i9 Sports program helping kids learn life values through team sports

OCALA, Fla. (BVM) — Many parents have their kids in sports to keep them active and healthy. But when you combine health with learning valuable life skills, it is a win-win.

With more than 2.5 million athletes across the country, i9 Sports is the nation’s largest multi-sport provider of youth-based programs for kids, ages 3 to 14. The organization offers leagues and camps for the most popular sports like soccer, baseball, flag football, and basketball.

And what makes i9 Sports different than most youth sports leagues is the organization’s philosophy: Make sports fun, teach fundamental skills, and teach important sportsmanship values kids can use throughout their lives.

“You want them to love sports,” Justin Cannon, executive director for the Ocala/Gainesville i9 Sports program, said.

And that is the basic goal of the i9 Sports program.

“So many kids now are burning out on sports,” Cannon said. “Kids are getting competitive so early. They want to give up. How competitive you play at 8 does not translate to how you play at 16.”

Cannon, a University of Texas grad who made a career in technology sales, began working with i9 Sports in 2007 in Austin, Texas. He expanded the program and now is the executive director for i9 Sports in not only Austin, but in San Antonio, Nashville, Tenn., and Ocala/Gainesville, Fla.

“The interesting part was my background and playing sports in Texas,” Cannon said. “Sports was always a huge part of my life in shaping who I am and the lessons I learned.”

After getting married and having a family, Cannon’s children started playing in the i9 Sports program. What attracted him to i9 was the league’s philosophy and the fact it was a one-day-per-week commitment, meaning sports did not have to dominate their busy lives.

But what started as a simple Saturday sports league for his kids to play in has turned into a full-time passion for Cannon.

Now, Cannon has about 5,000 kids across all his programs and about 800 kids participating in the Ocala/Gainesville area. They have four seasons — fall, winter, spring and summer — with each season lasting about seven weeks.

In Ocala, the last several seasons of soccer, baseball, and flag football have been played at the College of Central Florida, while basketball has been played at the Boys & Girls Club of Marion County.

The coaches are dedicated parents who volunteer to help the kids learn the fundamental skills of the game. Every week, i9 Sports provides the coaches skills and drills to focus on. Also, there is a different sportsmanship value that is awarded to one kid every game.

“We try to provide them (coaches) resources and set them up for success,” Cannon said.

Every Saturday, the team meets for a 30-minute practice session, going over all the drills that week. Then, the team plays their game, giving all children equal playing time. At the end of the game, one athlete who displayed the sportsmanship value that week is awarded a medal.

By the end of the season, the kids have built and developed their skills for the game, and everyone has been recognized with a sportsmanship medal.

Eight-year-old Logan Mccubbin has played multiple sports through the program.

“i9 Sports is the highlight of my weekends,” he said. “My favorite part was that every game someone was recognized for representing a core value.”

His mom, Brittany DuBrino, has enjoyed coaching her son’s basketball team.

“i9 Sports has been an influential factor in mine and my children’s lives for years,” DuBrino said. “Through their flexible Saturday-only league, I was able to volunteer my time to coach my son’s basketball team.”

“This league allowed me the opportunity to be a positive impact for my team. The growth I would see in my players’ confidence and abilities from the beginning of the season to the end was very rewarding. Encouragement and constant enthusiasm allowed for a successful season, even if we didn’t win every game. I am grateful for the chance to have helped these young players mold their skills.”

Giving kids a positive experience full of growth in both skills and character is Cannon’s goal through his i9 Sports programs.

“For me, I consider it a win if kids want to continue to play sports,” Cannon said. “I want them to have a positive experience.”