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Youth sports league using football to tackle crime

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH ) – An Indianapolis inner-city youth sports organizer is looking to change the outcomes of its youth one play at a time.

“It’s really not just Tab Rec that’s doing this, the entire community is coming together to show that it takes a village and we can do it and we’re already doing it right here everyday,” said Lacey Nix, who helped organized Tab Recreation’s first Tackle Crime event.

Tab Recreation has youth football, track and soccer leagues but on Tuesday night, they expanded their program beyond sports.

“What sports provide kids is an opportunity to have something positive to do,” said Ben Hughes, the league’s program director.

Tab Recreation has been helping kids for over 90 years.

“Coaches become kind of like your dad and they’ll spend time the kids and talk about grades and things going on in the community and try to keep them on the straight and narrow,” said Hughes.

The league is affiliated with the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church on the near north side.

“We believe in a holistic understanding of living a faithful life, that means using our bodies, performing well, good education, good values,” said church Pastor, Rev. John Gable.

They’re values they’ve seen diminish in the neighborhood around them. The church and field are just blocks from Illinois and 34th streets, one of the Department of Public Safety’s focus areas.

But on the field, its all about positivity.

“When positive things happen, helping young people, helping inner cities, strengthening, encouraging families, parents and children we think that will make and should make a phenomenal difference,” said Rev. Oliver Dewayne Walker, the pastor at Phillips Temple Church, which also plays in the league.

“We want to show that things that are great and that through programs like this, real change can happen,” said Nix.

They currently have 1,200 kids in their leagues. Famous alumni include former Gov. Mitch Daniels and Pacers point guard George Hill.

“If ever there was a time our young people deserved something positive, it’s right now,” said Rev Walker.

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