Definition of a Y Rat

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Jun 5, 2000

Y Rat: (n) affectionate term given, by the staff, to children that frequent the YMCA from opening to closing.

When I was ten years old, I heard the term "Y rat" for the first time. I didn't understand what they were talking about, but it was evident that they were talking about my ping-pong opponent. He was a boy of my age, lanky, a master at ping-pong, and a frequent reader of "Tennis" magazine. When I came to the Y for swim lessons, he was there in the game room. When my mom would bring us while my sister had gymnastics, we would play basketball together in the gym. I probably bought him twenty candy bars through out the year, and I think that he would eat anything that someone else didn't want. Every swim lesson, tennis lesson, gymnatic event, free swim, overnighter, day camp that I attended, he was there somewhere. I wondered if he lived at the Y sometimes. All the staff knew him by name and made a point of saying something to him as they passed by. He was just the coolest guy to me for being so popular, and I envied him for getting to spend so much more time at the place that I loved than I did.

Now, as an employee of the YMCA, I know the whole story of being a Y rat. I don't know what happened to my frequent ping-pong opponent-- I hope that he's dong well wherever he is. We have our own group of Y rats. They get there as soon as school lets out and have to be escorted out the door at closing time. On Saturdays they beat me there, and some Sundays, when the Y is closed, they can be seen sitting on the Y stoop playing around. I can't help but wonder what these kids are escaping from, but I don't ask questions-- I let them freely give what they want to tell. Some are as young as seven but most are young teens, boys and girls of all races. One thing is the same, I have never met any of their parents. I may have spoken to them on the phone for one reason or another, but I have never met any of them in person.

No matter if you work at the YMCA, YWCA, Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, a city rec center, or any other youth-oriented place, you have kids that fit under this definition. Are they coming to your center to escape? Possibly. Are they coming there because its the only place they feel safe? Possibly. Are they coming to have fun? Possibly. The real question is what are you doing personally for these kids? Have you taken the time to get to know a little something about them? Spend a few minutes shooting hoops or playing chess. Have your office door open to them and make sure they realize that you are there if they need you.

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