Show up. Play. Belong.
HoopsRx is a community social prescribing program that connects youth in grades 5–8 to free, structured recreational basketball. The program is designed to support wellbeing by linking young people to meaningful community-based activity, peer connection, and a sense of belonging.
What Is HoopsRx?
HoopsRx uses basketball as a tool for connection, consistency, and community. The program is built around the idea that structured activity can support young people not only physically, but socially and emotionally as well. To acheive this, kids can get social prescriptions, described as an evidence-informed approach that supports wellbeing by connecting people to meaningful community-based activity. A social prescription to HoopsRx is more than a referral to play basketball. It is a referral to purposeful activity and a supportive social network that can complement other forms of care and support a young person may already be receiving.
Why it Matters
HoopsRx is a response to growing concerns around youth loneliness, disconnection, and mental wellbeing. 44% of U.S. high school students reported persistent sadness or hopelessness in the past year which increase the risk of depression and anxiety among children and adolescents. By creating consistent, free opportunities for peer interaction and community belonging, HoopsRx aims to directly address that gap in youth social connection.
How is it free?
HoopsRx works through a referral prgram to Volo. The Volo Kids Foundation was created to provide more kids the opportunity to access play, who often wouldn’t have access to such programs.
Today, the foundation provides free youth sports programming in various cities around the country where they use play to build communities of active, resilient and confident kids.
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Today, the foundation provides free youth sports programming in various cities around the country where they use play to build communities of active, resilient and confident kids.
What makes HoopsRx different?
Chapters:
New York, NY - hoopsrxny@gmail.com
Charlotte, NC - hoopsrxcharlotte@gmail.com
Boston, MA - hoopsrxboston@gmail.com
Tulsa, OK - [coming soon]
London, UK - [coming soon]
London, UK - [coming soon]
References: 1 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2022 2 U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on the Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, 2023 3 Twenge, J.M. & Spitzberg, B.H. (2020) 4 Twenge, J.M., Spitzberg, B.H., & Campbell, W.K. (2019)