Statements

Mission

The mission of Trial by Fire Youth Track & Field Club is to empower youth and adolescents with the essential tools, skills, and information needed to lead healthy active lifestyles through participation of youth athletics.

Background

Trial by Fire Youth Track & Field Club (TBF) was founded in 2008 by Kevin and Lanique Woodson with a passion and vision of transforming the lives of young people by fostering a safe, healthy, and active environment where youth are nurtured and empowered to thrive physically, socially, academically and athletically through youth athletics.Over the past eight years, TBF has remained committed to its mission of promoting healthy active lifestyles through youth athletics and provided opportunities that impacted the health and wellness of children and adolescents living in Nashville Davidson County communities. Operating under the umbrella of the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and a member of the USA Track & Field (USATF) national governing body for the sports of track and field, TBF has exposed hundreds of young people to the benefits of track and field, and is currently comprised of dedicated volunteers with the desire to give back to the community. Since its inauguration, TBF has been an organization that have gone beyond sports and focused on young people's full development by inspiring youth to maximize their potential and providing social opportunities to enhance their leadership skills and overall personalities as youth of today and leaders of tomorrow. Realizing that today's youth need a flexible platform to be successful students, pursue careers of their choice, and to be responsible citizens, TBF partnered with other organizations and community leaders to help provide young people with necessary resources to be successful in life. TBF has received many honors and awards for participating in community services projects ranging from volunteering with the homeless population to building healthy connections to surrounding communities through educational programs and events . In addition, TBF have exposed youth to educational program and strategies that made academics interesting and relevant. Children and adolescents who have participated in TBF programs have gone on to achieve and maintain academic integrity, embraced healthy behaviors, improved personal health and fitness, and as young emerging athletes, they have tapped into their athletic potential for track and field through the healthy sport of running, throwing, and jumping.

Impact

Every day Trial by Fire Youth Track & Field Club empower youth and adolescents to destroy labels and stereotypes and exceed their personal bests on the running field and in all aspect of life. Through participation in fitness and nutrition education programs, hundreds of youth and adolescents ages 8 & under were introduced to the multi-sporting events of track and field as a fun form of physical activity. Through the organization's health-centered activities, youth were encouraged to use track & field training as a gateway to developing and maintaining healthy responsible lifestyles that instilled positive values, life skills, and knowledge toward combating childhood obesity and living longer, healthier lives into adulthood.The innovative programs are designed to encourage, educate, and promote youth living fit and active lifestyles necessary for achieving personal health and wellness through the enjoyment of competing in track and field events. Over 80% of young people who participated reported that their overall fitness level improved and that exercising is becoming a fun part of their everyday activity. Some have reported being apart of a program that not only valued their fitness level and athletic ability, but also emphasized the value of scholarship, good sportsmanship, discipline, teamwork, personal goal setting and hard work made them feel good about themselves and that they belonged. Other families stated because of increased knowledge and awareness about the importance of healthy eating principles, they and their children have developed healthier eating habits.

Needs

The opportunities for structured or unstructured play are rapidly diminishing and have threatened not only the physical fitness and health of youth, but will also pessimistically impact lifelong benefits for youth. Engaging youth in quality structured recreation, particularly organized sports programs, teaches children self-improvement, social connectedness, community service, and a lifestyle directed toward health and vitality both on and off the field. Looking at the big picture, there is a need for children and teenagers to be safe, active, and have a balance between structured, supervised activities and unstructured discretionary time to positively enhance youth develop and healthy activity. Trial by Fire Youth Track & Field Club is a nonprofit all volunteer organization with objectives of promoting healthy active lifestyles among youth and adolescents through the nutrition, exercise and youth athletics. To help us make the biggest impact possible, our organization desires help addressing and meeting these pressing needs of our programs:- Volunteers to help us support our programs and leadership teams. - Training and conditioning equipment. - Running shoes and socks - Travel Accommodations - Healthy Snacks to refuel - League/meet fees

Service Categories
Primary Category:	Recreation & Sports  - Amateur Sports
Secondary Category:	Youth Development  - Youth Development Programs
Tertiary Category:	-

Areas Served

Communities of Nashville and Davidson County

TN - Davidson