Donald Deibler, a business owner and Business Manager of All Stars Ice Cream and Cafe Bakery, is urging families, businesses, coaches, and community members to consider how they can support youth sports in their towns. His call comes as data shows a decline in youth sports participation, which he believes underscores the need for local involvement.
Deibler, who grew up in Donaldson, Pennsylvania, credits sports with giving him a positive focus during his youth. He now volunteers as a youth sports coach and supports programs like Tri-Valley Little League through his businesses. He emphasizes the importance of encouragement and teamwork, values he sees reflected in both his coaching and his professional life.
The benefits of youth sports extend beyond the playing field. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 get at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily, which can improve muscle and bone health, cardiovascular fitness, brain health, and academic performance. Organized sports offer one avenue for meeting these guidelines, but participation is not universal. According to the Aspen Institute, only 54% of U.S. children played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022, down from 58% in 2017, and below the Healthy People 2030 target of 63%.
Deibler believes that supporting youth sports doesn't require a large organization. He points to his own actions—coaching, supporting teams through his businesses, and volunteering at St. Peter's UCC—as examples of how individuals can contribute. He also assists with Dead Horse Beer & Burritos, owned by his wife, where he is known for hands-on involvement, including helping in the kitchen when needed.
Community members can help in various ways: volunteering with recreational programs, attending local games, coaching if qualified, maintaining fields, donating equipment, or simply asking youth organizations what they need. Parents can encourage children to find enjoyable physical activities, whether through organized teams or informal play like walking or biking.
Deibler stresses that even small actions can make a difference. "You don't always have to do something huge to make a difference," he says. "Sometimes it is giving your time, helping a team, or just showing kids that people in the community care." He encourages residents to contact local recreation programs, schools, churches, and youth sports organizations to learn where help is needed, and suggests that the first step is identifying one local need and deciding how to help meet it.
