Flag football is just one of the many activities offered to young people through the Parks and Recreation Department Youth Services program.

The Parks & Recreation Department assists the personal growth and development of Alhambra youth through a wide range of after-school and weekend leisure classes and a variety of team sports programs. Such activities are generally held at one of the City parks or other recreational facilities. A variety of open play activities are available, including lawn bowling, table tennis, horseshoes, badminton, and open-play basketball and volleyball. In addition, nine Alhambra schools play host to the City of Alhambra's After School Program, which includes team and individual sports, and alternative activities: arts and crafts, table game tournaments, four square, kickball, and other games.

Specific types of programs offered by the Parks & Recreation Department include:

Aquatic Programs:

• Individual and family recreational swimming at Alhambra Park and Granada Parks pools
• Swimming lessons for tots to teens, ages 3+
• Skin diving and beginning springboard diving lessons
• Novice and Junior Olympic Dive Team
• Competitive swimming through the Alhambra Dolphins Swim Team
• Adaptive swimming for swimmers with limited motor skills and abilities
• One-on-one swimming lessons
• American Red Cross Certification/lifeguard training for youth, ages 15+

Alhambra Drill Team

• Students in grades 3 through 8 are invited to learn the basics of participating on a drill team, which includes performing drills to music, choreography, showmanship, and team cooperation. The program concludes with the All-City Drill Team Championships.
• The next Drill Team Program begins March 8 through May 7, 2005. Fee is $15; there may be additional uniform costs. A mandatory Drill Team Parents meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m., at the Almansor Park Gymnasium, 800 South Almansor Street. Uniforms, practices, clinics, rules, transportation, and parent/player handbooks will be discussed. For more information, call (626) 570-5081 during weekday business hours.

Individual Sports/Dance Classes:

• Parent/toddler exercises classes, ages 12 mo-3 yrs
• Dance: ballet, tap, gymnastics, Folklorico, ages 3+
• Kung Fu/Karate, self-defense/safety awareness, ages 8+
• Bowling, ages 7+
• Tennis, ages 4+

Classes for Older Youth, ages 16+

• Aerobics
• Dance: ballet, Flamenco, Middle Eastern belly dancing, ballroom, salsa/mambo, line dancing, East Coast swing
• Hatha Yoga
• Tai Chi
• Rope jumping
• Various arts and crafts classes

Team Sports Programs

• City of Alhambra Youth Baseball, ages 6-15
• Little League Tennis program, ages 8-11
• Flag Football League
• Co-Ed Volleyball Team
• Cheerleading program
• Basketball
  Teen Basketball League - Open to students in grades 9-12. Next league begins on March 18, 2005 (registration on February 1). The $25 per player fee includes officiating, and individual and team awards will be presented for 1st and 2nd place finishers. For more information, call (626) 570-5081 during weekday business hours.

Alhambra Youth Commission
To afford Alhambra youth an opportunity to actively participate in the functions of local government and issues of interest to youth, the Alhambra City Council has reinstated the Alhambra Youth Commission. The Commission is comprised of ten youth, ages 14-20, who either reside in Alhambra or attend school in the City. The Commission is charged with conducting investigations and making recommendations directly to the City Council in an advisory capacity on matters pertaining to the activities or needs of Alhambra youth. It is also responsible for submitting an annual report of its work to the City Council.

Youth Sports Organizations

• Alhambra Thunderbirds Football Contact: (626) 588-4733
• American Youth Soccer Assn., Region 60 (AYSO) Contact: (626) 281-7033
• American Little League of Alhambra Contact: (626) 576-8914
• East Alhambra Little League Contact: (626) 284-6766
• Junior/Senior Baseball League Contact: (626) 551-2066
• West San Gabriel Valley YMCA 401 Corto St, Alhambra, CA 9180-4553 (626) 576-0226