The Dr. Bruno DeRose Memorial Scholarship

The YMCA of Pueblo is a charitable organization, so we make sure we include everyone in our sports activities, regardless of ability to pay. In 2018, the Dr. Bruno DeRose Memorial Scholarship was established by his family to honor the memory of an amazing man who got his start in sports at the Y and who had a huge heart for the kids in our community. Full scholarships are offered seasonally in flag football, basketball, soccer and volleyball youth sports leagues. To be eligible, participants must be 4-14 years old, a resident of Pueblo County and complete our application below. Applications can be emailed to [email protected]

SPORTS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Spring Soccer

BE GOAL ORIENTED! Youth Soccer is an exciting sport combining team play and individual skills. Every child plays at least half of every game while making friends and learning new techniques. YMCA utilizes volunteer coaches to focus on participation and fun! While basic skills of the game are developed through practices and games, every child learns sportsmanship and values necessary to be successful in life.

• Ages: Ages 3-12 Years Old
• Registration: January 26-March 9, 2026 [Members Only: January 26-February 2]
• Early Bird Ends: February 9, 2026
• Practice Begins: March 23, 2026
• Season (6 games): April 4-May 10, 2026 (No Games on Easter Sunday)
• Location: Lea Gonzales Park
• Coaches Meeting: March 12, 2026 @ 5:30pm

REGISTER

Late registrations will incur a $10.00 late fee. Please email Rowan Sprouse for team/spot availability. Sports are subject to change if we see a need to adjust any of the rules. Safety is our top priority and the rules we have in place are for your safety, as well as ours.

Spring Volleyball

The philosophy of YMCA youth sports programs is to use sports as a tool to develop each participant physically, mentally and spiritually. Emphasis is on teaching the values of good sportsmanship, teamwork, goal setting and skill development in a fun, esteem-promoting atmosphere. Young athletes will have the opportunity to learn the basic volleyball fundamentals such as underhand serving, setting, hitting, and digging in a non-competitive environment. Our youth volleyball program is a co-ed league. We also offer *competitive leagues for ages 8-14.

• Ages: 5-14 Years Old
• Registration: January 26-March 9, 2026 [Members Only: January 26-February 2]
• Early Bird Ends: February 9, 2026
• Practice Begins: March 23, 2026
• Season (6 games): April 4-May 10, 2026 (No Games Easter Sunday)
• Location: YMCA Gymnasium
• Competitive League Tournament: May 16-17, 2026
• Coaches Meeting: March 12, 2026 @ 5:30pm

REGISTER

*Competitive leagues pend on number of participants. Referees DO NOT monitor play time. These leagues will participate in an end of season tournament.

Late registrations will incur a $10.00 late fee. Please email Rowan Sprouse for team/spot availability. Sports are subject to change if we see a need to adjust any of the rules. Safety is our top priority and the rules we have in place are for your safety, as well as ours.

Spring Flag Football

YMCA flag football is a recreational program designed for young athletes new to the sport of football and those not quite ready for tackle. The Y utilizes volunteer coaches to focus on participation and fun! Participants will learn the basics of offense and defense. They will learn and practice passing, running, catching and flag pulling. Your child will play many positions and learn the responsibilities of each of these skills. Our flag football is designed to help kids learn the rules and fundamentals of the game. Sportsmanship, teamwork and having fun are the emphasis. Teams practice and play one time each week. Our flag football league is a co-ed league for ages 4-12. Our rules ensure that all players get a chance to experience the full game, and not just from the perspective of one position all season.

• Ages: 4-12 years old
• Registration: January 26-March 9, 2026 [Members Only: January 26-February 2]
• Early Bird Ends: February 9, 2026
• Practices Begin: March 23, 2026
• Season (six games): April 4-May 10, 2026 (No Games on Easter Sunday)
• Location: YMCA Dr. Bruno DeRose Field
• Coaches Meeting: March 12, 2026 @ 5:30pm

REGISTER

Late registrations will incur a $10.00 late fee. Please email Rowan Sprouse for team/spot availability. Sports are subject to change if we see a need to adjust any of the rules. Safety is our top priority and the rules we have in place are for your safety, as well as ours.

Winter Youth Basketball

Our youth basketball program emphasizes good sportsmanship, teamwork, goal setting, and skill development in a fun, confidence-building environment. Children will learn basketball fundamentals in a supportive, non-competitive setting. The league is co-ed for ages 7 and under. Beginning at age 8, we offer separate boys' and girls' leagues, with both recreational and competitive options available. Players ages 13-14 will automatically be placed in competitive leagues, which include scorekeeping, standings, and an end-of-season tournament. Competitive league opportunities are available for ages 8-14. Please plan for games on Sundays for Boys 8-10 and 11-12.

• Ages: 4-14 years old 
• Registration: October 5 - November 16, 2026 [Members Only: October 5-12]
• Early Bird Ends: October 19, 2026
  
• Practices Begin: November 30, 2026
• Season (six games): December 12, 2026 - January 31, 2027
• Holiday Break: December 21, 2026 - January 3, 2027
• Competitive League Tournament: February 6-7, 2027
• Coaches Meeting: November 19, 2026

Late registrations will incur a $10.00 late fee. Please email Rowan Sprouse for team/spot availability. Sports are subject to change if we see a need to adjust any of the rules. Safety is our top priority and the rules we have in place are for your safety, as well as ours.

GENERAL VOLLEYBALL RULES

• No jewelry, watches, electronics (earbuds)/telephones are permitted during practice/play time. (Stud earring, necklaces under the shirt and flat rings are allowed.)
• A maximum (if available) of 10 minutes of court time for warm-up will be provided. No warming up during a match (only if games are complete).
• Two, 30-second timeouts are allowed per set.
• A team will forfeit their first game of the match if they are not ready to play at the sound of the officials’ whistle. There will be a maximum of 10 minutes before the next game is started. If the team is still not ready, the second game will result in a forfeit, thus the match is a forfeit. The teams of the next scheduled match will then begin their minute warm-up period.
• Best-of-three series determines the winner. Rally scoring will apply to all games. All games to 21 points, must win by 2 points. A cap will be set at 23 points. Thus, if a game is tied at 22, the next point scored will determine the winner.
• Any abusive language and/or behavior will not be tolerated, and any team(s) or person(s) in violation will be dismissed from the game and a forfeit may occur.

VOLLEYBALL DEFINITIONS

• ATTACK HIT: An attack hit is an intentional effort to direct the ball into the opponent’s team area in other than blocking action. A third hit by a team is considered to be an attack hit, regardless of intention.
• BACK ROW ATTACKER: A back row player who is on or forward of the attack line, (10 foot line), must contact the ball when part of the ball is below the level of the top of the net when returning the ball to the opponent’s team area.
• BALL CONTACT: The ball may contact any part of the body. A player may have successive contacts with the ball when blocking or making the first play on a ball coming from the opponent, provided there is no finger action used during the effort and the ball is not held or thrown. Successive contacts on a first received ball must be during one continuous attempt to play the ball.
• BLOCKING: Blocking is the action close to the net which intercepts the ball coming from the opponent’s side by making contact with the ball before it crosses the net, as it crosses the net or immediately after it has crossed the net. A ball that is legally blocked is not counted as the team's first legal hit. Thus, three more legal hits are allowed. In order for (a) player(s) to be in the act of blocking, some part of the body must be above the height of the net during the effort. 
• DOUBLE HIT: When the ball is played in such a manner that there is finger action or contact is made by more than one part of the body.
• ILLEGAL: When the ball visibly comes to rest in the hands, arms, or body of a player.
• TEAM HITS: Each team is allowed a maximum of three (3) successive hits of the ball in order to return the ball to the opponent’s team area. Blocking does not constitute a team hit.

RULES CALLED BY THE OFFICIAL

• Service - Must begin behind the end court line. Cannot block or attack the serve.
• The Court - Center line that divides the sides can be stepped on but cannot be completely stepped over. In stepping on center line, a player cannot interfere with an opposing players’ offensive or defensive play. All adjacent courts are out of bounds, if entered by a player(s), a fault will have been committed.
• Sets - A player must be centered directly under the ball to overhead set. See definitions on held ball and double hit.
• Blocks - The block is not considered a hit. See definition on blocking.
• Illegal hit - Ball cannot be lifted or thrown. Ball must come off hand(s) immediately (split-second) on a spike or bump.
• Back-Row Players - Back-row players may not direct a ball across the net if ball is still above net in front of the 10 foot line. A back row player may only spike from behind the attack line (10 foot line).
• Substituting Players In and Out (Cannot be used with Rotation Method)
  • Substitution Rule - If a team wishes to substitute players instead of rotating, the Substitution Rule will be used. Groups of players (one on the court, others not playing) may substitute for each other no more than 18 times during a game. Entry into the game constitutes a substitution. Substitutions may take place from any position on the court (i.e. front left, middle back, etc.).
  • If a team wishes to rotate players in and out of a game, the rotation must be continuous. Players who have been rotated into the game or start the game cannot skip a rotation. The rotating of players in and out of a game must take place from the same position on the court (i.e. left back, middle back, left front, etc.).
• The ball will be called out if it hits anywhere outside the boundary lines, hits the sidewalls/curtain or hits the ceiling and advances over to the defending team’s side.  The ball may be played after touching the ceiling or any other object overhanging the playing area, as long as it does not travel over the net and the hitting team makes a legal hit.  

FACILITY RULES

• NO black soled or street shoes on gym floor 
• NO smoking inside buildings.
• Each person is responsible for their own valuables.

THE FOLLOWING SANCTIONS RESULT IN POINTS PENALTY, SIDE-OUT and/or PLAYER EXPELLED:

• Only the team captain may address the referee concerning a call. Any other team member addressing the referee or making profane or vulgar remarks will be expelled from play for the remainder of the match.
• A point and side-out will be awarded to the opposing team if a player exhibits unsportsmanlike behavior.

THE FOLLOWING SANCTIONS RESULT IN TEAM DISQUALIFICATION:

• Having more than one player expelled during a match.
• Any team not having the proper number of female and male players and the required age limits to start a match. Any action which is considered by the referee to be dangerous to the safety of all concerned.
• Any team with ineligible players will forfeit all games played.
• Teams using more than the maximum of 12 players.
  

Climbing Wall Camps

Scale new heights and conquer your fears as you tackle one of the tallest rock walls in southern Colorado, standing tall at 44 feet! With each climb, you'll push your limits and experience the thrill of achievement. These short-term camps typically run 1-3 hours and offer the perfect opportunity to dive into the exciting world of climbing without the commitment of a full month’s lessons. Don’t miss out on this adrenaline-packed adventure!

Ages

6-12   

Cost

• Y Members: $20
• Community: $35

Teen Indoor Soccer

Teen Indoor Soccer is coming to the YMCA of Pueblo! Designed for ages 12-17 with separate middle school and high school divisions, this new program gives teens a fun, fast-paced way to stay active, compete, and connect with friends in a positive environment. This is your chance to play, build skills, and be part of something brand new at the Y. Spots are limited! Sign up now and help us launch the next generation of teen programs in Pueblo!

Ages

12-17   

Cost

• Individual: $20/Y Member or $35/Community
• Team: $50/Y Member or $80/Community

REGISTER

Youth Cross Country Club - Pueblo Road Runners

Go the distance at the Y! The Pueblo YMCA is excited to add youth cross country to its growing list of youth sports program options. During the 8-week season, athletes will spend time developing a training base and progressing to temp training and speed work. All while emphasizing race strategy, skills development, safety, and sportsmanship.

Time

Every Monday from 5:00pm-7:00pm

• Season: June 8-August 3, 2026
• Parent Orientation: June 8, 2026

Ages

5-14

• Ages 5-7 will develop their distance and technique skills for a 1k
• Ages 8-12 will develop for a 3k
• Ages 12-14 will develop for 2 miles

This program builds endurance and running fundamentals for youth interested in competing in future high school cross country races. We'll feature two "Mini Meets" on June 29 and August 3, 2026 where athletes can celebrate personal best times.