DC Youth Sports Network

The DC Youth Investment Trust (the Trust) created the DC Youth Sports Network (DCYSN) in 2007, in partnership with DC Department of Parks and Recreation, DC Public Schools and various community-based organizations to improve the quality of youth sports programs in Washington, DC. Endeavored to encourgage and support overall well being, DCYSN also strives to increase opportunities for positive and healthy outcomes for participating youth.

The mission of DCYSN is to use sports as a youth development tool in order to create positive academic, life skills, and health and nutrition outcomes for DC's youth. Our vision is that each youth in DC will have access to high quality youth sports programs that provide tools for developing the academic, personal, and social skills that lead to a healthy and successful life.

We will fulfill our mission and vision by reaching our goal of using youth sports to improve the outcomes for youth in three broad areas - academic achievement, positive behavioral development, and nutritional health and fitness.

Like many other types of out-of-school-time programs, youth sports programs help improve academic outcomes, reduce truancy, lower participation in at-risk behaviors, and improve health and nutrition. Research has shown that students involved in quality youth sports programs perform well in school, have fewer behavioral problems, and are more likely to get to college. It is clear that the impact of high quality sports programs on the successful development of young people extends well beyond their achievements on the field and courts.