Astros Urban Youth Academy to Launch JrRBI League
Registration to begin this Saturday; JrRBI to launch in the spring of 2015
The Houston Astros, Astros Foundation, Astros Urban Youth Academy (UYA) staff and MLB are excited to announce the expansion of the Astros RBI programming to include the first ever Astros JrRBI league, beginning in the spring of 2015.
The Houston Astros JrRBI League, a baseball league for boys and girls between the ages of 7-12, will begin registration this Saturday, January 10 and continue every Saturday through February 7. Registration will take place from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Astros UYA facility at Sylvester Turner Park, located at 2801 Victory Drive, Houston, TX 77008. The cost to participate in the league is $60 per child, and the league will begin play in spring of 2015.
Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, (RBI) is a Major League Baseball program. Organized in 1989, RBI gives youngsters the opportunity to combine athletics and academics. The Astros UYA is operated by the Astros Foundation and provides baseball and softball instruction, life skills training and academic support to Houston area youth.
The new Astros JrRBI program will be directed exclusively by the Houston Astros UYA staff. The program will provide an affordable opportunity for boys and girls between the ages of 7-12 to continuously learn and competitively play the game of baseball/softball.
Prior to 2015, the local JrRBI program was directed by St. Monica JrRBI, an independent group. The Houston Astros and the UYA would like to thank St. Monica Youth Sports Ministry, its staff and volunteers for their many years of dedication to our youth, the sport of baseball and the community.
The goals of the Astros RBI/JrRBI programs are to increase participation and interest in baseball, develop the players self-esteem, motivate athletes to study more effectively, provide participants with a strong incentive to stay in school, provide communities with the opportunity to become actively involved with the kids and develop talented athletes for future participation in high school, college and perhaps beyond.
In the spring and summer of 2014, the Houston Astros launched their first RBI program for softball/baseball players between the ages of 13-18. The new MLB-chartered program, Astros RBI, is also supported by the Astros Foundation and directed by the team's Urban Youth Academy staff.
ABOUT THE ASTROS URBAN YOUTH ACADEMY (2801 S. Victory Drive, Houston, TX 77088):
The Astros Urban Youth Academy (UYA), which officially opened in 2010, is run by the Astros Foundation and provides free baseball and softball instruction, life skills training and academic support to Houston youth, with a focus on serving inner-city and at-risk children and teens. Baseball and softball camps, clinics and other activities are provided by experienced instructors. UYA staff also provide mentoring, leadership development and assistance with the college application process. The UYA's doors are open year-round free of charge to youngsters age 7 to 17 from the Houston area. The Astros were the first Major League club to open an Urban Youth Academy.
ABOUT THE ASTROS FOUNDATION:
The Astros Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros, seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs serving at-risk children and teens. Our cornerstone initiatives include the Community Leaders program, the Astros Urban Youth Academy and the Astros RBI program.