"Church league basketball" was not new to Erie, Pennsylvania when CLAY - the Christian League of Athletics for Youth - was formed in 2004.  A local YMCA had been reaching out to churches as team sponsors for over 40 years when they decided to drop the program.  Coaches got together, decided "church league basketball" was worth keeping around, and CLAY was born.  Operating as a "club", it was incorporated in 2008 as a part of Right Choice Today, Inc.   Since that time, "church league basketball" has blossomed into the one of the largest youth sports programs in the area, reaching nearly 800 youth in its most recent season.

Plans are under way to offer CLAY to other communities starting in 2012.  Other sports, including flag football, softball, bowling and volleyball are under consideration.

CHRISTIAN

The first year was a duplication of the YMCA program.  In subsequent years, CLAY began the transformation into a true sports ministry program that has caught the attention of people in that field across the United States and abroad for its approach to both the sport and the ministry.  Team sponsors are limited to Christian churches.  Each team sponsor has two CLAY Delegates - a sports delegate, and a ministry delegate.  The ministry delegate administers the "eligibility rule" set by the team sponsor.  The "eligibility rule" incorporates attendance, participate and service components to ensure players are tied to the ministry of the sponsoring church. 

Coaches should have a love for, knowledge of, or desire to be involved with youth and the game.  Head coaches are limited to members of the church sponsoring the team.  Assistant coaches may be parents of players.  This creates accountability to the sponsoring church while allowing players to benefit from moms and dads who can help with skills drills, techniques and team play.

"Practice Time-Outs" and "Game Intro's" are provided by CLAY to set the tone for practices and games using the fruit of the Spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23 ("But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.").  CLAY is not the first to use these as a guideline to sports ministry, and won't be the last.  However, CLAY's parent, Right Choice Today, Inc., may be the first to incorporate these themes into its business entities.

LEAGUE

CLAY has three levels of age-appropriate play: Fun (grades K-2), Developmental (grades 2-4), and Competition (grades 5-12).  The Fun Level has two divisions (K-1 and 1-2).  The Developmental Level also has two divisions (2-3 and 3-4).  There are four Competition divisions (5-6, 7-8, 9-10 and 11-12).  With the exception of Fun divisions, CLAY features separate boys and girls teams.

Fun divisions end their season with the Fun Division Finale.  The most recent Erie season featured the Fun Division Finale on the Erie BayHawks court, complete with each player's name announced in the arena and posted on the big overhead scoreboard.  That evening, many Fun players returned to the arena to "high-five" the BayHawks players as they came on court for their own game.  Many thanks are owed to the BayHawks NBA D-League team, who had several "CLAY nights" that allowed CLAY players to attend games for free.  Several BayHawks players also took time to visit CLAY games to cheer on their young fans as they played their own games.

Developmental divisions end the season with the CLAY Skills Showcase where players demonstrate the skills they have learned over the season.  Skills include dribbling, passing, shooting and defense - all the things youth at this level should be learning.

Competition divisions enter post-season play with a unique twist on playoff seeding - each division is broken down into classes of roughly four teams each, based on season performance.  Each class is awarded a trophy (only the class designation on the little brass plaque is different), which gives every team a chance to win their class championship. 

ATHLETICS

The total athlete is more than a physically fit person who enjoys a sport.  Athletes should be role models, inspire others through their efforts, live lives of integrity and honor, be accountable for their actions and have a positive impact on those they influence.  CLAY is committed to mentoring its players through their coaches in all aspects of athletics.  Of course, having fun, learning the game and how to compete with Christian values is a big part of that.

YOUTH

CLAY is committed to youth.  The aspect of ministry is to ensure youth don't slip between the cracks.  In many cases, youth are closer to their coaches than their parents.  But when the season ends, youth can be left out in the cold until next season.  Not so with CLAY.  By plugging youth into ministry programs, they are given another rock on which to stand; another hand to grasp onto in times of trouble.  And as they grow into tomorrow's adults with their principles grounded in faith, they will be better equipped to make positive impacts on their communities with integrity, honor and accountability.

VISION

CLAY Team Sports Ministry has a simple vision - use the Holy Spirit to shape the spirit of competition.  We believe the best place for healthy competition is in a Christian environment.  It's OK to win, and it's OK to lose...as long as you play your best.

Our vision is executed through the application of the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).  CLAY Team Sports Ministry isn't the first to look to this Scripture selection.  We thank those who came before us, those who shared their vision with us, and those who have allowed us to share our vision with them.  Tomorrow's leaders are today's youth - it is up to us to help shape their belief system so they make good decisions for themselves, their families, and the people they impact.
 

MISSION

Any Christian church may be a CLAY Team Sponsor.  CLAY is not restricted to any denomination and respects your doctrine.  Throughout the CLAY season, themes from the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) are introduced in Practice Time Outs and Game Introductions.
 
You may create and sponsor teams, or you may choose to sponsor teams even if you do not have the ability to create them.  You may have "partial teams" and fill their rosters with youth from other churches, or from unchurched youth.

Players are not required to be a part of a church in order to play in CLAY.  "Unchurched" youth need team sponsors who love Christ, love kids and want to be a part of their spiritual development.

About Dustin Craig, Executive Director

Dustin Craig holds a B.A. in Youth/Sports Ministry with minors in Sport Management and Coaching from Malone University. Dustin has participated in CLAY as a player, coach and ministry director.

About Right Choice Today, Inc.

Right Choice Today Inc. is a faith-based corporation bringing Christian values to business and solid business principles to ministry management through its various brands.