About Us

CYS Tampa, has been providing children and adults with the opportunity to play soccer and basketball in an environment that reinforces sound Christian, human and social values for the past 16 seasons.

Founded on Catholic principles, children are able to participate in athletics without expensive fees, hidden costs or win at all cost mentality. Each child is guaranteed to play 50% of every game and encouraged to use their God-given talents not only in the pursuit of athletic excellence but in service to one another.

Our goal is to teach our youth how to compete like Christians and learn how to be humble when they win and learn humility they lose. OLOR-Youth-Sports has operated under the principals of teaching our youth under the age of 8 years old how to learn to love the game. No score or standings are officially kept for our participants under the age of 8.

For our older participants above the ages of 8, we teach our youth how to compete fairly, while incentivizing them with the opportunity to win the prize at the end of the season. Our athletes 8 years and older, compete for the trophy at the end of the year. However, only first and second place teams earn trophies. OLOR-Youth-Sports believes the trophy is a reward for hard work and dedication. We are not a league that distributes participation trophies. CYS Tampa does believe in recognizing and awarding our athletes accordingly for all their hard work and dedication. Our season ending ceremonies includes a season ending celebration that includes certificate of participation, team/individual photo, and token of our spiritual journey.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.”

PROGRAMS

Principles of fair play and sportsmanship must govern every game. Dishonesty has no place in CYS Tampa competition. CYS Tampa competitors must not borrow from professional sports questionable techniques for winning at any cost. All participants should have the respect of others on their own team and the opposing team. Competitors should regard the opposition as friends, not enemies.

At times, during the heat of competition, a participant may temporarily forget some rule of conduct. Prompt correction can turn even failures into learning experiences.

OLOR-Youth-Sports serves the needs of all youth, enabling the gifted to excel and the less gifted to participate and improve. “Star” athletes and teams do not receive exclusive attention, but are taught the values of sharing the spotlight and enabling their teammates to fully participate, sharpen their skills and experience a healthy pride and self-worth that athletic improvement and success can bring.

CYS Tampa participants should have a spirit of loyalty to Christ, to the assembly of believers we call OLOR parish, and to family, coach, and team. They should learn patience with and tolerance of those of less ability. They should show gratitude to all who work and sacrifice to make the CYS Tampa program a dynamic part of parish life. In speech and action, they should witness to Christ, reflect gospel values and, above all, exemplify the love of God, the peace of Christ and the joy of the Holy Spirit.

Ultimate responsibility for the success of the CYS Tampa lies with the volunteer adult participants. Adults involved in CYS Tampa must remember that the program exists for the Christian growth of young people. Conduct of adults must always model Christian values and virtues. When adults forget the primary focus of CYS Tampa, the program becomes destructive. When adults remain faithful to the Christian ideals of CYS Tampa, they exercise a unique and rewarding ministry to the young with whom they come in contact.