Where Kids Can Try a Summer Olympic Sport
Is your family keeping up with your favorite athletes in the Olympics? If your kids are inspired to try out a new Olympic sport, we’ve got you covered! The links below offer information to find a team/league in your area, plus a few of our favorite local organizations.
Whether you choose to try archery alone or join a team, there are programs throughout our area. Program leaders and coaches teach you everything you need to know and provide the equipment, from beginner lessons to JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) competition. Find local clubs near Long Beach, LA County, and Orange County on the USA Archery site, here.
Local Spotlight: El Dorado Archers (Long Beach) offers safety and community classes.
Junior Badminton programs and clubs are located throughout Southern California. Find a list of badminton clubs in California here.
American Fastpitch Association Softball – Girls fastpitch softball, slow pitch, and senior slow pitch.
Babe Ruth Baseball and Softball – Different divisions are based on age (4-18) and skill level. They also offer Buddy Baseball for kids (5-20) with special needs. To find a baseball or softball league in Southern California, visit the Pacific Southwest Division page.
Little League Baseball & Softball – Boys and girls baseball in age divisions (4-16), softball for girls (4-16), and Little League Challenger teams for boys and girls (4-22) with special needs. Find a baseball or softball league in Southern California on their website.
Pony Baseball & Softball – Co-ed baseball and girls’ softball leagues. Champions League is available for those with special needs.
The Miracle Leagues of Los Angeles and Orange County – Non-profit baseball leagues for people with disabilities. Both groups play on ADA-compliant fields. Registration fees may apply, but financial aid is available. Visit their websites to find more information and registration details.
USA Softball of Southern California – USA Softball of Southern California organizes youth clinics, umpire seminars, and conducts national qualifying tournaments in slow pitch and fast pitch for men, women, and youth. They offer both a Junior Olympics Travel Program and a Recreational Program.
National Junior Basketball (NJB) offers youth leagues in California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Nevada. They provide programs for boys and girls of different ages and skillsets, grades K through high school. Tournaments and summer camps are also offered. (888) 623-0124.
Diving instruction and teams offer safe methods to bring your swimmer from the cannonball to the reverse dive with somersault. Find a club in your area through USA Diving on their website.
Kids, typically ages 6 and up, can participate in English and Western riding, in group or private lessons, on their own horse or one provided. See Kidsguide’s list of six solid reasons why you should give it a try, here. You can also visit www.socalequine.com to find facilities that offer lessons throughout Southern California.
Local Spotlight: Sandie Mercer Stable (Lakewood) offers riding lessons, camps, etc. First Field Farm (Cerritos) is certified by USHJA as a Recognized Riding Academy.
Group and private lessons are available at clubs that offer youth programs throughout Southern California. Programs usually begin at age 6, and include beginners through competitive elite adults. To find a club near you, visit USA Fencing and search on California clubs.
Local Spotlight: Gryphon Fencing (Yorba Linda and Murrieta) offers youth and teen fencing classes.
American Youth Soccer Organization – AYSO programs offer player instruction that fosters a healthy and safe approach to the game. Programs range from ages 3-19. AYSO VIP is available for children with disabilities.
California Youth Soccer Association – Open to boys and girls ages 3 and up. Find the club/league locator on their website. Additional resources for parents regarding soccer player health and more available.
PGA Jr. League – PGA Jr. League is open to both boys and girls of all abilities, offering recreational and developmental seasonal matches. Find a local team on their website.
SCPGA Junior Tour – Competitive playing opportunities, instructional programs, and vacation camps for youth SCPGA members (5-18). Events take place at various golf courses. (951) 845-4653
Southern California Golf Association – Southern California Golf Association will help connect you with golf courses that offer youth programs as well as club outings and scholarships. (818) 980-3630
USA Gymnastics offers a gym finder here to locate a program in your area. Programs start from parent and me and early Tot classes to advanced teams, including acrobatics, rhythmic, tumbling, and often cheer. (800) 345-4719.
Local Spotlight: Rise Up Athletics (Los Alamitos) offers gymnastics classes for tots, kids, and teens.
Team USA – Find a field hockey club near you. Group leaders and parents who want to introduce field hockey to their local community can also apply for a FUNdamental Field Hockey grant.
US Rowing offers a “Find a Club” page where you can locate co-ed rowing instruction, clubs, or crews throughout Southern California. Competitive programs are available.
Southern California Youth Rugby offers teams for ages 7+. Visit their website to find a club or high school program near you.
Skateboarding officially makes its Olympic debut this year with both “street” and “park” courses.
Local Spotlight: Skatedogs (various locations across Southern California) offers group classes, camps, private lessons, and more.
Climb safely at these indoor climbing facilities! Gyms offer climbing opportunities for the whole family. Visit websites for hours of operation. Below are some of our faves. Find more rock climbing opportunities here.
Hangar 18 – Locations throughout Southern California.
Hapik – Unique climbing center in South Gate geared for kids ages 3 and up. The Auto Belay system allows everyone to climb independently regardless of skill level. The colorful climbing challenges include multiple walls with different levels, posts, spheres, slide, and more.
Long Beach Rising – An all-bouldering climbing gym and fitness facility offering 5,000 square feet of vertical terrain 15 feet in height. Their staff welcomes all ages and levels, from first-time climbers to professional athletes.
Rockreation – Kids Climb Time, plus Rock Warriors and Youth Climbing Teams. Locations in LA and Costa Mesa.
Sender One – Interactive climbing center for kids and adults of all ages! Scale buildings, climb towers, or race your friends to the top of the walls. Other activities include a giant drop slide, a jump tower, a glow-in-the-dark wall, and more. Birthday parties and group packages available. Locations in Santa Ana, Playa Vista, and Los Angeles.
Southern California Swimming (SCS) oversees city and community club swim teams. They provide information on local clubs, calendar of events, and a schedule of upcoming meets with results and more. Find a swim club near you on their website.
USA Table Tennis – Find junior programs and clubs near you offering individual and group lessons, open play, and tournaments.
Southern California Tennis Association – Programs for youth players including teams, camps, clinics, and tournaments, plus programs for players with disabilities. Scholarships available.
California Beach Volleyball Association – Beach volleyball teams and leagues or boys and girls ages 10-18.
Southern California Volleyball Association – Indoor volleyball club teams for boys and girls. Ages vary by club. Find Southern California teams. (657) 600-9898
US Youth Volleyball League – Youth volleyball leagues for boys and girls, co-ed for ages 7-16. Over 20 locations in Los Angeles and Orange County. (888) 988-7985
USA Water Polo provides information on clubs, clinics, camps and tournaments for boys and girls (7+). Their website offers a list of clubs near you. (714) 500-5445
