Home Field Advantage

We’re equipping parents with knowledge, tips, and expert information. Our Parenting in Practice sessions at the Urban Youth Academy will take place throughout the year. These sessions are free parent education events with practical insights from pediatric experts. During these sessions, children can play baseball and softball in a safe environment.

The Royals and Children’s Mercy are committed to bringing opportunities to kids with adaptive challenges. In partnership with the Children’s Mercy Adaptive Sports Program, the Urban Youth Academy hosts annual Adaptive Clinics so that kids with all types of disabilities who want to participate in sports have a safe environment to do so. Sports can be a game-changer for overall wellness, especially for kids with physical or cognitive differences. These clinics will help kids remove barriers to experience a healthy and active lifestyle.

Baseball and softball can be expensive. This cost limits parents' ability to afford equipment and, therefore, children’s ability to play. We’re removing that barrier. We’ll connect with local school districts and after-school programs to have youth fitted head-to-toe with all the necessary baseball or softball equipment, as well as enjoy a clinic to learn the basics of baseball or softball.

In an ongoing effort to grow the games of baseball and softball for all, we’re creating Win with Wiffle Ball, a program to equip schools and after-school programs in Kansas City to learn and play. Each year, we’ll select 20 schools to receive free sets of equipment, an instruction guide for teachers, completion certificates, and a free ticket for each participating child and a parent to attend a Royals game.