SJ Orgs: Medford Youth Ath. Assoc.

The Medford Youth Athletic Association is a non-profit organization helping aspiring athletes achieve their dreams by providing an all-inclusive sports center. MYAA is run by volunteers who are interested in developing children’s and physical skills such as teamwork, responsibility and good health. MYAA serves as a supervised forum where children can remain active in several different sports. Currently, the organization has more than 3,850 children participating and more than 700 adult and young adult volunteers.

MYAA holds several programs for Medford children and teens including Track and Field, Lacrosse, Football, Baseball, Softball, Field Hockey and Cheerleading. The organization also holds several summer camps for children including the Shawnee Girls Soccer Camp, the MYAA Cheerleading Camp, the Renegade Basketball Camp, the Swish Girls Basketball Camp, the Sixers basketball camp and many more.

The following are some highlights of MYAA programs:

The MYAA Track and Field program measures success not only by improving performances but also in the increased self-confidence and self-esteem each athlete develops over the course of the season. The program strives to help every athlete, regardless of their ability or competitive level, to perform at their best and achieve the personal goals set for each of them. The program has 125 athletes ranging in ages from six to fourteen. Congratulations to the 2002 first place SJTFA Relay Championships winners Jenny Kempton, Casey Doyle, Hannah Bartholomew and Marina Mestres and good luck in the 2003 competitive season.

The MYAA soccer division is busy gearing up for its fall season. The soccer division is enjoying the success of their new programs recently offered last fall. The Smurfs division is a co-ed program for kids ages six and seven. It focuses on the skill and development of the game. If you’re interested in more information, contact Hank Pizoli at (609) 714-8853. MYAA also developed a high school soccer league for kids interested in the benefit of physical activity without the competition of travel soccer. For more information, contact Bob Egan at (609) 953-9565.

The MYAA Medford Indians Cheerleading squad has recently grown to more than 160 girls performing the latest stunts and cheers. The girls attend a camp learning dance technique, stunts and cheers. Most of the girls volunteer after they’ve completed the program, becoming excellent mentors. The squads also can perform in competitive cheerleading. The squad has previously attended competitions at the Haverford-Hatboro Open, the Father Judge Invitational in Philadelphia, the American Cheer and Dance Reach the Beach competition and the Audubon High School competition. The new competition season will run from August 2003 to March 2004. The junior team is open to 4th, 5th and 6th graders and the senior team is open to 7th and 8th graders. Past winners were the Junior Squad winning Grand Champions at the Plymouth-Whitemarsh cheer classic in January 2003 and the Senior Squad winning first runner up. At the Hatboro-Horsham Competition the junior squad took first place and the senior squad took third place. Congratulations to both squads!

The MYAA Softball league houses 25 teams for girls ages five to eighteen with 100 girls playing in age group. The teams play a 12-game schedule and the 10, 12 and 14 year old teams compete at the Shawnee Conference. Last year, each team in every division was awarded the Shawnee Conference Champions. MYAA will host the tournament again this year in June.

For more information about MYAA programs, contact (609) 953-6922 or visit www.myaa.net for a comprehensive list of programs and registration information.

For more on local Organizations, visit our South Jersey Organizations page.

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Author: Melissa Samuelson