In 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the YMCA of Greater Cleveland came together with a simple vision: to create a youth basketball league that was about more than points on a scoreboard. That vision became YMCA of Greater Cleveland Junior Cavs, a program now in its twelfth year. What makes YMCA Junior Cavs special is not just the games played each season, but the values that guide it: caring, honesty, respect and responsibility. From the beginning, the Cavaliers have invested more than just their name. Their professional coaching staff trains and mentors YMCA parent volunteers who step into coaching roles. This mentorship ensures that every child, no matter their skill level, has an opportunity to learn from adults who understand not only the fundamentals of the sport but also how to model character and teamwork. In this way, YMCA Junior Cavs has become far more than a youth basketball league. It is a model of how sports can strengthen the well-being of children and create belonging across an entire community. In fact, it’s a model that has been replicated by other NBA teams around the country.
The importance of programs like YMCA Junior Cavs extends well beyond the gym. Research shows that participation in youth sports is tied to stronger physical health, better emotional well-being, and improved social skills. Children who play on teams are more active, more likely to have stronger hearts and muscles, and less likely to face health challenges later in life. Just as importantly, they report fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression, and they develop confidence in ways that carry over into school and other areas of life. When kids are given the chance to play, they are also learning resilience, how to work through frustration, and how to set and achieve goals. These outcomes are the very essence of holistic well-being—physical, mental, and emotional.
Perhaps the most profound impact of youth sports is on belonging. When young people take the court, they discover they are part of something larger than themselves. They learn lessons that textbooks cannot teach: how to cooperate with others, how to handle both victory and defeat with grace, and how to be accountable to teammates. Parents and coaches come together in support, creating bonds that last well beyond the season. This sense of connection and inclusion is what belonging truly means and it is one of the greatest gifts youth sports can provide.
At the YMCA, we have always believed that youth sports should be inclusive. They should reach children from all backgrounds, ensuring that cost, geography, or ability is never a barrier to participation. That’s why programs like YMCA Junior Cavs are so vital. They don’t just build better athletes; they build healthier children, stronger families, and more connected communities. They nurture well-being while offering every child a place where they know they belong.
As I reflect on more than a decade of YMCA Junior Cavs, I see the program’s true success not in trophies but in the young people who have grown up through it—kids who have carried the values of teamwork, respect, and perseverance into their schools, neighborhoods, and workplaces. These young people remind us that youth sports are one of the best investments we can make in the future vitality of our communities. The lesson is clear: when we invest in programs like YMCA Junior Cavs, we are doing far more than supporting a game. We are creating well-being, fostering belonging, and building communities where every child can thrive. That is the power of youth sports—and it’s why we must continue to champion them. Learn more about the YMCA Junior Cavs and our other youth sports programs at www.clevelandymca.org.