Sports for NYC kids

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Archery

Pro Line Archery Lanes
If your youngsters aspire to be in national competitions, they should check out this archery shop and range, where Junior Olympics programs meet on Saturdays (USA Archery teammates instruct). Open-shooting sessions welcome both hobbyists and newbies. $5–$20 per hour depending on rental. 95-11 101st Ave between 94th and 95th Sts, Ozone Park, Queens (718-845-9280, archeryny.com). Ages 8 and up.

Queens Archery Range
Here you can introduce your kids to Zen and the Art of Archery. The instruction is all about the basics of form and the mental aspects of the sport, and can be applied to recreation and competition. There's also a Junior Olympic program on site. Equipment is available for rental or for sale in the pro shop. $18 per hour including rental, $11 per hour range fee. 170-20 39th Ave at 171st St, Flushing, Queens (718-461-1756, archery-nyc.com). Ages 8 and up.

Willowbrook Park Archery Range
Set in an idyllic oasis in Staten Island, this range occasionally offers classes for youngsters. Free. 1 Eton Pl near Loop Rd, Staten Island (718-698-2186, nycgovparks.org/parks/willowbrookpark). Ages 8 and up.

Baseball

The Baseball Center NYC
Kids can choose from private or group lessons in batting, pitching, base running and catching. Summer camp in Central and Riverside Parks, and baseball-themed birthday bashes are also available. Prices vary from $90 for half-day (summer camp) to $819 per semester (after-school). 202 W 74th St between Amsterdam Ave and Broadway (212-362-0344, thebaseballcenternyc.com). Ages 4 to 12.

Downtown Little League
An association of teams operating out of downtown venues like Baruch Field and BPC Ballfields. Various locations and prices; go to downtownlittleleague.org. Ages 6 to 16.

Kids of Summer Sports
Mainstays of this club include baseball summer camps, weekend clinics and spring after-school programs. Various prices and locations on the Upper West Side; go to kidsofsummer.com. Ages 6 to 14.

On Deck
Innovative new equipment, such as light-up bats and toddler-friendly gloves, helps teach tots basic skills. Older students take on hitting and strength training. Prices vary from $400 per week (camp) to $1,200 per semester (travel teams). Various locations (646-808-4926, ondeckny.com). Ages 4 to 10.

Prospect Park Baseball Association
A co-ed baseball and girls’ softball league with practices and games throughout Brooklyn. Various locations and prices; go to ppba.info. Ages 5 to 17.

Ridgewood-Glendale-Middle Village-Maspeth Little League
The oldest (and longest-named) Little League group in Queens. Various locations and prices; go to eteamz.com/rgmvm. Ages 5 to 18.

West Side Little League
This organization offers co-ed baseball programs, girls’ softball and T-ball for young kids. Various locations and prices; go to westsidebaseball.org. Ages 6 to 18.

Basketball

Basketball City New York
Kid programs include two-hour Youth Development League sessions and summer camps; all focus on teaching basketball fundamentals in an upbeat environment. $250 for six weeks (youth league), $400–$450 (camps). Hunter College, 68th St and Lexington Ave (212-233-5050, basketballcity.com). Ages 8 to 17.

Children’s Aid Society
After-school and summer hoops programs at community centers and schools. Various locations and prices; go to childrensaidsociety.org. Ages 5 and up.

Crossover Sports Academy
This school offers basketball classes and two weeks of camp in July. Prices vary. 320 E 20th St between First and Second Aves (866-468-8072, crossoversportsacademy.com). Ages 5 to 16.

dribbl
Teamwork, sportsmanship and the self-esteem benefits of skills like shooting and passing are emphasized at this clinic. $400 for seven sessions. 200 E 87th St between Second and Third Aves and 353 E 87th St between First and Second Aves (212-717-7651, dribbl.com). Ages 5 to 13.

Fast Break Kids
For the hoops-loving youngster, this program offers one-on-one training and intra-league meets. Various locations and prices (212-7224-3278, fastbreakkids.com). Ages 6 and up.

Sokol
Here, you’ll find noncompetitive games and instruction. $75 per season. 420 E 71st St between York and First Aves (212-861-8206, sokolnewyork.org). Ages 8 and up.

YMCA
Try out one of the city’s most b-ball-friendly gyms. Various locations and prices; go to ymcanyc.org. All ages.

Boating

The Downtown Boathouse
Take advantage of free boating lessons at Pier 96 every Wednesday night at 6pm. Or line up for free kayaks at Pier 96, Pier 40 or 72nd Street (mornings are less busy). Once you have your ride, head out for a 20-minute paddle inside the pier’s protected embayment. Some double kayaks even have a spot for a baby seat in the middle. Pier 40 at Houston St on the Hudson River; Pier 96 at Twelfth Ave and 56th St; 72nd St at the Hudson River in Riverside Park (downtownboathouse.org). All ages (must be accompanied by an adult).

Hudson River Community Sailing (HRCS)
This nonprofit organization offers after-school programs to underprivileged kids in the New York area. Their goal: to improve children’s math and science grades while teaching them to sail. During the summer, HRCS also runs a sailing academy (starts Jun 14), which is open to all. Here, kids learn to read the wind and weather; maneuver a boat; tack, gybe, rig and derig a sail; and race. Join a “Taste of Sailing” event (daily at noon, 3pm and 6pm through October 15) to enjoy a two-hour family sail. $750 per one-week sailing-academy session (academy runs for five weeks); $80 for Taste of Sailing event. Pier 66, W 26th St at the Hudson River (212-924-1920, hudsonsailing.org). Ages 9 and up for the sailing academy.

Manhattan Sailing School
Kids as young as eight learn to pilot their own dinghy—a small single-handed boat designed especially for children—through the protected waters just southwest of the Statue of Liberty. While sailing around within a half-mile circle (which is off-limits to other traffic), children gain knowledge about water safety, boating terminology and the workings of a sailboat. They’ll also find out how to maneuver and sail. $690 per week plus $150 for Optimist dinghy rental; “Try Me” rate for first-time kid sailors, $345 for the first week. 385 South End Ave #7G in the World Financial Center Plaza (212-786-0400, sailmanhattan.com). Ages 8 and up.

Sheepshead Bay Yacht Club
While the club is membership-based, lessons are open to the public; tweens are taught by members on their own boats. Call for information as lessons are unstructured, taking place about once a month. $80 and up. 3076 Emmons Ave near Haring St, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn (718-891-0991, sheepsheadbayyc.com). Ages 10 and up.

Bowling

Bowlmor
They make learning easy with ball ramps, bumpers and lightweight balls—all perfect for little hands. $12 per game. 110 University Pl between 12th and 13th Sts (212-255-8188, bowlmor.com). Ages 3 and up.

Gil Hodges Lanes
A Mommy (or Daddy) and Me program lets kids and parents bowl together in hopes of winning a trophy at season’s end. Lessons, kid-friendly balls, ramps and bumpers are also offered. Prices vary from $6.50 per game (weekends) to a family rate of $70 per lane for two hours of bowling, including shoes for up to six people (weekends). 6161 Strickland Ave between Mill Ave and E 60th Pl, Mill Basin, Brooklyn (718-763-3333, gilhodgeslanes.com). Ages 2 and up.

Harlem Lanes
Parents and kids can hone their bowling skills at one of 24 lanes (little ones can use a five-pound ball and bumpers). Kids even get to bowl free every once in a while; check site for details. $5 per kid per game. 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd (Seventh Ave) at 126th St (212-678-2695, harlemlanes.net). Ages 3 and up (but must be over 21 after 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays).

Jib Lanes
Check out the computer-programmed bumpers at this Queens spot—they lower for kids and move out of the way for adults. Book a family lesson to learn the basics, like choosing and holding a ball, proper technique and shooting a spare. Sign up your child online for the Kids Bowl Free program and she’ll receive one free game per day every time you visit from June 1 through Labor Day. Prices vary from $5.57 per person per game to $20 per half-hour private lesson. 67-19 Parsons Blvd between Jewel and 65th Aves, Flushing, Queens (718-591-0600, jiblanes.com). Ages 3 and up.

Leisure Time Bowl
Balls start as light as six pounds, complete with Hello Kitty and Shrek images. There’s also an entertainment center with a full video arcade. Family package: $19 includes one hour of bowling, shoe rentals, a large pizza and a pitcher of soda on Saturdays until 6pm, and all day Sunday. In Port Authority South Wing, 625 Eighth Ave between 40th and 41st Sts, 2nd floor, (212-268-6909, leisuretimebowl.com). Ages 3 and up.

Maple Lanes
This Brooklyn bowling epicenter welcomes families with open arms, offering special rates, group and private lessons for beginners to advanced bowlers, and specialty items for kids (think light balls, ramps and bumpers). They even offer parent and child classes, which are similar to a league but without the competition. Each child-and-parent pair bowls one game—statistics are kept and trophies are given out at the end of the session. Prices range from $45 for a private lesson to a family rate of $70 for two hours of unlimited bowling (weekends). 1570 60th St between 15th and 16th Aves, Bensonhurst, Brooklyn (718-331-9000, bowlmaple.com). Ages 2 and up.

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