CITY OF HAWAIIAN GARDENS
CITY COUNCIL
STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item #C3
DATE: August 12, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Ernesto Marquez, City Manager
BY: Joseph Jimenez, Recreation and Community Services Director RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation to receive and file a Youth Sports update.
SUMMARY
The City of Hawaiian Gardens Recreation and Community Services Department offers five youth recreational sports leagues each year. These programs are designed as recreational leagues that primarily focus on introducing participants to each sport by teaching basic skills, rules, teamwork, and good sportsmanship in a fun and supportive environment.
The City's 5 sports season offerings include:
Season Sport Ages
Fall Volleyball 7–12 years
Fall Flag Football 7–12 years
Winter Basketball 3–12 years
Spring Soccer 3–12 years
Summer Baseball 3–12 years
Currently, we are in our Youth Baseball Season. This season we have 148 youths participating in our league (83 in our Tee Ball Program- 3–6-year-olds, 65 in our youth baseball program, 7–12-year-olds). We currently have 14 teams in our current season, which play games on either Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Agenda Item #C3
August 12, 2026
Recreation staff play a significant role in the success of these programs by serving as coaches, officials, field set up, and score keepers. Prior to each season, staff participate in in-service training that covers:
• Basic sport-specific skills and drills
• Rules of play
• Safety procedures
• Field and court setup
• Customer service and program expectations
Program Successes
The Recreation and Community Services Department has implemented several improvements that have enhanced the overall participant experience, including:
• Improved communication with parents regarding schedules, game times, weather updates, and league information.
• Parent orientation meetings held prior to the first games to review league expectations, sportsmanship, volunteer opportunities, and team information. • Purchase and implementation of quality reversible jerseys for each participant. • Continued ability to adapt league rules and operations to align with current youth sports standards and participant needs.
Challenges
Like many recreation agencies across the country, our city continues to experience challenges affecting youth recreational sport, such as:
- Growth of Club and Travel Sports- Families choosing to participate in competitive club and travel programs over City recreational programs. o Impact on our older division (10-12) year olds tend to phase out from our division.
- Low Registration Cost: The City's leagues remain intentionally affordable to ensure accessibility for all families. However, the relatively low registration fee can sometimes result in reduced participant commitment, including missed practices and withdrawals during the season because families have minimal financial investment in the program.
Future Improvements
The Recreation and Community Services Department is committed to enhancing the quality of its youth sports programs. Planned improvements include:
Agenda Item #C3
August 12, 2026
Increase/Strengthen Staff Training
• Expand preseason training opportunities for Recreation staff. • Partnering with local nonprofit organizations and sports organizations to provide specialized coaching instruction.
• Explore additional certification and training opportunities for staff.
Increasing Parent Engagement
• Work with staff to create opportunities for parents to engage in each sport such as team parent, communication, etc.
Increase Volunteer Engagement
• Continue recruiting volunteer coaches and assistants. • Strengthen communication with volunteers through regular meetings, training, and ongoing support.
• Build stronger relationships with community organizations and local sports partners to expand volunteer participation.
Participant Program Evaluations
• Provide participants with a program evaluation form in which to fill out to assist us in ensuring we are addressing any concerns with the goal of improving our programs.
The City of Hawaiian Gardens' Youth Recreation Sports Program continues to provide affordable, quality recreational opportunities that promote the basic skills in the sport, teamwork, and community engagement for local youth. These efforts will help ensure the City's recreational sports leagues continue to serve the needs of Hawaiian Gardens families.
FISCAL IMPACT
Youth sports programs are funded through the Recreation and Community Services Department operating budget and participant registration fees.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve Recommendation.
ATTACHMENTS
None.