Start Smart is a series of programs created by the National Alliance for Youth Sports designed to give children the opportunity to build basic motor skills, develop self-confidence, connect with peers, and gain positive early exposure to sports.
Young Athletes is a Special Olympics program introducing basic sport skills to children with and without intellectual disabilities.
In-person youth activities and programs on the UW-Madison campus are currently expected to resume on September 8, 2021. We will continue to take guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
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TENNIS
Grown-ups and their 5-7-year-olds build basic court skills like ground strokes, serving, volleying, and some running and agility. Please note each session will meet once per week for 1 hour.
$50
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Designed for:
- Grown-up and child (5 – 7 years old)
Prerequisites:
- None
Class components:
- Ground strokes
- Serving
- Volleying
- Running
- Agility
SOCCER
Grown-ups and their 3-5-year-olds learn basic soccer skills such as kicking, dribbling, trapping, throw-ins, and agility.
$50
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Designed for:
- Grown-up and child (3 – 5 years old)
Prerequisites:
- None
Class components:
- Kicking
- Dribbling
- Tapping
- Throw-ins
- Agility
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
Grown-ups and their 3-5-year-olds work together on foundational baseball and softball skills such as throwing, catching, batting, and some running and agility.
$50
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Designed for:
- Grown-up and child (3 – 5 years old)
Prerequisites:
- None
Class components:
- Throwing
- Catching
- Batting
- Running
- Agility
BASKETBALL
Grown-ups and their 5-7-year-olds build basic basketball skills such as dribbling, passing, catching, and shooting. Please note each session will meet once per week for 1 hour.
$50
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Designed for:
- Grown-up and child (5 – 7 years old)
Prerequisites:
- None
Class components:
- Handling a basketball
- Dribbling
- Passing
- Catching
- Shooting
- Running
SPORT SKILLS
Grown-ups and their 3-5-year-olds work together to develop basic, foundational sport skills. Please note these classes will meet once per week for 45 minutes.
Currently unavailable.
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Designed for:
- Grown-up and child (3 – 5 years old)
Prerequisites:
- None
Class components:
- Throwing
- Catching
- Kicking
- Batting
Young Athletes
A program offered in partnership with Special Olympics for children with and without intellectual disabilities, ages 2-10. Your child will be introduced to basic sport skills like running, kicking, and throwing while they learn to play with others and begin creating healthy habits for a lifetime of activity, friendship, and learning.
$20