STORY and PHOTOS by Tam Nguyen, Nguoi Viet
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. – Hundreds of teenagers from throughout the nation met in Orange County last week to take part in the National Keystone Conference, which provides young people with knowledge and skills to serve young people in their local Boys & Girls Clubs and communities.
The winning team of the Triple Play football tournament.
But for some of them, play mixed in with the work.
More than 200 young people dropped by the Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center to take part in the Triple Play Tournament, hosted by the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove. The teens participated in three-on-three basketball, flag football and coed volleyball tournaments, all in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ initiative that promotes young people involving themselves in activities that find the mind, body and soul.
The focus on the mind helps young people to acquire healthy habits, such as making smart food choices and understanding the appropriate portion sizes for a balanced meal. Concentration on the body promotes becoming more physically active through the fun daily fitness routines, such as playing sports with their friends. And working on the soul strengthens interpersonal skills and a positive character through social recreation programs.
The program is an annual event, and this year was the first time Garden Grove played host, according to Francyne Nguyen, media relations director for the Boys & Girls Club of Garden Grove.
Teams filled the gym for a three-on-three basketball tournament.
The teens who took part in the recreational program in Garden Grove, said their minds, bodies and souls were nurtured.
“The program helps me to be more social with my peers instead of sitting at home on Facebook or Twitter. It is important to have a social life because we can build a network in the future and that can help us with our jobs,” David Johnson, 18, of Tucson, Ariz., during a break from flag football.
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David’s teammate, Johnson Pham Bui, 14, from Seattle, said the program opened his eyes to the fact that exercise isn’t necessarily boring.
“The program taught me exercise can be fun,” Bui said. “At first I thought exercise was just by working out at the gym, but then they said playing sports is another way to exercise. It’s my first time playing sports, and I might want to sign up for the football team when I get home.”
Anthony Walker, one of the organizers of the event, said it’s important to teach the teens about healthy choices.
“With the Triple Play, we can prevent child obesity and get them to be more active in outdoor activities,” he said. “For instance, I asked them which drink would they choose between water and soda, and the majority of them chose soda. So then we tell them why it is not a good choice.”
