Youth League Sports

Children can select from a host of opportunities for sports. Parents are likely to see notices posted in neighborhoods, on store bulletin boards and seasonally in the newspaper. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation offers many team sports such as football, softball and volleyball.

(704) 336-3854

BASKETBALL

For a list of parks and recreation centers with outdoor and indoor basketball courts, go to

www.parkandrec.com. Check with your local recreation center and YMCA for information on organized basketball programs.

Indoor sport centers also offer this sport.

BASEBALL

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation and the YMCAs offer organized league ball for ages 5-18, with softball for girls and T-ball for younger children. Call your local YMCA. Registration for area Little League begins in mid-February at locations around the county; tryouts are in early March and the season lasts from early April to early June. Little League is for ages 9-12; T-ball is for ages 6 and 7; Minor League is for age 8. The Senior Little League, ages 13-15, plays from mid-May to late June. Voluntary contributions vary.

FOOTBALL

Check with your local recreation center and YMCA for information. Indoor sport centers also offer this sport.

HOCKEY

The Charlotte Youth Hockey League fields teams in five different age divisions. Tryouts are in August and the season runs through March. www.charlotteyouthhockey.com   (704) 543-1245

SOCCER

Charlotte Junior Soccer is a recreational league for ages 6-15. All interested children can play. The YMCAs also offer fall and spring soccer programs for various age groups. Indoor sport centers also offer this sport.

Swimming & Diving

Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation operates numerous public swimming pools, including indoor pools, for swimming and diving instruction and water exercise classes. Several neighborhood outdoor pools offer summer swim leagues.

Indoor pools:

Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center

800 E. Second St.

(704) 336-3483

Marion Diehl Center

2219 Tyvola Road

Annual or three-month passes, or daily admission.

(704) 527-3175

Mecklenburg Aquatic Club

Known for its competitive swim team and a masters team, but also offers lessons, aerobics and free swim. www.justswimmac.org   (704) 846-5335

YMCAs and YWCAs

Pools and swim classes

Charlotte Aquatics is an American Red Cross swim instruction provider.

(704) 341-9673

www.charlotteaquatics.com

Charlotte Swim Academy

9315-A Monroe Road

(704) 845-8377

www.charlotteswimacademy.com

Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics

11725 Verhoeff Drive, Huntersville

(704) 766-2222

The Jewish Community Center

Offers a full swimming program at the on-site pool

(704) 366-5007

Little Otter Swim School

8200 Tower Point Drive

(704) 846-7946

www.littleotterswim.com

Biking

Jetton Park, 19000 Jetton Road  (704) 896-9808

Historic Brattonsville, McConnells, S.C. (803) 684-2327

Mallard Creek Greenway, 201 E. Mallard Creek Church Road  (704) 336-8866

McAlpine Creek Park, 8711 Monroe Road. Features gravel trails  (704) 568-4044

McMullen Creek Greenway, N.C. 51, Pineville  (704) 643-3405

Reedy Creek Park, 2900 Rocky River Road  (704) 598-8857

Bowling

Fencing

Touché Fencing Club

5410-B Old Pineville Road

www. touchefencing.com    (704) 676-4728

Fishing

To fish in a Mecklenburg County park, you must have a park fishing permit. Permits are available at park offices and nature centers; the cost is $1 per day for county residents. A state license is required for anglers ages 16 and up when artificial bait is used.

Fishing sites:

Golf

Mecklenburg County has five public courses operated by the park and recreation department.

Charles T. Myers offers junior golf clinics.

Charles T. Myers  (704) 536-1692

Renaissance  (704) 357-3373

Revolution  (704) 342-1946

Sunset Hills  (704) 399-0980

The Tradition  (704) 503-7529

Hiking

Cane Creek Park

5213 Harkey Road, Waxhaw

(704) 843-3919

Crowders Mountain State Park

522 Park Office Lane, Kings Mountain

(704) 853-5375

Jetton Park

19000 Jetton Road, Huntersville

(704) 896-9808

Latta Plantation Nature Preserve

5225 Sample Road, Huntersville.

18 miles of hiking and equestrian trails

(704) 875-1391

McDowell Nature Preserve

15222 York Road

Sseven miles of trails

(704) 588-5224

Reedy Creek Park

2900 Rocky River Road

(704) 598-8857

Horseback Riding

Latta Equestrian Center

5225 Sample Road, Huntersville

A facility of the park and recreation department, has lighted arenas, show grounds, rental horses and lessons

(704) 875-0808

Belfair Farms

Van Wyck, S.C.

(704) 661-4341 or (803) 802-2397

Carolina Country Acres

6812 S. Rocky River Road, Monroe

(704) 764-7222

Carolina Riding Academy

1524 Clarence Secrest Road, Monroe

(704) 225-9732

Carousel Stables 2617 Irby Road, Monroe

(704) 764-9202

Cedarhill Farm

2620 Waxhaw-Marvin Road, Waxhaw

(704) 843-5944

Fox Hollow Farm at Runnymeade

19201 Callaway Hills Lane, Davidson

(704) 895-7199

Hidden Valley Stables

2634 Crane Road, Waxhaw

(704) 843-0197

Honeysuckle Farm

3721 Tom Starnes Road, Waxhaw

(704) 821-6380

Leg Up Equestrian English Riding School

6238 Johannes Lane, Fort Mill, S.C.

(704) 579-6997

Meadowbrook Farms

Golden Pond Drive, Indian Trail

(704) 821-9424

Providence Equestrian Center

424 Waxhaw-Indian Trail Road, Waxhaw

(704) 843-5215

Ice Skating

Eastland Ice House

5595 Central Ave. (Eastland Mall)

(704) 568-0772

Pineville Ice House

400 Towne Centre Blvd., Pineville

(704) 889-9000

Extreme Ice Center

4705 Indian Trail-Fairview Road
(704) 882-1830

Indoor Sports Centers

Charlotte Sports Center

8626 Hankins Road. N.C.’s largest indoor sports facility, specializes in youth and adult leagues/clinics for: soccer,

inline hockey, basketball, flag football, volleyball, summer camps and sports birthday parties.

(704) 597-7311

www.charlottesportscenter.com  

Inner Peaks Climbing Center

9535 Monroe Road, Suite 17D. 8,000 square feet of climbing walls, with routes up to 25 feet tall.

Classes, individual instruction, summer camp, birthday parties.

www.innerpeaks.com   (704) 844-6677

Rockbound Climbing Center

2346 E. Franklin Blvd., Gastonia. embership discounts, classes, group field trips, birthday parties.

www.rockboundclimbing.com  (704) 852-9636

Sports Warehouse

10930 Granite St. Soccer, basketball, roller hockey, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, aerobics, flag football,

skateboarding, lacrosse. Leagues, clinics and summer camps.

(704) 583-1444

www.sportswh.com  

Roller& In-Line Skating

Frye’s Roller Rink

2790 Poplar Tent Road, Concord

(704) 782-5513

Kate’s Skate

14500 U.S. 74 E., Indian Trail

(704) 821-7465

Skateland USA

311 Brookdale St., Kannapolis

(704) 938-3013

Skate Central

3646 Central Ave.

(704)536-0800

Starlight Roller Rink

8830 E. W.T. Harris Blvd.

(704) 568-5700

Skiing

Cataloochee Ski Area (Maggie Valley)

Details   ........................................................ (800) 768-0285

Snow report  ................................................ (800) 768-3588

www.cataloochee.com

Wolf Laurel Ski Resort (north of Mars Hill)

Details  ......................................................... (800) 817-4111

Snow report  ................................................ (800) 817-4111

www.skiwolflaurel.com

Ski Beech (north of Banner Elk)

Details  ......................................................... (800) 438-2093

Snow report  ................................................ (800) 438-2093

www.skibeech.com

Appalachian Ski Mountain (near Blue Ridge Parkway)

Details  .......................................................... (800) 322-2373

Snow report  ................................................. (828) 322-2373

www.appskimtn.com 

Ski Hawksnest (south of Boone)

Details  .......................................................... (800) 822-4295

Snow report  ................................................. (888) 822-4295

www.hawksnest-resort.com

Sugar Mountain Ski Area (East of Boone)

Details  .......................................................... (800) 784-2768

Snow report  ................................................. (800) 784-2768

www.skisugar.com

Tennis

Well-maintained tennis courts are found in many area parks.
Call or visit nearby parks for information.

Volleyball

Area recreation centers, YMCAs and many churches and community centers offer organized volleyball leagues.

Water Parks

Paramount’s Carowinds

I-77 (Exit 90) on N.C./S.C. state line

Area theme park including many rides and attractions for family fun. Also includes a water park and campground

Open weekdays in summer. Open weekends late March through early fall.  Park opens at 10 a.m., closing times vary

2006 admission fees: $28.99-$49.99.

(704) 588-2600, (803) 548-5300

www.carowinds.com 

Jewish Community Center of Charlotte Aquatic Complex

5007 Providence Road

Two outdoor pools, slides, sprayground, recreational and diving areas. Seasonal memberships available.

(704) 366-5007

Ray’s Splash Planet

215 N. Sycamore St.

Park and Rec’s indoor water park offers slides, tubing, a wave pool, meteor shower, lap lanes and a beach.

Facility also houses a fitness center. Annual and monthly memberships available, daily admission $3-$11.

(704) 432-4729

www.rayssplashplanet.com

YMCA of Greater Charlotte

YMCAs and YWCAs offer a variety of activities and lessons from swimming, gymnastics, basketball and baseball to general fitness and summer camps for children. The YMCA headquarters is located at 500 E. Morehead St. Suite 300; call 716-6200 for more information. www.ymcacharlotte.org

YWCA

Main Branch, 3420 Park Road  (704) 525-5770

www.ywcacentralcarolinas.org

Branches:

Spectator Sports

AUTO RACING

Lowe’s Motor Speedway offers a number of stock car and sports car races throughout the year — including The Winston and Coca-Cola 600 in May and the Bank of America 500 in October.

(704) 455-3200

www.lowesmotorspeedway.com      

BASKETBALL

Charlotte Bobcats

NBA, play at the Charlotte  Bobcats Arena

333 E. Trade St. (704) 688-8600

UNCC 49ers

College basketball in Halton Arena on campus. Tickets are available for all home games.

(704) 687-4949

Other area colleges: Johnson C. Smith, Davidson, Queens, Winthrop, Belmont Abbey play basketball on their campuses.

Call individual colleges for schedules and cost.

BASEBALL

Charlotte Knights

AAA team, play in Fort Mill, S.C.

The season runs from April until September

(704) 357-8071

Kannapolis Intimidators

A team, play in Kannapolis at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium from April through September

(704) 932-FANS

FOOTBALL

Carolina Panthers

Charlotte’s NFL team plays at Bank of America Stadium at Morehead and Mint streets

(704) 358-7000

ICE HOCKEY

Charlotte Checkers

Part of the East Coast Hockey League. They play in the Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

333 E. Trade St. (704) 342-4423

SOCCER

Charlotte Eagles

Ooutdoor soccer in the USL April to August at Memorial Stadium

(704) 841-8644

UNCC 49ers

NCAA men’s soccer

(704) 687-4949

Lady Eagles

Women’s soccer

(704) 841-8644

SWIMMING

Charlotte Ultraswim is held at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center uptown each summer. Internationally known amateur swimmers, including some Olympic athletes, compete.  (704) 336-3483

Summer Camps

If you are investigating summer camps, the best local resource is our monthly publication, Charlotte Parent. From January through June, coverage on choosing a camp, packing and maintaining contact with your camper are popular topics. Listings of resident camps, day camps and summer classes are included each year. In addition, the Charlotte Parent Camp Fair is held each January or February to introduce parents and kids to the camps on a one-to-one basis. You can access back camp issues by calling the magazine. For online camp listings, visit the camp directory. You’ll find charts, stories and resources to help you in your search.