build skills, confidence and teamwork while making sports accessible for everyone. Register today!
Basketball
Ages 3 - Adult
Esports
Ages 7 - 12
Flag Football
Ages 4 - 17
Gymnastics
Ages 2 - 18
Martial Arts & Ninja
Pickleball
Ages 6 - Adult
Soccer
Ages 3 - 13
Swim Lessons
Ages 6 months - Adult
Swim Team
Various Ages
Tennis
Ages 4 - Adult
Youth Sports Leagues
We have four youth sports league seasons: Fall, Winter I, Winter II, Spring
Fall 2025
Soccer and NFL Flag Football
Runs Sep. 2 - Nov. 1
Winter II 2026
Jr. NBA Basketball
Members Registration Opens Nov 18, 2025
Guest Registration Opens Dec 2, 2025
Runs Jan. 12 - Mar. 14
Spring 2026
Soccer & NFL Flag Football
Member Registration Opens Nov. 18, 2025
Guest Registration Opens Dec 2, 2025
Runs Mar. 30 - Jun. 6
Leading Practices
Leading practices are processes, procedures and policies grounded in YMCA and industry best practices that embed continuous improvement and innovation.
Cultivate Values & Skills
Intentional staff and volunteer strategy focused on cultivating values and skills through sports prgoramming.
Access for ALL
Strategy to ensure access for all within all youth sports programs at the Y.
Commitment to Safety
Commitment and strict adherence to both safety and child protection standards.
More about YMCA Youth Sports
The YMCA offers a variety of youth sports leagues designed to help kids build skills, confidence, teamwork, and a love of the game. Programs are open to children and teens across Chester County — YMCA membership is not required to participate.
Current youth sports leagues include:
- Basketball
- Soccer
- Flag Football
In addition to leagues, we also offer sports clinics, skill-building sessions, and recreational play for a range of ages and abilities.
To explore all youth sports programs, including clinics, camps, and leagues, visit Activity Finder and filter by sport type or participant age to find the best fit for your player.
For youth ages seven and up, there is one practice during the week and one game on the weekend. Weeknight practice days and times are determined by the coach and facility availability.
Don't Spoil the Fun
Approximately 70% of kids stop playing organized sports by the age of 13 because they say it’s not fun anymore according to the National Alliance for Youth Sports Poll.
Parents play an important role in their child's decision to keep playing sports, as illustrated in the videos below. At the YMCA, we keep fun in the game. Our coaches focus on building strong skills so kids can play at any level, but more importantly, they help kids learn teamwork, leadership and sportsmanship—skills that will help them excel throughout their lives while staying active and healthy.
The YMCA strives to keep fun in the game. Read more.
All of our coaches are volunteers. Each volunteer must go through a background screening, child abuse prevention training and other YMCA sports specific training. Each coach is also provided a coach’s manual and is required to attend a pre-season meeting to review proper YMCA procedures and expectations.
Volunteers are provided direction and support from our sports directors and YMCA staff.
Interested in coaching an upcoming season? Join the YMCA family and become a youth sports volunteer coach! We're looking for individuals that want to foster a love of the game and the development of each child. Sign up and a member of our sports team will be in touch to answer any questions or get you started!
WINTER I - JR. NBA Basketball
- Week of October 20, 2025
- Family Orientation (check branch for date/time)
- Basketball Skills Evaluation - Ages 9 and up (check branch for date/time)
- Friday, October 31, 2025
- Registration ends online - Register NOW (late fees applied after this date)
- League Runs from Monday, November 3, 2025 - Saturday, January 10, 2026
- First Day of Games - Saturday, November 15, 2025
- No Practice
- Thursday, November 27, 2025
- Friday, November 28, 2025
- Wednesday, December 24, 2025
- Thurs-Fri, December 25-26, 2025
- Saturday, December 27, 2025
- Wednesday, December 31, 2025
- Thursday, January 1, 2026
WINTER II - JR. NBA Basketball
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Member Registration Opens
- Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - Guest Registration Opens
- Week of January 5, 2026
- Family Orientation (check branch for date/time)
- Basketball Skills Evaluation - Ages 9 and up (check branch for date/time)
- Friday, January 9, 2026
- Registration ends online (late fees applied after this date)
- League Runs from Monday, January 12, 2026 - Saturday, March 14, 2026
- Sports Camp Registration Opens - Tuesday, January 13, 2026
- First Day of Games - Saturday, January 24, 2026
SPRING - Soccer & NFL Flag Football
- Tuesday, November 18, 2025 - Member Registration Opens
- Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - Guest Registration Opens
- Week of March 16, 2026
- Family Orientation (check branch for date/time)
- Friday, March 20, 2026
- Registration ends online (late fees applied after this date)
- League Runs from Monday, March 30, 2026 - Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Sports Camp Registration Opens - Tuesday, January 13, 2026
- First Day of Games - Saturday, April 11, 2026
- No Games/Practices - Saturday May 23 - Monday, May 25, 2026
Youth sports leagues at the YMCA of Greater Brandywine are available for children ages 3 - 15 with four seasons offered annually.
Visit your local branch or contact any member of our sports team with additional questions.