Problems & Solutions
America’s youth face much adversity: street culture, temptation of sedentary pastimes, limited access to and limited effectiveness of support institutions, broken families, poverty, fast food, and a lack of role models to name but a few. The following statistics are shocking:
- 33% of kids are overweight by 3rd grade. 70% of them will continue to be overweight through adulthood and 40% will exhibit metabolic syndrome.
- Crime rates are highest between 3pm – 6pm. This is no surprise when you consider 30% of Middle School kids are unsupervised after school and only 15% of kids are in after school programs
Kids who are unsupervised for 3 or more days per week are:
- 2 x as likely to hang out with gang members (775,000 juvenile gang members)
- 3 x as likely to commit a crime
- More than 3x as likely to use drugs
- Drop out rates in urban public schools average nearly 50%. The average lifetime cost / drop out to society is over $40,000.
Sports-themed youth development works:
The relationship between sports and lower drop out rates in school is proven and stronger than any other activity. Additional evidence highlights increased GPA, improved discipline and increased attendance among athletes vs. non-athletes.
Rugby-themed youth development REALLY works! Think Rugby, think:
- Vitality, integrity and civility
- Inclusiveness: all ages, shapes, sizes and levels of experience
- Equality: a level playing field where all participants get to run, catch, pass and score.
- Life-long affiliation and belonging to a global fraternity.
- Inexpensive and adaptable to numbers, location, equipment, resources
- Olympics starting in 2016 and moving forward
- Impulse Control with continuous assessment; re-assessment and communication.
- Meaningful & vigorous physical fitness
- Interdependence
- Honor & respect
Click the above flier to purchase tickets to the NYC Rugby Cup Cocktail Benefit!
