YES, (Youth Engagement in Sports), a health improvement program. Basic assumptions applied to mentor coaches in the Middle School Ateyapi YES program are: 1. Coaches need to help learners believe in their personal abilities in order to learn and develop a new behavior. 2. They can reinforce learning by a positive response to a youth’s performing a behavior and can provide environmental conditions conducive for improved self-efficacy by providing appropriate support and materials.

Ateyapi YES coaches serve as positive role models, not only to demonstrate consistent sports skills and good nutritional practices, but to apply Lakota cultural values in daily life. Each coach is stationed in one of the RCAS’s Middle schools (East, North and West), facilitating after-school activities four nights per school week. These sessions include a healthy snack, transportation- if needed- to sport or exercise at Rapid Skills Sports Complex where students get sixty minutes of moderate or vigorous exercise or thirty minutes in nutrition education including talking circles, and transportation home.

Fridays, school holidays and summer sessions are opportunities for special events, for example, hiking at one of the Sacred Lakota Sites. Youth self-log their physical and nutritional activities on weekends and report to their coach.

Ateyapi Intercross Program, the version of lacrosse to be played by Ateyapi YES participants, is a mixed-gender non-contact sport that uses an all-plastic stick and a softer ball. This allows the sport to be played indoors as well as outdoors and requires no protective gear. Intercross is an excellent way to introduce youth to lacrosse.

Ateyapi running club focuses on preparatory activities (group games and exercises to build runner’s skills, strength, balance and agility), and group runs. Youth log their miles (each participant received an activity tracker.) The Ateyapi YES Hiking Club offers healthy outdoor exercise and promote appreciation for Lakota culture at the same time. Youth participate in strength, balance, and cardiovascular exercise routines (offered indoors and outdoors) to prepare youth for outdoor experiences.

Indian dancing: Dances have always been significant in the lives of American Indians. Today Indian dancing is considered a sport when it involves competitions at powwows around the nation. Most common kinds of Lakota dances include men’s traditional, fancy, and grass dancing. Women’s dances are called traditional, shawl and jingle dress.

Cross training in general athletic skills: The term cross training refers to a training routine that involves several different forms of exercise. Specialized training to prepare youth for intramural sports were offered for football, cross country track, soccer, basketball, volleyball. Coaching staff provided a list of free YouTube exercise routines, (screened for appropriateness) for youth with computers at home to use, particularly during Covid.

Nutrition Education: Staff served healthy vegetables and fruit snacks at each after-school session, role modeling how many different ways healthy food can be used. The nutrition curriculum is taught by our partner South Dakota State University nutritionist assistant.