With his website New York Sports Connection, local dad Aaron Finkel has created a resource dedicated to helping families navigate the world of NYC sports leagues and programs for kids of all ages. We caught up with Finkel to get the scoop on what parents of young athletes should know about his website.
How did New York Sports Connection originate?
Several years ago, when my two kids were young, I had a difficult time finding organized sports programs for them… There simply wasn’t one place that had all the information I needed, plus I found that when I did find a program I liked, it was often too late to sign up. By talking with fellow parents I learned that many were unaware of the amazing breadth of sports activities, classes, teams and leagues that exist across the five boroughs. Many had sad stories of needlessly missing registration deadlines and were very frustrated by the whole process. With the prodding of my wife, I decided to create a resource with the two-fold goal of introducing New Yorkers to the many sports options available and helping them stay ahead of all important tryout and/or registration deadlines.
Tell us about New York Sports Connection’s core services and mission.
Our goal is to be the go-to place for parents for everything and anything that has to do with youth sports—from finding a sports program to discovering a sports-focused community service organization at which to volunteer, to learning where to hold a sports-themed birthday party, and more.
What makes your site a great resource for families?
The site has a searchable directory with over 700 programs in 50 different sports. Users can search by sport, borough, gender, age, and program offering. There is also a long list of programs for children with special needs and many valuable resources including listings on batting cages in NYC, where to get a racket restrung, where to hold a sports-themed birthday party, and more. Parents can comment on sports programs listed on our site so others can learn from their experiences. One of the main benefits of being a subscriber is our free Weekly Sports Alert. The Alert, which is sent out every Tuesday afternoon, lists upcoming tryouts, registration/sign-up deadlines, school and summer break camps, and other sports-related events in the city.
To learn more, visit newyorksportsconnection.com!
