After School Matters - Chicago
sports37
sports37 engages teens in activities that develop important life skills and a healthy approach to living, exposing them to career opportunities in the fields of sports, health, and fitness.
Below are some sample sports37 programs:
Mayor Daley's NeighborSports League
NeighborSports leagues allow teams of up to 10 friends to register and compete with other teams in their neighborhood in leagues that last from 6-10 weeks long. Games are officiated by licensed officials and scored and announced by sports37 apprentices.
club37 - Martial Arts
The Martial Arts Club is a karate program rooted in the martial arts style of Okinawan Shorin-ryu Karate. The 2000 year-old martial art developed by the citizens of the Okinawa Islands unifies the mind, body and spirit helping people deal with the obstacles of everyday life.
Apprenticeship - Recreational Leader
sports37 Apprenticeships train teens to coach, officiate and referee teams of younger players. Apprentices begin by learning the fundamentals of the sport, and then learn how to create drills appropriate for younger age groups. Apprentices go to a local park on a weekly basis to teach the sport to younger kids and officiate their games.
Advanced Apprenticeship - Baseball Stadium Management
Teens who have graduated from a sports apprenticeship and are well versed in the ins-and-outs of the game are eligible to put their skills to use by running a baseball stadium. Using the Roseland Little League’s facilities, teens learn the different aspects of how to operate a baseball stadium while developing real-world, marketable job skills in the areas of concession, scorekeeping and groundskeeping.
Internship - Bike Ambassadors
After School Matters has partnered with the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation and the Chicago Department of Transportation to train teens in bike repair, maintenance, first aid, and safety. These teens then work as interns in exciting jobs where they visit Chicago Park District summer camps throughout the city and staff the lakefront bicycle path.