Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms

Story by Cpl. Monica Erickson

The Combat Center's Youth Sports program goes above and beyond to ensure every child has an opportunity to participate in any sport they have to offer. The National Alliance for Youth Sports recognized the hard work and dedication the installation's Youth Sports staff put forth throughout the year and awarded them the 2009 Excellence in Youth Sports Award in December.

"MCAGCC was chosen because they are doing a truly outstanding job of conducting a wide variety of programs that are focused on providing every participant with a safe, fun and rewarding experience, which is what youth sports is all about," said Greg Bach, the vice president of communications for the National Alliance for Youth Sports. "The MCAGCC staff has clearly demonstrated they are committed to ensuring that each child has a positive experience and it is wonderful to see how devoted they are to making that happen."

Eligibility for the award requires the organization to educate administrators, volunteer coaches, parents and game officials regarding the conduct of the program. To be picked for this award, the Youth Sports program also must demonstrate how they provide a child-centered recreational sports philosophy which is aimed at providing a positive and safe experience for the youth participating.

"Our staff has to be trained through a variety of different elements," said Joe Rosselli, the director of the Combat Center's Youth Sports. "They have to be trained in first aid, CPR, and [recognizing] child abuse. They also have to go through a world-class customer service class since they have to know how to properly interact with parents."

The Combat Center's Youth Sports program hosts a variety of sports throughout each season, including summer camps for soccer, football and golf.

Youth Sports is also home to the Start Smart program, which caters to younger children, normally 3 to 5 years old. The program teaches the children basic fundamentals of a sport through a parent-interactive learning experience.

The Combat Center will receive the award itself in December when members from the Youth Sports program will travel to Orlando, Fla., to attend the 2009 Youth Sports Congress.

"It's an honor for the National Alliance for Youth Sports and Athletic Business Magazine to present such a prestigious award to a Marine base," Bach said. "There are so many outstanding organizations around the world that do amazing work with children in sports, and MCAGCC should be extremely proud of their programs because they are most deserving of this honor."

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