Key Takeaways
- PlayLA launches fall registration across 120+ Los Angeles recreation centers with programs starting at $10 per season
- Flag football leagues added following sport’s inclusion in 2028 Olympic Games lineup
- Adaptive sports clinics expand to include blind soccer, wheelchair basketball, and all-abilities pickleball
- Programs serve youth ages 3-17 through December, backed by $160 million LA28 Olympic investment
- Registration available at LAParks.org with scholarships for qualifying families
Olympic Sports Meet Neighborhood Access
The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks has opened registration for its PlayLA Youth Sports Program, bringing Olympic-level programming to neighborhood recreation centers this fall. With flag football joining the 2028 Olympic Games roster, PlayLA now offers co-recreational and girls-only flag football leagues alongside traditional soccer and volleyball programs.
The timing reflects Los Angeles’ broader Olympic preparation strategy. Programs run October through December across more than 120 recreation centers and aquatic facilities, maintaining the $10 per season price point that has defined PlayLA’s accessibility approach.
“PlayLA is building a more inclusive Los Angeles by expanding access to play,” said Veronica Polanco, Chief Innovation Officer at the Department of Recreation and Parks. The program continues to operate under the $160 million investment from the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee and International Olympic Committee.
Adaptive Programming Scales Citywide
This fall’s adaptive sports roster expands beyond traditional offerings. Blind and visually impaired soccer clinics will operate at Hubert Humphrey Recreation Center in Pacoima, Martin Luther King Jr. Recreation Center in South LA, and Mar Vista Recreation Center from October through November.
All-abilities pickleball runs weekly at Westwood Recreation Center from October 6 through December 9. Adaptive and wheelchair basketball programs span multiple locations including Chatsworth and Westwood Recreation Centers, Angels State Park, and East Wilmington Greenbelt Community Center.
The aquatics component includes dive programs, Team SwimLA, USA Swimming, and novice swim instruction across the city’s pool network.
Strategic Partnerships Drive League Quality
PlayLA’s soccer leagues operate in partnership with Angel City Football Club, connecting youth programs to professional sports infrastructure. The collaboration reflects the program’s approach to leveraging Los Angeles’ sports ecosystem for youth development.
Registration opens to youth ages 3-17 through the LAParks.org platform and LA Parks mobile app. Scholarships remain available for qualifying families, maintaining the program’s commitment to economic accessibility across diverse Los Angeles neighborhoods.
Looking Ahead
As Los Angeles approaches the 2028 Olympics, PlayLA functions as both immediate programming and long-term legacy development. The fall registration represents the program’s continued expansion from its initial launch, now covering the city’s full recreation infrastructure.
The addition of Olympic flag football leagues positions young athletes within the broader narrative of LA28 preparation while maintaining focus on neighborhood-level access and affordability.
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via: PR Newswire
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