Mission Statement

The Athletics Division of the Clayton County Parks & Recreation Department fosters a culture of success through the promotion of competitive effort, ethical behavior, social responsibility, and community engagement that encourages leadership and achievement.

Core Values

Risk Management

Clayton County Athletics is committed to minimizing children’s exposure to danger, harm or loss. This involves protecting youth from environmental threats such as extreme temperatures and hazardous weather conditions, confirming that all playing equipment and facilities are safe and fully operational, and ensuring that all youth sports volunteers are thoroughly screened for criminal history.

Professional Competence

Clayton County Athletics staff and volunteers will follow industry best practices in the management of youth sports programs. This includes compulsory sport-specific, on-court/field training and relevant national coaching certification.

Accountability

Clayton County Athletics staff and volunteers will “honor the game” by ethically following the established rules of competition and by promoting the expectation that all participants and spectators subscribe to fair play.

Child-Centeredness

Clayton County Athletics believes all youth programs should be facilitated in a progressive manner consistent with early childhood development. Additionally, participation is paramount, and every child who is registered for a youth sports program must be guaranteed playing time, regardless of his or her athletic ability or the team’s competitive circumstances.

Positive Culture

Clayton County Athletics will foster and maintain a climate of affirmative behavior through regularly mandated orientation of volunteers, parents, and program participants. These sessions introduce and promote the values, standards, and beliefs of the respective Clayton County youth sports leagues.