sport

I9 Sports Youth Programs Spotlight Local Athletes

Community leagues keep Des Moines children engaged across multiple sports at a range of ages.

By Des Moines Sport Desk · Published July 24, 2026

Listen in English · 2 min

How we reported this

This article was written by AI from the linked sources and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Des Moines is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care.

I9 Sports Youth Programs Spotlight Local Athletes — Photo by Phil Roeder / Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

i9 Sports has run community-based youth leagues in Des Moines since 2009 for participants ages 3 and older.

The program stands out because it supplies structured play in a city where families rely on established local providers for after-school and weekend activity. Des Moines Parks and Recreation lists multiple adult leagues, yet youth options such as those from i9 fill a distinct gap for younger residents seeking entry-level competition.

Programs and Venues in Use

i9 Sports covers flag football, soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, tennis and volleyball. These offerings operate alongside Des Moines Public Schools programs that field 17 high school sports at East, Hoover, Lincoln, North and Central High Schools. The district maintains fields and tracks at four of those sites through an ongoing $15 million upgrade project.

Central Iowa Metro League competition includes nine area high schools at the 5A level, while North High School left that league in 2021 for the Iowa Alliance Conference. Registration for DMPS athletes carries a $15 fee plus an annual physical and concussion form.

Next Steps for Families

Parents and guardians can review current session details directly through i9 Sports listings or the Des Moines Parks and Recreation sports-league page to match children with available age groups and sports.

Your newsroom. Shaped by you.

The Daily Des Moines is in beta. AI may assist with research, summarising and drafting. Automated checks assess sourcing, accuracy and editorial risk before publication, and sensitive material is held for human review. Spotted something off, or want us covering a topic? Tell us. Your feedback is entirely optional and helps shape what we publish next.