A wide variety of youth sports are available to kids in the Greenwood area.
Baseball, softball, basketball and soccer seem to be the biggest draws for area youngsters.
The Greenwood Exchange Club's baseball/softball league draws the largest number of kids. About 540 boys and girls participated in the league last summer, and Exchange Club member Danny Cox expects even more kids to sign up this year.
"Our numbers have increased every year since we've been at Stribling Park, and this will be our fifth year at Stribling Park," Cox said. "We're looking for another good year. We've got some improvements coming to the ball park."
The Exchange Club Baseball Foundation owns close to 40 acres in Stribling Park, made up of two concession/bathroom facilities and 10 fields.
The New Stone Street Baseball League plays in Whittington Park and sometimes has many as 75 kids involved in a summer.
The Greenwood Youth Soccer Organization has about 260 boys and girls competing this spring in age divisions from under-6 to under-14.
"Our numbers are up a little from last year, but it always seems to be between 250-300 kids," said Mike O'Dell, president of the GYSO board of directors.
The GYSO has a fall and spring season. The spring season starts in February and runs through the end of March. New coaches and teams will be put together for the fall season, which will start in September.
The GYSO owns about 40 acres in Stribling Park, which has 17 soccer fields. The organization has built two pavilions with concrete floors. The second phase of the project is to build a bathroom/concession facility between the two pavilions.
Youth basketball is popular at Twin Rivers Recreation Center and the Green-wood Community and Recreation Center.
The Rec Center, under the supervision of executive director Larry "Kite" Johnson, has a hoop league for boys and girls ages 8-12, made of 72 kids and six teams.
"We have a lot of activities and games to offer the kids, but basketball is by far the most popular," Johnson said. "We've started a sign-up for indoor volleyball, and we now have a cheerleading program to get more girls involved at the Rec Center."
A one-year membership at the Rec Center for ages 6-17 is $5.
YOUTH BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
Greenwood Exchange Club League: Offers baseball and girls' softball, ranging in ages from 5-16. Season starts in early May. Contact Danny Cox for more information at 392-5016.
New Stone Street Baseball League: Registration starts in April, with the season beginning in early May. It is open to all kids ages 5-14. For more info, contact Leroy Ware (455-7900).
YOUTH SOCCER
Greenwood Youth Soccer Organization: Spring season season concludes in March. Registration for the fall season begins in July. League open to all boys and girls ages 4-14. Games are played at Stribling Park. For more info, contact Mike O'Dell at 453-0662.
MEN'S SOFTBALL
Church League Softball: Open to all churches interested in entering a team. The season begins in late April. Games are played at Stribling Park. Contact Harold Williamson (453-1505) for more info.
Industrial League Softball: Season begins in early May and games are played at Whittington Park. Contact Bill Wiltshire (453-9501).
