The primary function of the Department of Recreation and Parks' Sports Division, which encompasses youth, adult and amateur levels, is to organize a broad range of safe, fun and instructional sports leagues and programs that promote and assist with positive growth.

The Department's Sports Division has lined up an abundance of exciting new and rejuvenated spring and summer sports activities and programs. While adults and young people were taking part in a wide variety of stimulating winter sports activities offered by the Department, the agency was working diligently on planning and coordinating a new fun-filled and quality spring and summer sports agenda.

For additional information about any of the spring and summer sports programs, call 576-6361.

SHOE CITY/FILA BASKETBALL UNDER THE STARS
The Basketball Under the Stars program offers an outlet for District youth's competitive nature and provides an opportunity to interact in positive, constructive and safe environments. Teams are formed for age categories: 12 and under, 13 to 15, and 16 to 18 years old. Winners of each category will advance to the city playoffs. League play runs from June 22 through August 3. City championships will be held August 22.

CO-ED R.B.I. SOFTBALL
Competitive and cooperative co-ed team building is a key focus of the Co-ed R.B.I. Softball program. Participants learn the rules and techniques involved for successful playing of the popular sport.

Leagues are organized for young people, ages 15 to 19 years old. Winners advance to a citywide tournament. Championship games will be held on August 13, at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center.

FISHING RODEO Patience holds the key to success for young people ages 6 and over who participate in a one-day Fishing Rodeo at Hains Point on July 16 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Youngsters are taught skills in casting, baiting a hook and removing fish from a hook.

HOOK-A-KID ON GOLF
The Hook-A-Kid On Golf program provides young people, ages 7 to 17, with professional training in golf stance, grip, swing, rules, and etiquette. The program runs from June 22 to August 17, from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at Langston Golf Course. Participants may qualify for the annual tournament at the East Potomac Golf Course.

LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL
The Little League Baseball season runs from May to July 1998. Nine city leagues allow teams to compete to play in an Invitational All Star game. Youth, ages 9 to 15, also have an opportunity to advance to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Youth may register at neighborhood recreation centers where Little League Baseball teams are formed.

All STAR AMERICA CHEERLEADING
The purpose of this program is to teach participants the fundamentals required for cheerleading and pom pon routines, in addition to providing an opportunity for each youth to demonstrate their advanced skills at competitions, pep rallies, sporting and special events. Program participants who have excelled in the sport of cheerleading in the Washington Metropolitan area are selected for the All Star Team. The members of the All Star America Cheerleading Team, which has won on local and regional levels, and has qualified to compete on the national level, will instruct the Department's summer cheerleading camps. For more information, call 576-7493.

TEE BALL JAMBOREE
A Tee Ball Jamboree modifies the agency's baseball program to emphasize the importance of team play and the idea of tee ball being a learning experience for young people who aspire to play softball and baseball. The event, for boys and girls ages 10 and under, will take place at Taft Recreation Center, on July 8, at 10 a.m.

SUMMER JAMBOREE AND YOUTH SPORTS FESTIVAL
This festival, for youth 18 and under, is a "fun day" to culminate a great summer of fulfilling summer camp and sports programs and activities. The activities include electronic game competitions, music and entertainment, demonstrations, moonbounce, exhibits, basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field and golf chipping. The event will be held at Kenilworth-Parkside Recreation Center, on August 14.

10 AND UNDER HOOPS DAY
The 10 and Under Hoops Day program promotes fun, sportsmanship, teamwork, camaraderie and skill acquisition. The program provides young people ages 10 and under, the fundamentals of basketball. The one-day event will take place at Turkey Thicket Recreation Center on July 28.

AMATEUR BOXING PROGRAM
The Department of Recreation and Parks offers an organized boxing program at six neighborhood-based sites in the District. The program is designed for both male and female, youth and adults between the ages of 8 to 32. The program is available at Banneker Complex, Ferebee Hope Community Center, Lincoln Multicultural Center, Benning Park, Kenilworth-Parkside and Langdon Park Recreation centers.

BOXING UNDER THE STARS
The Department offers an organized outdoor amateur boxing program that gives participants, ages 8 to 32, training in amateur boxing, Olympic-style boxing, defense skills development and hand techniques. The Boxing Under the Stars showcases will run from June through August 1998, at Banneker, Langdon Park, Powell Lincoln, Kenilworth-Parkside and Benning Park Recreation centers.

MAYOR'S CUP AMATEUR BOXING TOURNAMENT
The character-building attributes associated with amateur boxing will be highlighted in this competitive event featuring teams from the District and 13 teams from other inner-city communities. The Mayor's Cup Boxing Tournament will be held at Howard University's Burr Gymnasium on July 8 through 12.

JABBO KENNER FOOTBALL
Youth have an opportunity to try out and train for tackle football. The program, for youngsters ages 9 to 14, also includes an educational enrichment component, utilizing the medium of football to involve young people in anti-substance abuse training, academic motivation, social living skills and personal development. The program will run from July 27 to September 27, at neighborhood recreation centers.

R.B.I. GIRLS' SOFTBALL
The R.B.I. Girls' Softball leagues provide teenage girls, ages 9 to 15, with opportunities to play an organized sport, with a chance to advance to the R.B.I. World Series. Females may register for the program at neighborhood recreation centers where R.B.I. Girls' Softball teams are formed. The league will run from June until September at neighborhood recreation playing fields.

INTERGENERATIONAL SOFTBALL
The Intergenerational Softball program is designed to help bridge the generation gap and promote physical fitness, sportsmanship and mentoring. League play, consisting of males and females from 9 to 50+ years of age, runs from July 12 to August 28. A championship game will be held at Randall Playing Field. The cost is $200 per team.

TRACK AND FIELD
A Track and Field program is designed to promote the merits of good physical fitness, while exposing young people ages 5 to 18, to an Olympic sport. The Department will sponsor three track meets during the spring and summer seasons at the Dunbar Track: Let's Get Physical Track and Field, May 19, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Hershey Track Meet, June 24, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Summer Sizzler Track Meet, July 25, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Eastern Senior High School. Boys and girls may register for Track and Field at their neighborhood recreation center.

SOAP BOX DERBY
The Soap Box Derby program, for males and females ages 9 to 15 years old, will provide youth with the skills to build and race soap box derby cars in the All American Soap Box Derby Race on July 11, from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., at First and Constitution Aves., NW. The program will operate car-building sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m., at Arboretum Recreation Center. The Soap Box Derby program will run from April 1 through July 11. Parents of all participants are encouraged to take part. For more information, call 727-5547.

UNITED STATES YOUTH GAMES
The Department will hold the 1998 United States Youth Games open tryouts, for boys and girls ages 9 to 15, in soccer, track and field, bowling, basketball, volleyball, baseball, fast-pitch softball, tennis, swimming and golf. Selected youth will represent Washington, D.C., in the 32nd Annual United States Youth Games, which will feature teams from 16 other cities from across the country. This year's event will be held July 29 through August 2, in Houston, Texas. Interested youth may call 576-6361 to obtain tryout schedules and additional information.

COMPETITIVE SWIMMING
The Department of Recreation and Parks offers competitive swimming to District children and teens, ages 4 to 18 years old. The program is designed to effectively teach young swimmers the proper techniques of the Olympic sport. The agency will conduct free skill-enhancement clinics and training in competitive swimming, while promoting the importance of water safety. Call the Aquatic Division at 576-6436 to register.

SNICKERS CITY SOCCER
District boys and girls between the ages of 5 to 14 may register to play in neighborhood soccer leagues sponsored by SNICKERS and the Department of Recreation and Parks. Registration forms may be picked up and dropped off at neighborhood recreation centers operated by the Department. SNICKERS City Soccer is a partnership program aimed to expose the sport of soccer to neighborhood youth who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn and participate in the increasingly popular sport. For more information about the program, call the SNICKERS City Soccer Hotline on 673-7655.

WASHINGTON JUNIOR MYSTICS
The newest professional sports team in the area, the Washington Mystics, will join in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks to form an all girls basketball league and skills-development clinics. The league and clinics will establish a competitive atmosphere that focuses on the mental and physical advancement of girls, ages 7 to 18 years, in basic basketball skills. Contact the Sports Office at 576-6361 for schedules and additional information.