I love sports

Cursing, inappropriate coach. Challenging to communicate with leadership in a timely manner.

Other teams coaches got in yelling fights. Games were cancelled due to weather and there were no make ups. Our kids were on a tiny field that shouldn’t even be considered a field.

We had another great season with the Y

ORGANIZATION AND COMMUNICATION HAS BECOME HORRIBLE. SEASON INFORMATION IS SENT OUT LAST MINUTE. GAME DAY CHANGES ARE SENT OUT LAST MINUTE. PRACTICE SCHEDULE CHANGES ARE NEVER COMMUNICATED. AGE LIMITS, ROSTER SIZES AND ACTUAL ROSTER VERIFICATION ARE NOT MONITORED. STAFF DOESN'T MONITOR PRACTICE TIMES AND COACHES ARE CONSTANTLY HAVING TO BE REMINDED OF WHEN THEY NEED TO END PRACTICE. OVERALL THERE HAS BEEN A STEADY DECLINE IN HOW THE YMCA HAS BEEN RUNNING ITS SPORT SEASONS. SEEMS IT STARTS AT THE TOP AND FOLLOWS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE ON SITE STAFF.

We won’t be coming back. This was our 7th season with the Y and the worst one yet. The rules were never the same. The kids couldn’t learn the rules because they were different every game. We were kicked out after our last game and the kids couldn’t enjoy their time because of an altercation that started from another team. Do better.

The front desk staff are amazing. Our soccer coach was very nice and patient with the children. The Child Watch staff are excellent with children. My granddaughter loves to gi to Child Watch!

Friendly and helpful staff.

The last two weeks my son’s soccer team has lost 12-0 and 11-0. The opposing teams have clearly been practicing 3 times a week for years based on their coordination and level of play. The majority of my son’s team are first timers who practice once a week. I didn’t sign him up to be practice fodder for a more experienced team looking to boost their self confidence at the expense of my son. This was not his experience in basketball but it certainly has been in soccer. You need to strive for parity more actively because my son (10) knows that an experienced team can beat an inexperienced team. That has so far been the extent of his learning. I suppose if I was the father of the other team(s) I might have a different viewpoint (and perhaps that is who you’re actually catering to).

The sports director never returns emails or phone calls. It is difficult to reach out to anyone. The fields are full of ruts. We had a teammate break an arm. The fees stayed the same despite not getting a New Jersey each year. The New Jerseys are very thick and hot.

Double headers are tough, and Spring season is too short. Maybe 9-10 games or add a scrimmage; it won’t matter if we play the same team twice. That’s the only reason I rated it an 8. Other than that, great coaching and facilities. Thanks.

Lack of consistent communication, no real organization. We showed up day one and two and there was no structure to the game, our friends had to step up and coach because there were no coaches. I don’t understand why we paid for registration and uniforms when we could have coordinated a play date with our kids independently. This season has been ridiculous. On top of that, today’s game is cancelled for the weather but there’s been no communication of that. In fact, we received an email an hour ago stating that the game was still on. We only found out it was cancelled after calling in and asking. I grew up at the YMCA and had wonderful memories as a kid. I wish this space could provide the same for my own child, however, unfortunately that has not been the case.

Nice park and facility

This has been a better experience than with some other groups we have tried in the past. He likes that he has a game every weekend where he can apply what he practiced.

We’ve been really disappointed in the communication and organization of the youth sports program. It was our first time signing our 4 year old for sports, and we had to constantly seek information on what team he was on and who his coach would be. We showed up for the first practice/game and no one was there to tell us that we didn’t have a coach. Luckily, one of the parent volunteer coaches offered for our team to practice with hers since our team wasn’t sure what to do. About 30 minutes in, someone finally came out and informed us that we didn’t have coach. It definitely would have minimized confusion and frustration if we had been told that when we arrived. Also, the vendor that ships the jerseys took a full month to deliver the jersey (my child had already played 3 games by then).

Our son’s team got moved to the tball field. They were supposed to be on the big baseball field, but now they play games on the tball field. It is too small for them and they are all crowded. I feel like my son is not able to properly learn the skills the program had promised he would. Our coaches tried to speak to management about it but they did not seem to care. We have been in several programs with the Y at OP, and are considering not returning due to the response we have gotten. It seems they do not care about teaching kids the sport

Your enduring efforts to help meet the social needs of our community in a fair and open (FRIENDLY) environment where all participants and families; regardless of race, age, gender, etc., are valued and acknowledged!

I signed my child up for sports and have been trying to reach someone via phone, email, and the player space app and have not heard anything. Practice starts this week and am hoping to hear something soon. I called in via the phone number that was provided and it simply stated that all communication should be via email.

My two grandchildren play soccer at the Y. This is their first year playing and they are having a blast. I would also like to give a shout out to the staff. They always go above and beyond to help and assist anyone who needs it. I will always be grateful to them. They have a heart of gold!

Great service

Soccer coaches had this season actually know what they're doing. Boys had a great time building up a flow together.

If we are coaching, you need to let us know that we are the coach. No one emailed my husband saying he was the coach so we showed up unprepared. Also, the refs need to know the rules. For example, if there are no goalies in the 5-6 age range then that needs to be explained to the other coaches not listening. It is disheartening to the kids who are following the rules and especially when another coach starts yelling at the ref right in front of the kids. To the refs credit, she was informing this particular coach but he did not want to listen and then ended up getting mad because the parents on the sidelines started to say something too. I have no idea how coaches like that are still able to coach. It is 5-6 year olds and the YMCA it shouldn't be this intense. Please, if you get complaints about a coach, take it seriously we just want the kids to have a good time and play fairly. There were several other times that the ref called things but then not others. Another example is hands. If there are no hands, then call it for EVERY team, not just one. Another example, if the ball goes across the line but doesn't touch the back of the goal (which is still a goal) then don't NOT count it for certain teams but count for others. We had the same ref almost every game so its very confusing why she is calling some things but not other things. If the 5-6 year olds can catch on that it isnt fair, then the ref should too.

friendly focused on the kids everyone gets to play

Twice a week for duck young kids is a lot. Once a week is ideal.

My child has been involved in Youth Soccer since 2023. We like the close proximity to our home. My child adores his soccer coach. We have also joined Soccer Academy and he has gained skills from that program. An improvement would be continuing to work with coaches so they can look at rosters before they are finalized. During Winter season, a new parent requested our team using my child's name without talking to our coach, my family, or any team parents. At the first practice, she *lied* and told our coach and the Y that my family recommended that her son join our team and her son was very good friends with my child. Coach let her know that our roster was already packed but there were other teams that could use more players. After some back and forth, the Y kept her request. It was upsetting that I was drawn into this incident. Later I learned from a neighbor that this person didn't even know our last name-- she asked the neighbor to spell it for her when she was registering her son. If she had approached me prior to Winter about joining the team, I would have directed her to the coach as a decision maker, but we couldn't do anything because the roster was already made. I noticed that her son is again on our team for the Spring season, possibly due to a request using my child's name again. I understand that Y sports are for all, but the way this parent behaved does not match our values. When my son began Youth Soccer, he had no experience. We only asked that he play with his best friend, and they mutually requested each other during registration. We ended up on a team with a couple of seasoned kids, but mostly everyone was new. The team has worked hard the last few years. I am grateful for all of the coaches who are volunteers-- it is a tough task to have. We love the Y, but the incident from the winter is the primary reason for my lower rating.