Youth Sports Programs For Your Child in Marion, Illinois

Parents looking for a youth sports program to introduce their child to a new activity or that allows them to fine-tune their skills will find plenty of offerings in Marion. There are numerous youth sports programs, including baseball, softball, football, basketball, soccer, and swimming programs to keep your child busy all year. Our Volkswagen of Marion team invites you to check out the youth sports programs in Marion, Illinois.

Marion Youth Sports

Youth Sports Basketball by USAG- Humphreys is licensed with CC BY 2.0

You’ll find a list of upcoming and open youth sports registrations at Marion Youth Sports. This is an online hub for youth sports organizations in Marion, Illinois. The first time you register your child for a youth sports program, you’ll create a new member registration as the parent/guardian. You’ll then be able to add your children to your account. Many youth sports programs offer an early-bird discount or a late registration fee. So, remember to check out the due dates for each activity.

Marion Youth Baseball and Softball Association

The Marion Youth Baseball and Softball Association (MYBSA) provides a healthy and safe environment for players to develop skills in baseball and softball as well as life skills. Coaches work with players to develop tactical and technical skills. They also learn respect, trust, and communication. Sportsmanship and team and individual development are key components of the MYBSA program. Summer baseball and softball programs are currently accepting registrations. The regular registration period runs from Feb. 13 through March 25, 2023. There’s a $25 late fee added to registrations from March 26 through April 2, 2023.

Tackle Football

The Marion Youth Sports hub created a new league called the Junior South 7 Football Conference in 2022. It serves the youth of Marion, Centralia, Carbondale, and Mt. Vernon. Players in the 5th and 6th grades play together on a team, as do players in the 7th and 8th grades. Registration for the fall tackle football program opens in May, with an equipment check-out at the end of June and practice beginning in July. The tackle football program also offers a conditioning camp in July to help get your player ready for the league.

The youth tackle football program is open to players in 5th through 8th grades, meeting age limit requirements for their grade level. Players will compete in home and away games to showcase their skills. In the past, the schedule has consisted of three home, three away, and a championship game to wrap up the season.

Marion Basketball Association and Future Wildcats

The Marion Basketball Association and Future Wildcats basketball program welcome players for their recreational league. Their players are in the 3rd through 6th grades from the Marion Unit #2 school district. Registration for the youth basketball program is usually held in October. Players must take part in one of the Skills Night/Rate Night offerings. This helps to create balanced teams for gameplay in November and December.

Is your player interested in getting a head start on this year’s basketball program? If so, Marion Wildcat Basketball Camp starts in May for 1st- to 6th-grade students. Do you have players who wish to continue past December? If you do, they can try out for the travel basketball teams to take on teams from area towns in weekend tournaments.

Spring and Fall Soccer

Marion offers spring and fall season soccer youth programs for your players to get their kicks. Players must be aged 4 or older by Jan. 1 to play in the Spring league or Aug. 1 for the fall soccer season. Soccer offerings include Bumblebee Ball for children under the age of 5. There are also divisions at each grade level. These include Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade, 3rd and 4th grade, 5th and 6th grade, 7th and 8th grade, and the Southern Illinois Middle School Soccer (SIMSS) for junior high school players. The SIMSS team requires a separate tryout from the recreational league.

Marion Marlins

Does your child have an interest in spending time in the water? If they do, then the swim team is just what they need. The Marion Marlins usually opens registration in April for a swim season that starts in June. Swim evaluations occur at the end of May to determine the safety of keeping your child on the swim team. Swimmers 12 and under need to show they can swim across the pool during their evaluation period. All swimmers must attend the evaluations to pay registration fees, receive swim times, and determine eligibility.

Scuba Diving

Anyone aged 10 and up can join the Try Scuba events hosted by Mermet Springs and Dive In First Class. All participants need to bring is their swimsuit and a towel. They’ll provide the entrance to the pool, scuba equipment, and a professional dive leader. On March 11, 2023, you can Try Scuba from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Mermet Springs.

You can also take part in a Try Scuba or a Try Scuba Plus event throughout the summer. There’s Try Scuba’s 25-minute dive with a diver leader. There’s also Try Scuba Plus, which adds a full-day quarry entry and a snorkel system. Before diving, you’ll get a thorough introduction to the equipment and underwater environment.

Mermet Springs also offers monthly Open Water and continuing education classes that include:

• Nitrox
• Underwater Photography
• Equipment Techniques
• Science of Diving
• Dry Suit
• Full Face Mask
• Scuba Skills Update

To view the complete 2023 training calendar, visit the Mermet Springs website. You can then sign your child up to learn how to scuba dive. You could even join them for a Try Scuba event.

Youth sports can help your child develop the physical skills required to join an organized sport. They’ll also develop the social and emotional skills to be a good team member. Being a part of a team also allows your child to develop life skills. These include trust, respect, teamwork, resiliency, discipline, character, and compassion. Our Volkswagen of Marion team encourages you to register your child for one or more of these area youth sports programs. Whether your child is most at home on the court, in the pool, or on the field, there’s something for everyone.