MANCHESTER, NH – NH Urban Sport, a recreational sports league, will receive $1,000 from DICK’S Sporting Goods, which inspires and enables youth participation in sports throughout the community, for the league’s youth flag football program. The community sponsorship will create scholarships to support lower-income families.

“I grew up in inner-city Manchester, and I know the value sports brought to my life for building my values,” said Jesus Salamanca, CEO of NH Urban Sport. “Thanks to the generosity of individual donors, we were already able to purchase new equipment to start the program. This sponsorship will allow us to offer scholarships to the children who need it most. Also, a huge thank you to the City of Manchester Parks and Recreation department for providing immaculate places where kids can play.”

There’s a participating gap in youth sports between lower-income families and those from middle-and higher-income families. Research from the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research institution, shows that only 52 percent of students from lower-income families participate in sports. Of which, nearly 42 percent say that the main reason for not participating in sports is because of finances and the high cost of youth sports programs.

“Sports make people better by building character, increasing confidence and teaching life lessons that extend well beyond the playing field,” said Matt Catacchio, community marketing manager at DICK’S Sporting Goods. “Because of the lack of budget, many communities can’t provide appropriate access to youth sports programs, which is why we provide strategic sponsorships that focus on the places that need the most help.”

Since 2014 DICK’S Sporting Goods has helped more than 1 million youth play sports across all 50 states. DICK’S Sporting Goods’ Community Program proudly supports leagues, teams, athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. We support thousands of youth sports and outdoor recreation organizations in communities surrounding our stores. The Manchester DICK’s Sporting Goods is located at the Mall Of New Hampshire.

The NH Urban Sport youth flag football program will be played on Saturdays between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. which started on August 22 at Thibault Field in Manchester. Teams are built out based on age brackets. NH Urban Sport adult and youth leagues are played in accordance with the orders, preventative measures and recommendations from the State of New Hampshire, NH Department of Health and Center for Disease Control (CDC).

To sign up visit nhurbansport.com, or to learn more about volunteering as a coach, please email nhurbansport@gmail.com.

Building a sense of community during times of social distancing

MANCHESTER, NH – Loneliness affects almost half of adults, and it can have a striking impact on a person’s productivity and mental and physical wellness. Even before social distancing, data showed that only half of adults had daily meaningful in-person social interactions, and one in four rarely feels as though others understand them. NH Urban Sport uses recreational sports to help foster deep connections and true friendships by creating a sense of core.

“We emphasize values like teamwork and camaraderie during sports like flag football and basketball to create a culture that cares about the player, even outside of game times,” said Jesus Salamanca, CEO of NH Urban Sport. “Our goal is to bring people in New Hampshire together by creating a community that offers fun, affordable recreational activities.”

In 2019, the military brought Chris Dilworth to New Hampshire. Miles away from his home and family in Mississippi, he was eager to meet new people. He learned about NH Urban Sport online and joined a recreational football team made up entirely of strangers. He quickly discovered a small community with which he could connect.

“Because of my time in the Army, meeting people is easy but finding a sense of community is much tougher,” Dilworth said. “Once I started playing in the league, I realized I was right at home.”

In 2018, Amanda Charlotte graduated from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Her love for sports drove her collegiate volleyball career at Daniel Webster College and SNHU her senior year. After graduation, she wanted to find a way to connect with fellow young professionals.

~Amanda Charlotte smiling for the camera during NHUS Coed Basketball game~

“I found out about NH Urban Sport through friends, but what made me stay was all the other people I met,” Charlotte said. “Everyone in the league acts like family. On the court, everyone has a competitive spirit, but at the end of the day, we’ll all get food and drinks with each other.”

Whether you’ve just moved here and don’t know anyone outside of work or whether you’re an athlete looking to get back into the game, NH Urban Sport has the perfect outdoor activities to add to your calendar.

Summer league registration is open now for outdoor coed flag football, coed basketball and pickleball online at NHUrbanSport.com/sports-leagues.

About NH Urban Sport, LLC
NH Urban Sport is your home for community, competition, and camaraderie in Southern New Hampshire. We are a co-ed adult sports league, offering flag football, basketball, cornhole and pickleball. We plan regular events, social hours and tournaments for you to have more fun with your teammates. We are a veteran-owned-and-operated organization built on the principles of inclusion and community because everyone is an athlete.