What is PAL?

The Police Athletic League of Tampa, better known as "PAL", is a wonderful non-profit organization that provides beneficial programs for children. PAL was established as a crime prevention enterprise, specifically designed to prevent juvenile crime through education, and building of self-esteem by providing team sports programs.

PAL of Tampa was started in 1956, and has proudly become the largest crime prevention enterprise within the City of Tampa. Throughout the year, PAL offers co-ed sporting programs such as flag football, basketball, soccer, cheerleading and judo. After-school homework assistance, computer workshops, crime awareness/prevention classes, as well as counseling are offered, which provides a positive compliment to the sporting activities. 

A key element offered by PAL is the summer program, which serves over two hundred children for eight weeks (Monday thru Friday). In addition to the sporting activities offered at PAL, the summer program also includes field trips to libraries, museums and local service businesses (such as the Tampa International Airport) ... these field trips encourage the educational aspect for children through generating interest in reading and learning about various career-type opportunities, for when they grow up and venture out into the working world. The children at PAL are supervised/coached by Tampa Police Officers ... this setting promotes the development of positive and long-lasting relationships between children and law enforcement.

The future of the Police Athletic League of Tampa is primarily dependant on volunteers and donations, as PAL provides all of the services mentioned above at a very minimal expense to the parents of the children.