Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Resumes Sports Programs After COVID-19 Pause

After a two-year hiatus the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club is back on the court with kids. 

The pandemic affected every organization differently, for the Boys & Girls Club it meant no sports programs for 2 years. 

“Obviously COVID-19 did hit everybody really hard. It affected our numbers from a sports perspective and from a club perspective. We are really excited to be back,” said Robert Taylor, who is a coach and Program Coordinator at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. 

He said after the first practice he can see the kids are ready to play. 

A former Boys & Girls Club member himself, the return to the court as a coach is extra special. 

“Being involved in athletics my entire life I feel very fortunate to have been a member myself and then having that foundation I think is very important for the kids,” said Taylor. 

For the first time in two years, the gym inside the Boys and Girls Club off Southeast 44 St. in Oklahoma City is filled with kids. 

“We’re starting with basketball which we are currently starting and then we are going to look to add sports as we move along. Soccer in the spring and then potentially flag football,” said Taylor. 

A mentor to several kids at the club said the skills he teaches them in practice go beyond the basketball court. 

“It teaches them the communication skills that they are going to need moving forward in their lives. The teamwork aspect is also very important,” said the Coach and Program Coordinator. 

Students in the sports program will play basketball every weekday except for Wednesday. 

“Wednesday is more of a character-building day where we focus on academics, social skills, and things of that nature,” said Taylor. 

There is room for 100 kids in the sports program. Parents that are interested can call them at 405-677-4781 or stop by the club.