Giving Memphis Youth the Mentality to Keep Moving
For nearly a decade, Memphis Youth Athletics has offered high-quality, year-round programs to student-athletes in Memphis and the surrounding area.
We’ve also provided under-resourced communities a platform for fostering children’s fitness aspirations by managing, supporting, and funding youth track & field, cross country, and running programs.
Why? To help improve the mental and physical wellness of our kids and give them the skills they need to compete, stay fit, and—most importantly—be healthy.
Our Mission Is Simple
Create Healthy Habits With Every Run, Jump, & Throw
Since 2014, we’ve served more than 3,000 children from over 70 schools across 20+ zip codes in and around the city of Memphis. Our goal every year is to provide instructional programs and events to help develop the basic motor skills of running, jumping, and throwing that are the foundation for development in any sports or fitness activity.
Memphis Youth Athletics Programs provide opportunities for kids in both developmental and competitive programs. By managing, supporting, and funding area youth track and field, cross country, and running programs, MYA seeks to establish a platform for enhancing each child’s personal fitness and athletic aspirations.
We Can’t Underestimate the Benefits of Exercise
According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from 2015 – 2016, obesity affected 13.7 million children and adolescents aged 2 – 19.
Obesity prevalence was just over 18% in six- to eleven-year-olds and over 20% for adolescents 12 – 19 years old.
How Regular Exercise Helps
For children in and outside of our community, regular exercise can:
- Fight obesity
- Improve stamina and energy levels
- Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Reduce the risk of diabetes
- Develop gross and fine motor skills
- Enhance confidence and self-esteem
- Improve body composition through increased bone density levels, muscle strength, and cardiovascular health
How MYA Goes Even Further
According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), children from homes in the lowest income bracket are far more likely to be physically inactive than kids from wealthier households.
Additionally, approximately 25% of all residents and over 30% of children in Memphis live in poverty.
At Memphis Youth Athletics, we don’t charge participants from under-resourced zip codes so that all our local children have easy access to exercise—and healthy futures.
And we couldn’t do it without your help.
Become Part of the MYA Story
MYA programs make a positive impact on over 3,000 Memphis-area children each year. However, over 30% of the families in our programs will be in a needs-based situation.
That’s where MYA steps in to help those families knock down the financial hurdle. But we can only do it with your help!