It doesn’t matter if an 8-person team is all boys, all girls or coed for the upcoming Kick the Habit Kickball Tournament sponsored by Barton County Youth Crew.
Participants must be in grades 6-12; those who graduated from high school in May also are eligible. Each team, which can be a mix of ages, is encouraged to select a team captain and an appropriate name.
The tournament is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at the Great Bend Sports Complex, 41 McKinley. There is no entry fee but registration is required; there is no charge for spectators.
“We have started handing out cards with this basic information to individuals, churches, businesses and other entities,” said Tyler Morton, Juvenile Services prevention advocate. “There also will be posts on social media but those with traditional bulletin boards are asked to participate too.”
The kickball tournament originated in 2022 with Youth Crew members teaming up with the Barton County Health Department.
“The goal was to host an event to raise awareness about the dangers of using tobacco and encourage tobacco cessation,” Morton said. “The health department is graciously donating funds for water bottles, along with stickers that share positive affirmations that personalize the bottles.”
Rise Up, a Central Kansas Partnership task force, is supplying the referees; County Attorney J. Colin Reynolds is sponsoring the T-shirts; and BJ Wooding, Barton County cartographer, made the banners.
Shane Sandberg, Great Bend Rec sports director, also is playing a big role, Morton said.
“Shane helped us with all the logistics of finding the right time and place for the tournament,” he explained. “He also will help with the team brackets. We can’t thank everyone enough for all their efforts in supporting this popular event.
“Our Youth Crew planning committee members, who meet weekly, are working hard to make this an educational and fun event. But they know this tournament cannot be a success without the support of the community.”
Youth Crew hosted Kick the Habit tournaments in 2022 and 2023. “These were our largest events in those years, attracting more than 200 attendees,” Morton said.
The logistics didn’t gel in 2024 when organizers decided to change from a spring tournament to one in the summer to attract more participants.
For more information and/or to register, contact Morton by calling 620-786-4033 or emailing tmorton@bartoncounty.org.
20th Judicial District Juvenile Services empowers youth in Barton, Rice, Ellsworth, Stafford and Russell counties to achieve positive outcomes by offering Juvenile Intake & Assessment, Immediate Intervention, Intensive Supervised Probation, Case Management, Journey to Change, Life Skills, All Stars and Youth Crew. Parents and guardians also are offered The Parent Project. Visit 1800 12th in Great Bend or call 620-793-1930.
