The spring sports season is underway. On Wednesday, March 4, the Custer County Youth Sports organization took time out from youth soccer skills testing to celebrate joining the Broken Bow Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon cutting outside the former Nebraska National Guard Armory Building.
Originally organized in July of 2025 to pick up youth sports in Broken Bow and surrounding Custer County communities from the shuttered Optimists Club, Custer County Youth Sports (CCYS) is dedicated to providing youth an opportunity to participate in sporting activities, while learning about Leadership, Community and Health.
According to CCYS member Sam Jensen, “We want to create a group that’s not just Broken Bow, that is for all of Custer County. That’s for kids of all ages, especially those elementary kiddos who don’t have school sponsored programs. And then it wasn’t just about competition either. It was about helping them be better humans. So learning sportsmanship, learning about health and moving their bodies, leadership. Even at a young age, you can start teaching kids how to be leaders within their class, their group, whatever it may be.”
Already, the group has organized bowling and axe throwing leagues, and are in the process of setting up tennis and volleyball programs, along with the soccer program just getting under way. Golf and cheer are also possible future events the CCYS is looking to organize. Along with a focus on bringing in more kids from around Custer County, program organizers noted they want to take the sporting events to other communities besides Broken Bow.
CCYS member Chelsie Gillespie noted, “One of the probably first examples of going to other communities besides just Broken Bow is the volleyball program that we’ll be starting this fall. The girls will be traveling to Merna, Ansley, Sandhills-Thedford, and then Callaway area.”
There are currently 11 members of the CCYS Board. So far this year over 230 kids have been signed up to play youth soccer. This makes finding volunteers to help run the program critical.
“We’re always looking for parent volunteers as far as coaching,” said Gillespie, “you know, stepping up and assistant coaching, being the snack parent or anything like that. Especially currently right now for the soccer program, we’re looking for referees. You don’t have to have experience. We’ll teach you how to be a ref for the soccer program. But it just helps make the games flow a little bit easier and really teach the kids the rules of soccer.”
Likewise, finding funding for the programs is an ongoing challenge. Soccer youth are currently raising funds through a spice sale through April 3. If you don’t know a child playing soccer, order forms can be picked up or direct donations can be dropped off at the Custer County Foundation.
Another innovative fundraising idea is to name the fields set up for the kids to play on for major sponsors. For those who have always their name on a stadium, but within slightly more realistic means, here’s your chance.
More information about all of the activities that the Custer County Youth Sports program is sponsoring, and how to get involved, can be found on the organizations Facebook page.
