EARLY ACCESS TO SPORTS
“Kids can’t play what they can’t see. We change that.”
Delivered in partnership with 2-4-1 Sports, Early Access to Sports is a before-school sports sampling initiative for elementary-age kids who might not otherwise have the chance to explore organized sports. Kids can’t play what they can’t see—and we’re changing that.
GRADE LEVELS
1st to 4th Grade
Target Age
Ages
6-9
Sports Introduced
10+
Program Days
3-4x
per week
Cost to Families
100%
FREE
What Is Early Access to Sports?
Early Access to Sports is an innovative pilot program that partners with DC Public Schools to provide young children, particularly those in underserved communities with early exposure to a wide variety of sports. Its core offering provides students with early exposure to 10+ sports through high-quality coaching from Youth Sports Collaborative member organizations. The curriculum strongly emphasizes Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), teamwork, and confidence development.
The program engages 24 students from 1st and 2nd grade and 24 students from 3rd and 4th grade. Participants attend two days per week — Mondays and Tuesdays for 1st and 2nd graders, and Wednesdays and Fridays for 3rd and 4th graders — in a morning program held from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. before the school day begins. Through a variety of sports led by Youth Sports Collaborative member organizations, students build fundamental skills while strengthening their social-emotional development.
Partnership Model: Fight For Children partners with DC Public Schools and 2-4-1 Sports to deliver high-quality sport-based youth development experiences at participating elementary schools.
“Young people who gain early access to opportunities to play sports and benefit from sport-based youth development programs are less likely to engage in risky behavior.”
– James Kallusky, Ed.D. Fight For Children President & CEO
Founded on Evidence-Based Principles
Early Access to Sports is built on three core premises supported by research.
1
Early Access Prevents Risky Behavior
Young people who gain early access to opportunities to play sports and benefit from sport-based youth development programs are less likely to engage in risky behavior later in life. Early intervention matters.
2
Movement Fuels Engagement and Learning
Research shows that young people who exercise regularly strengthens focus, confidence, and a sense of belonging—key factors in school engagement, attendance, and sustained academic success.
3
Removing Barriers Improves Attendance
By offering free, high-quality activities right on campus, Early Access to Sports eliminates barriers like early transportation and childcare. This consistent morning routine is proven to increase daily school attendance, ensuring children start their academic day on time and fully engaged.
Program Goals
Early Access to Sports focuses on delivering across three key areas:
1
Social-Emotional Skills
Students develop social and emotional skills through participation in various sport-based youth development programs that help them reduce risky behaviors and succeed both in and beyond the classroom.
2
Physical Activity
Students engage in the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, building healthy habits and improving overall well-being and academic performance.
3
Truancy Prevention, School Readiness & Youth Leadership
Through peer-to-peer leadership and sports-based enrichment activities, Early Access to Sports promotes school engagement, builds confidence, and fosters a sense of belonging that supports regular attendance and readiness to learn.
Program Outcomes
The Early Access to Sports program is intentionally structured to deliver lasting impacts across social, emotional, and physical well-being.
Respect the individuality of young people
Introduces a child to a new sport they might never have tried, sparking a lifelong passion.
Provide meaningful contact with caring adults
Emphasizing genuine relationship building between youth and mentors
Create safe environments
Both physically and psychologically safe spaces for all participants
Focus on the whole person
Addressing emotional, social, moral, cognitive, and physical development
Empower young people
Building agency, confidence, and leadership skills
Keep numbers manageable
Encouraging long-term participation and emphasizing belonging and membership
Respect youth voice and decision-making
Actively involving young people in program design and leadership
Build local connections
Maintaining strong ties to families and the broader community
Help youth envision their futures
Supporting young people in dreaming big and seeing possibilities for themselves
Bring Early Access to Sports to Your School
Interested in partnering with Fight For Children to launch the Early Access to Sports program at your elementary school? We're looking to expand to more schools in DC.
Program Contact: Joe Hooks, FFC Program Officer
Email: joe.hooks@fightforchildren.org
We’d love to discuss how Early Access to Sports can serve students in your community and create pathways to lifelong sports participation.