For the past year and a half, the San Diego County Probation Department and the San Diego Police Department—including officers from SDPD’s Gang Enforcement Unit—have teamed up to bring sports, mentorship, and leadership opportunities to justice-involved youth. Every month, officers host a Youth Athletic Leadership Academy event at the Youth Transition Campus, where teens volunteer to participate.
Activities rotate—pickleball, volleyball, flag football, soccer, and soon, ping pong—giving many youth the chance to try sports for the first time. Deputy Probation Officer Krista Mae Ropa said that many participants haven’t had access to organized sports because of limited opportunities or other challenges such as gang involvement. But on the playing field, she notes, those barriers shift.
“Some of these youth come from different neighborhoods and would never interact outside of custody,” Ropa explains. “But during a game, that all disappears. Suddenly, someone they might have seen as a rival becomes a teammate they rely on.”
Ropa says the impact lasts long after the whistle blows. “Even afterward, they ask me, ‘When is the next one?’ They remember the fun and the feeling of being supported. Many of these kids come from troubled backgrounds and don’t always have the same support systems that others do. Giving them a positive experience, even a small one, can shift their thinking.”
The program has also created memorable moments, including a flag football at the San Diego Police Plaza—the former Chargers training facility—where youth played on the original practice field. For many, it was their first time stepping onto a real sports field.
Through shared goals and teamwork, the Youth Athletic Leadership Academy offers something crucial: a new perspective. Youth see officers as coaches and mentors, and they see themselves as capable teammates and leaders. Each event helps build trust, confidence, and connection—skills they can carry with them far beyond their time at the Youth Transition Campus.
County Probation continues its work to help youth grow, heal, and build better futures. For the department, that starts with safety, fairness, and trust for everyone involved.
