Although schools were closed to students, and the thoughts of many were focused on sandy destinations, the athletics office at Catholic Youth Ministry was busy with the business of fall sports as the summer progressed.
Don Tees, who directs the office, kept as close an eye as possible on three computer monitors on his desk.
One of the big changes in the CYM program will not be visible on the field or court. Tees said a new registration system through Team Sideline is up and running. Although it is similar to the system used in the past, families will have to create a new account.
“Once they create an account, it’s the same process that it’s been the past 11 or 12 years,” Tees said.
There is a new system in place to verify the eligibility and affiliation of athletes, he continued. Coaches and parish athletic associations have been asking for this, he explained. Families will have to upload a verifying document, such as a parish offertory envelope or a religious-education receipt. Non-Catholic children who play CYM sports can upload a utility bill or other qualified document.
One of his hopes is that by making registration for all sports available earlier in the year, more parishes may participate in CYM athletics.
“We are hopeful that smaller parishes that have kids that are affiliated with those parishes, if they have the numbers, well, let’s bring back” some programs, he said. If the numbers are not there, youngsters from those parishes will be placed with a participating parish.
“Let’s try to really start marketing and see where we can enhance and grow the program for some of the schools and what they offer. We haven’t been able to do that,” he said.
Tees offered some updates on the fall sports, as well as others that take place later in the academic year. In addition to conducting its usual leagues, CYM will be celebrating the 100th anniversary of its basketball program, which continues to be the organization’s largest.
The fall campaign includes football, girls volleyball, cross country and soccer. The last two sports are co-ed. Soccer was scheduled to be separated by gender beginning in 2026-27, but after feedback from coaches, that decision was rescinded, Tees said.
All soccer games will be played at Kirkwood Soccer Club on Route 9 south of New Castle, he said, through an agreement with BPG Sports, which owns the complex. Junior varsity and varsity will play on Fridays. Games last year were at the Chase Fieldhouse in Wilmington, but this move will accommodate all the games on the same night. The program continues to grow; this year, there will be three varsity divisions and two JV.
“Now we’re able to put the soccer games all at one location, make it a family outing opportunity,” Tees said. “They’ll be able to participate in other activities outside of CYM, school events and other things.”
Football is returning to Abessinio Stadium, with two junior varsity and two varsity games each Sunday. Abessinio also will host the CYM championship on Nov. 8, a change from past years.
Volleyball will have a new division for fourth- and fifth-graders, Tees said. This will be in addition to four varsity and three junior-varsity divisions. Varsity championships will take place at Fournier Hall in Wilmington. The other sport, cross country, will hold its championship on the campus of Saint Mark’s High School.
All told, Tees said, more than 1,600 students are expected to participate in fall sports.
Tryouts for fall sports began on July 20, and practices followed on Aug. 3. Games will begin just before Labor Day, which falls on the latest possible date this year.
Participation for winter sports last season was the second-highest in terms of numbers since the COVID pandemic. Basketball will celebrate its 100th anniversary this year, with championship games tentatively scheduled for Fournier Hall. St. Anthony of Padua Parish, Tees explained, is the only program remaining that played in 1927.
The move to Fournier Hall “honors the roots of where CYM partially started, which was at St. Anthony’s through the St. Anthony’s Athletic Club.”
A link is available at the CYM website, www.cdowcym.org, for more information about the anniversary. Tees said the organization is trying to put together a committee to help with events during the basketball season.
For the spring, Tees said CYM is planning on bringing back co-ed senior volleyball for high school students.
“It’s a huge opportunity to bring in some of those kids. It gives them opportunities to be in a faith-formation environment where they might not get that opportunity,” he said.
Flag football also is on the horizon as a spring sport.
Another idea is to begin a summer adult volleyball league, he added. CYM is exploring options for adult programs in response to inquiries.
Finally, like many sports organizations, Catholic Youth Ministry is in need of game officials. Their numbers were up last season, but the shortage is real. Tees said high school and college students are eligible to become officials and can be flexible in scheduling. This means college students can work basketball games while home for Christmas break, for example.
More information is available at www.cymsports.com/interested-in-officiating.
