Beyond the Court: A YMCA Family’s Story of Sports and Care
For Ashley Skinta, youth sports have always been about more than the game.
A former student-athlete and mom of three, Ashley knows the impact a coach can have on a young person. So, when her daughter and a group of her elementary school friends wanted to try basketball, Ashley stepped up to coach them at the YMCA.
Most of the girls were soccer players who were interested in trying something new. During their first season, Ashley unknowingly signed her all-girls team up for a coed league.
The girls didn't let that stop them.
“They were scrappy,” Ashley recalled. “They were having to play against their classmates that were boys, and they did not back down.”
The team eventually transitioned to an all-girls league and went on to play together for three seasons. Ashley remembers nearly every player returning each season, but what stayed with her most wasn't their record. It was watching the girls grow together.
As a young athlete herself, Ashley remembers the important role coaches played in her own life. Coaching at the Y gave her an opportunity to provide that same encouragement to another generation.
“I remember as a young athlete the role that coaches had in my life,” Ashley said. “To think that I get to be that kind of person in someone else's daughter's life” is especially meaningful.
Through practices, games, wins and losses, Ashley watched the girls develop skills that extended far beyond basketball. They learned teamwork, confidence and how to support one another. Along the way, teammates became friends and sports became another source of community for their families.
Caring for Young Athletes
Sports have remained an important part of the Skinta family's life, which also means Ashley understands the concerns that can come when a young athlete experiences an injury or health issue.
When her daughter, Brinkley, began experiencing knee pain, a recommendation from another student-athlete led the family to Scottish Rite for Children in Frisco, TX. Ashley remembers a care team that understood her daughter's needs as an athlete and developed a physical therapy plan to help her move forward.
Her son, Easton, later received care at Scottish Rite for Children after a curve in his spine was discovered. For Ashley, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was knowing the physicians understood how important staying active was to her children.
Today, both continue to participate in the sports they love. Brinkley is a multi-sport athlete who plays club volleyball and plans to try out for basketball, while Easton, now 16, continues his own athletic journey.
Those experiences have given Ashley a unique perspective on the connection between youth sports and specialized pediatric care.
Supporting the Whole Athlete
As both a YMCA coach and a parent whose children have received care at Scottish Rite for Children, Ashley sees special meaning in Scottish Rite for Children's support of YMCA youth sports.
“Scottish Rite is considering the whole athlete, which is a big deal for the parent,” Ashley said. “Anytime parents have a comfort level knowing they have a place to go for an injury, that's a blessing.”
Youth sports create opportunities for kids to stay active while building confidence, teamwork and relationships with positive role models. Support from community partners like Scottish Rite for Children helps strengthen those experiences for young athletes and their families.
For Ashley, it's a connection that brings together two organizations that have played meaningful roles in her family's journey.
From the basketball court to the doctor's office and back to the sports they love, her family's experience is a reminder that supporting young athletes means caring about more than how they perform. It's about helping them grow, stay healthy and feel supported along the way.