School is back in session, and so are fall sports! There is a chance that you or someone you know has a child playing sports through CYC in St. Louis. As a non-Catholic public-school parent with a child that plays sports for CYC and a spouse that coaches for CYC, I have learned to navigate my way through sign-ups so our family can enjoy youth sports. If you are curious about CYC sports in St. Louis, need a refresher, are not Catholic, or are new to the area, read on for more information about CYC!
Some basic facts about CYC:
- CYC (Catholic Youth Council) Sports is an office of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
- The Core Values of CYC are Faith, Sportsmanship, and Service, which are at the forefront of all that CYC does.
- CYC is open to all skill levels and faiths. You do not need to be Catholic to participate as a player, coach, or official.
- CYC has been a part of youth sports in St. Louis for over 75 years, with over 50,000 athletes participating each year.
What Sports does CYC offer?
CYC offers soccer, volleyball, basketball, chess, golf, track, baseball and softball. Most sports offer programs starting in Pre-K or Kindergarten and go through 8th Grade. Make sure you look for sign-ups earlier than you think as the season sign-up usually ends months before the season begins! Basketball registration just opened up and runs through the end of September!
| Sport | Ages/Grades | Season | Registration | # of Games |
| Soccer | Pre-K – 8th Grade | August-November | April 1-May 31 | 9 |
| Volleyball | 3rd – 8th Grade | August-November | April 15-May 31 | 10 |
| Basketball | 3rd – 8th Grade | December 13-March 9 | September 1-30 | 10 |
| Chess | K-8th Grade | December-February | Begins November 1 | 4 qualifying meets + Championship |
| Golf | 5th – 8th Grade | March-June | January | Mix of instructional sessions + rounds of golf |
| Track | Age 5-15 | April-May | January | 3-5 meets
2024 Track Events |
| Baseball | Pre-K-8th Grade | April 1-June 30 | December 16-January 31 | 10 |
| Softball | Pre-K-8th Grade | April 1-June 30 | December 16-January 31 | 10 |
Which Parish should my child play for?
And along with that, what is a Parish? A Parish is basically a territory for each church. Your Parish will be determined by where your child attends Catholic school, where your family attends Catholic church or, if you are not Catholic, where you live. Don’t worry, if you do not attend either, your child can still play in their Parish of Residence! Read on for more information on finding your Parish.
- Parish of Residence – This applies to both Catholics and non-Catholics. Every individual in the St. Louis region lives within the boundaries of a Catholic parish. If you are unsure of your parish boundaries, you can search your address here.
- School – If your child is registered at a school with a CYC program affiliated with it, he or she is eligible to play there. Important note: Attendance at Regional Schools such as Holy Cross Academy does not qualify you. For example, if you attend Holy Cross Academy at St. Michael the Archangel Campus, that does not qualify you to play for St. Michael Sports teams. In this case, you must choose the “Parish of Residence” or “Parish of Registration” bucket.
- Parish of Registration – This is for Catholic families that are actively involved in the faith and parish life of a church that they do not live in the boundaries of. If you are registered with the rectory at that Parish and consider yourself a true active parishioner there, then you are eligible to play for the sports program.
Looking for more information? You can find it here!
Once you find your Parish, you can also reach out to your Parish contact for more information.
Happy playing!
