Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County launches Sports Buddies, a free programme pairing children with adult mentors via group sports activities to foster trust, confidence, and positive outcomes.
Sports can do more than keep children moving. For some families, they also offer an easier path to mentorship, giving youngsters a chance to build trust with an adult while they are focused on a shared activity rather than a formal conversation.
That is the idea behind Sports Buddies, a free programme from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire that pairs children aged nine to 13 with adult mentors. The matches meet every other Saturday for staff-led outings that have included boxing, golf clinics, bowling, football, soccer and Nerf battles. According to the organisation, children do not need any sporting background to take part.
The programme launched on September 30, 2024, with an emphasis on group activities that can help children develop confidence while forming a consistent relationship with a mentor. Big Brothers Big Sisters says Sports Buddies is currently running with 12 matches in Orange County and is set to grow to as many as 40. It is also shifting to a one-year structure, after which staff will speak with each child and mentor about whether they want to continue, move into another programme or end the match.
The group has tried to make the experience engaging as well as active. Over the summer, participants attended a youth football camp at Mater Dei High School, where they met Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. In May, Big Brothers Big Sisters said it had partnered with former NBA player Josh Childress and the Childress Family Foundation to widen the programme’s reach and connect more children with positive role models through sport.
The mentoring model sits alongside other options for families who want something different. Community-Based Mentoring pairs children aged six to 16 with adults for community outings, while High School Bigs links elementary school pupils with high school mentors during weekly after-school visits. Big Brothers Big Sisters says more than 50 adult volunteers are waiting to be matched with a child, which it says makes this a strong time for families to consider signing up.
The organisation says its mentoring programmes are designed to support social connection, better choices and improved outcomes for young people. It reports that 77% of the youth it serves improve or maintain mental health, 89% improve academically and 90% are less likely to engage in risky behaviour. For parents weighing options, the group recommends asking about screening, training, matching, supervision, scheduling, transport and safety, and says it helps to involve children in the decision so the programme feels comfortable and appealing to them.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
