The Board
Our Mission
We are a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to making high-level sports training safe and available to all young athletes while helping them reach their potentials on and off the court.
Our Vision
Youth Sports is in crisis. Fewer kids are participating in sports every year, with participation from low-income families dropping the most.
At the same time, kids who are active in sports are being pressured at younger and younger ages to specialize in one sport, putting excessive financial burden on families and increasing the likelihood of injury and burnout in the athletes.
The health benefits of keeping kids active in sports is tremendous, but the current trends in the youth sports industry are not "kid-friendly".
South Sound Roots Academy's goal is to reverse these negative trends in our community through responsible "kid-friendly" programming, and promoting community awareness of these issues. We are determined to give every kid a chance to be active, have fun, and learn to be the best person and player they can be.
Character Development
We believe that becoming a good basketball player does not automatically make someone a good person. Just like we want all our players practicing their jumpshots, we also want them practicing the skills that help them build their Character. That's why we've developed the Roots Character Development program, which all of our coaches have been trained to use with their teams.
Character is the combination of all your daily choices. It reflects who you want to be. The quality of your character will determine the quality of your relationships and therefore, your teams and your life.
There are 8 character skills that we think you will need to practice be successful:
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Patience: Self-control and control of your impulses.
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Kindness: Giving attention, appreciation, encouragement and common courtesy.
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Humility: Showing an absence of pride and arrogance; being real.
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Respect: Treating all people like they are important, because they are.
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Selflessness: Meeting the needs of others.
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Forgiveness: Letting go of resentment.
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Honesty: Being free from deception.
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Commitment: Sticking to your choices.
The Roots Guidlines
The Roots Guidelines
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Play multiple sports until 13 years old.
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Don't train more hours/week than your age (in 1 sport).
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Schedule an off-season from each sport.
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Use dynamic warm-ups to reduce injuries
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Training should match skill and development levels
"The Roots Guidelines" were designed by SSRA Board members Dr. Kelly Golob and Dr. Dominic Femiano based on the most current Sports Medicine and Sports Performance Research. They have been created to be easy ways for parents and coaches to make good decisions for their children/athletes. Following these guidelines will help reduce injuries, reduce burnout, and help every athlete reach their top potential. All South Sound Roots programs are developed to follow these guidelines.