Contact Us
Phone: 1-800-688-5437
Email: nays@nays.org
Office Hours:
Monday - Friday:
8:30 am to 4:30 pm ET
Resources for CYSFP Directors
Welcome CYSFP Directors!
Please review all of the information contained in this section and familiarize yourself with the NAYS programs and resources.
Professional Certification - CYSA
All Army Youth Sports Directors must earn and maintain the Certified Youth Sports Administrator (CYSA) credential. The CYSA is earned by successfully completing either the Onsite or Online Academy for Youth Sports Administrators.
For more information about the Academy for Youth Sports Administrators and the CYSA credential, please contact Lisa Licata at llicata@nays.org.
Your NAYS Member Organization
All installations already have a relationship with NAYS as a Member Organization. Being a NAYS Member Organization allows you to provide training to coaches, parents and officials to ensure high quality sports programming.
Log in to your member organization account
*Use your email and password. Download clinic materials within the Military Specific Download Forms section.
To become a NAYS Member Organization representative for your organization, please contact NAYS at accountservices@nays.org.
NAYS Coach Training & Membership
Installations are required to train volunteer youth sport coaches utilizing the NAYS Coach Training & Membership. This certification program provides general youth sports information as well as sport-specific drills, skills and practice plans. NAYS Coaches are held accountable for their behaviors and actions in addition to being evaluated throughout their volunteer experience.
With questions about NAYS Coach Training & Membership, please contact nysca@nays.org.
NAYS Parent Orientation
Each installation utilizes the NAYS Parent Orientation to provide an orientation to youth sports parents.
With questions about NAYS Parent Orientation pays@nays.org.
NAYS Officials Training & Membership
Installations may also train youth sports officials and referees using the NAYS Officials Training & Membership.
With questions about NAYS Officials Training & Membership, please contact nysoa@nays.org.
Start Smart Sports Development Programs
As an essential offering for the traditional youth sports programs as well as a critical element for outreach into CDC and SAC programs, the Start Smart Sports Development Programs is a motor skill development initiative that provides Army children with basic sports motor skills for successful participation in youth sports.
View Start Smart Kit Contents and Program Manuals
With questions about the Start Smart Sports Development Program, please contact Andy Parker at aparker@nays.org.
National Awards
All installations should apply for the Excellence in Youth Sports Awards and should nominate at least one volunteer coach and one model parent each year to be honored by NAYS.
Apply for the Excellence in Youth Sports Award
Annual Youth Sports Congress
National awards are presented during the annual NAYS Youth Sports Congress held in conjunction with the Athletic Business Show. CYSAs should attend the NAYS Youth Sports Congress to earn continuing education (CEUs) to maintain their certification.
Start Smart Sports Development Programs - Army
Start Smart Kit Contents
The following description outlines the resources and products contained within each kit:
Army Start Smart Sports General Starter Kit consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 1 carry-all bag
- 10 Koosh balls
- 7 Teslon soccer balls
- 5 BoingoBall
- 5 bat and ball sets
- Gloves (assorted right handed and left handed)
View General Instructor Manual
Army Start Smart Baseball Starter Kit consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 1 carry-all bag
- 4 batting tees
- 1 bat and ball set
- 1 left-handed glove
View Baseball Instructor Manual
Army Start Smart Basketball Starter Kit consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 1 carry-all bag
- 1 basketball hoop
- 10 cones
- 1 cone carrying strap
- 1 ball pump
- 6 mini neon basketballs
- 6 Teslon basketballs
View Basketball Instructor Manual
Army Start Smart Soccer Starter Kit Consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 1 carry-all bag
- 6 Start Smart logo soccer balls
- 40 cones
- 1 cone carrying strap
- 1 ball pump
View Soccer Instructor Manual
Army Start Smart Golf Kit consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 carry-all bag
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 1 SNAG video
- Right-handed launchers (10 - 26” 2 - 30” and 1 - 34”)
- Left-handed launchers (1 - 26”, 1 - 30” and 1 - 34”)
- Rollers (8 - 26”, 2 - 30” and 1 - 34”)
- 8 launch pads
- 8 packs of blue tees
- 4 roller brushes
- 4 snappers
- 4 SNAGazoos
- Balls (60 - Large)
Army Start Smart Football Kit consists of:
- 2 instructor manuals
- 2 skill guides
- 1 carry-all bag
- 1 "Model Youth Sport Parent" DVD
- 10 cones
- 1 cone carrying strap
- 1 ball pump
- 5 kicking tees
- 5 footballs
- 10 flag belts (5 yellow and 5 red)
View Football Instructor Manual
View the NEW 52 Week Curriculum (Start Smart Sports Development Program)
View a PDF containing ALL Start Smart Coordinator and Participant Manuals
ARMY Child and Youth Sports and Fitness Programs utilize the START SMART SPORTS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS to fulfill two of the four Baseline Programming Areas – Team Sports and Outreach.
Within the Team Sports Program area, installations can implement the Start Smart Sports Development Program as part of their traditional offerings.
Recently, the Start Smart Sports Development program has been executed within CDC and SAS programs to fit a recreational and physical fitness need for children ages 3-7. The following most significant modifications to the Start Smart program were acceptable as the overall integrity of the program remained.
Manual Modification
We were able to take our Coordinator Manuals (which the Army renamed Instructor Manuals) and our Participant Manuals (which the Army renamed Skill Guides) and change the language/wording in it to fit their needs.
Modifying the parent/child element
In a typical Start Smart program, each child will go through the entire program with his/her parent. As part of the Outreach Programming area, the program utilizes the staff (CYPA’s primarily) and teen volunteers at the garrison to instruct the program. The CYSFP Director along with the TAPS are the primary contact/trainer for the CYPA’s.
Skill and Exercise change
The skills and exercises performed by the participants were modified to fit into a group setting rather than one-on-one with a parent. The skills are still the same, but the format of some skills was slightly changed to fit the Army needs.
Incorporating the Participant Kit into the Starter Kit
In a traditional Start Smart program, the coordinating agency utilizes a Starter Kit (to keep at the facility) and then each participant would receive a Participant Kit (to be kept by the participant). Modifications to the Starter Kits will provide each garrison with enough equipment to run Start Smart over and over without the participants/families needing to purchase anything. Every installation has received at least one of the General Start Smart Program Kits, the Start Smart Baseball Program Kit, the Start Smart Soccer Program Kit and the Start Smart Basketball Kit. Some installations (depending upon the size of the CDC and SAS programs) have received more than one kit. Additionally, some installations have also received the Start Smart Golf Program Kit.