Recreation and Parks (R&P) recognizes that youth sports are an integral part of the lives of many of the county’s families where a safe, fun and enriching experience is the  primary goal. To insure a high standard for child safety and positive youth development within youth sports leagues that participate in county  parks and facilities the Board of County Commissioners approved the Raising Community Standards in Youth Sports Initiative on March 7, 2006.

According to St. Mary’s County’s Raising Community Standards, all youth sports leagues must have the head coach and an assistant coach of each youth sports team participate in the NYSCA training program, or provide an educational training program which is equivalent to the NYSCA Certification Program. In addition to this standard, all youth sports leagues must submit appropriate information of the head coach and an assistant coach to be used for a comprehensive background check. The league must also abide by the disqualifiers approved by the Recreation and Parks Citizen Advisory board.