A city nonprofit is giving kids the chance to participate in sports and exercise programs, with a special focus on encouraging girls to get involved. 

Asphalt Green's Community Sports Leagues bring sports and exercise to under-served communities in an effort to instill confidence and self-esteem in children.

The program provides equipment, uniforms, coaches, referees and a place to play.

Organizers and participants say in addition to helping kids get fit, the program has educational and social benefits.

"We want to be fit. It's helping the kids with their test scores. It's helping them go out there and have fun. It's helping them to build relationships through sports and being fit," says Fran Lyons, site supervisor at Asphalt Green.

"It's not like a hard competition where people are fighting. It's a friendly competition which is really fun," says student athlete Naomi Quintana.

"If you don't try then you'll never succeed. If you don't try your best, you're just going to be one of those kids that just sits there and wish that they would've done something," says student athlete Daniel Andrews.

Community Sports Leagues offers flag football, basketball and soccer for both girls and boys in the fall, winter and spring.

For more information visit asphaltgreen.org.