At the YMCA, youth sports are about more than learning the rules of the game—they’re about building confidence, character, and community. Each season, YMCA programs rely on volunteer coaches to make these experiences possible across football, volleyball, basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, and baseball. This basketball season, two young leaders—Deandre Ihde and Feliciana Deleon—are stepping into that role, proving that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact on today’s youth.
Finding Purpose On The Court
For both Deandre and Feliciana, volunteering at the YMCA began with a love for basketball. Deandre, an eighth-grade student and YMCA member, turned to coaching after a knee injury kept him from playing middle school basketball this season. The opportunity allowed him to stay connected to the sport he loves. Feliciana, a high school junior, played middle school basketball and now serves as the manager for her high school basketball team. After hearing about the volunteer opportunity from a teacher, she decided to step in as a YMCA youth basketball coach.
The most rewarding part of coaching, Feliciana says, is the joy the kids bring. “They really enjoy coming to play, and I really enjoy the atmosphere,” she shared. One moment that stood out was returning after missing a week of practice. “The kids were really happy to see me when I came back, and that really made me feel special.” For Deandre, growth from the players is what stands out the most. “Seeing the kids grow up and be better than they were at the first practice,” he said, is what makes volunteering worthwhile.
Growth is also happening off the court, as coaching has shaped both teens in meaningful ways. Feliciana says volunteering has helped her develop patience and taught her to work harder—not just for herself, but for the kids she coaches. Deandre shared that the coaching role has given him a new sense of responsibility. “I have to worry about the kids and not letting them get hurt,” he said.
The coaches aren’t the only ones teaching. Both teens say they’ve learned from the kids as well. Feliciana says the kids have taught her “to have fun with it and work hard even if you’re not the best,” while Deandre noted that coaching showed him “everybody has a different personality, and it’s okay to let loose and have fun.”
Why Volunteer Coaches Matter
According to the YMCA Sports Director Daniel Holbrook, volunteer coaches are essential to the success of YMCA sports programs. “Because of volunteer coaches, we can keep our prices reasonable for our participants by not having to hire other people to help coach and lead practices,” he explained.
Beyond drills and skills, volunteers help instill the YMCA’s core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility. Daniel shared, “Part of my job is to help my volunteers understand those values so that they can help the kids understand them too.” He continues, “It’s not just showing up to practice and playing a game. Values like being a good teammate, having good character, and being caring towards others are being instilled. They think they’re just having fun, and those values are being rooted in them whether they realize it or not.”
An Impact Beyond Sports
For Deandre and Feliciana, the message to other teens thinking about volunteering is simple. “I think they should go for it, it’s really fun,” Feliciana said. Deandre agreed, adding, “Just go and do it. In the end, it’s rewarding.”
Daniel agrees, hoping the community understands just how impactful volunteering can be. As a volunteer coach, “You’re playing a pivotal role in helping a kid learn a new skill for the first time, or helping foster an environment where they can meet other people, make friends, and have fun,” Daniel said. He added, “Without our volunteers, we would just be a gym with weight equipment without these types of programs. That’s where the value of our volunteers comes in. Even if you have a team of seven kids, you are a part of something much bigger in our community.”
Volunteer coaches are the heart of YMCA youth sports, and young leaders like Deandre and Feliciana are proof that making a difference doesn’t require years of experience—just a willingness to show up and serve. Their time, energy, and leadership help ensure that every child who plays a YMCA sport has the chance to learn, grow, and belong. As the YMCA continues to rely on volunteers to bring programs to life, stories like theirs remind us that the impact of serving reaches far beyond the game.