WEST LAFAYETTE -- The Family Sports Center, 3242 W. 250 N., is opening its doors as a youth center with an open house from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.

The center will provide sports programming and offers four high school basketball courts, two mutli-purpose turf fields for soccer, softball and baseball, and a game room with extracurricular activities for youth ages 13-18.

The open house will be for families, businesses, potential sponsors, donors and supporters. Organizers said the center would create a safe haven away from the temptations offered by gangs, drugs and alcohol.

On Saturday, visitors will get to see five programs in progress, including:

*Malone Gymnastics: gymnastics program is presently housed in one of our gym areas.

*Hoosier Academies: will be having a BBQ and using the soccer field for a community event. noon-3 p.m. Hoosier Academies is a tuition free Indiana Public Charter School.   Staff will be on-site along with currently enrolled families from the Lafayette area to enjoy activities at the center. Hoosier Academies will have information about their program available at their tent.

*Blue Chip basketball tournament with more then 50 games going on in our main gym with teams, boys and girls from third grade to high school, from all over Indiana and the four surrounding states.

*Personal Best Training – Travis Best, former Purdue basketball player, will condict private personal training, basketball lessons, sports performance classes, team training.

*Lafayette Brawlin Dolls roller derby rink.

Opened in 2002, the Family Sports Center was opened to give new avenues for the youth in our community to participate in basketball, soccer, gymnastics, softball and baseball. It currently serve more than 5,000 youth each year.

DuShaun Goings is the director of operations (847-721-2236). Tom Mills is the owner. For more information, go to twww.youthsportsandfitness.com/id143.html