TAMPA, Fla. — Tampa Police Department officers are offering kids an alternative to being in the streets by playing sports. Its Police Athletic League (PAL) program offers affordable child care to families throughout Tampa.
The goal is to teach kids life lessons through athletics. There are a variety of sports for kids to play, as well as educational activities. Those involved with PAL explain different sports connect with kids in different ways.
Younger kids can join their kickball league. Coaches said the game teaches kids more than running from base to base.
"...Education is offered here. So everything we do, we teach our children through sports," said Tampa PAL coach Chandra Anderson.
Anderson spends her time out on the field with the kids in the program. She sees how for some of the kids in the program, life at home isn’t all fun and games.
"It’s like a safe haven for our kids. A lot of our kids go home to things that aren’t as safe as we have it here," Anderson said.
Within PAL’s facilities, there are plenty of options for children. Different sports work to teach kids different life lessons. For example, their boxing program works with a specific group of teens.
"A lot of officers on the street may come in contact with an early middle school or early high school youth that may be going down the wrong path and we hook them up with our boxing program, teaching them confidence, teaching them skills," Lt. Robin Polk said.
Polk is the lieutenant over Tampa PAL and explained the outreach program teaches teens that violence isn’t the answer.
"Pairing them with that individual officer that’s going to teach them how to resolve conflict in a nonviolent way and how to get their emotions and feelings out," Polk added.
PAL's purpose with all of their activities is to teach children how to make the right decisions.
"We’re encouraging these youth before they go down the wrong road," Polk said.
Aside from life lessons, coaches explain PAL allows kids to form healthy relationships. "Bond together, build relationships... it’s also giving them the sense of life," Anderson said.
The impact goes further than just the kids. It impacts the coaches and officers as well. "They keep us on our toes because sometimes the kids feel our energy and they know how to make you feel better," Anderson stated.
The program accepts kids up to 18 years old, but the relationships last long after kids age out.
"We've even had kids that have graduated out of the program, they’re grown and the first person they call is the officer whenever they need advice... whether that’s career, college advice, or girlfriend advice," Lt. Polk said.
PAL centers around taking a shot on a kid to help them succeed in becoming a champion. If you’re interested in getting your child involved, their summer registration is open online.
