Cardale Tademy has joined the Palisades Malibu YMCA with new exercise ideas for members.
Cardale Tademy, a 6-2 guard, played basketball for Long Beach Poly and then at Warner Pacific College in Portland.
Now that he’s the new program director at the Palisades-Malibu YMCA, he told Circling the News, “I plan on bringing basketball back–as soon as I can find a location.
“I also want to organize a Community Fun Run, sponsor street/ball hockey, have T-ball and work on community builders,” he said.
One might be skeptical of Tademy’s ambitious plans until you learn about his background. This single dad (with a daughter) has a long history of making events happen.
For example, while working at the Stonestown Y in San Francisco as the youth sports coordinator, he organized a Punt, Pass and Kick contest for the NFL. One hundred children participated, and four were selected to compete in a halftime program during a 49ers game in Levi Stadium in Santa Clara.
After graduating in 1984 with a degree in community recreation and physical education, Tademy first worked at Challenges, a Boys and Girls Club in South L.A.
He then spent two years as an assistant coach at Cal State Long Beach, before relocating to Dallas to work as a special education teacher. He worked there for five years and was honored as Teacher of the Year in the Dallas school district.
Switching gears, in the early 2000s, Tademy served as a recreation coordinator for the City of Plano, Texas, before moving to the Marshall Islands to serve as a youth activities and sports director as a civilian in the U.S. Army. He moved back to Texas to serve in the same position, before transferring to Dublin, California, with the Army, serving as the fitness and recreation and youth activities and sports director.
“I was born and raised in Louisiana until fifth grade,” said Tademy, whose family then moved to California. At the downtown Long Beach YMCA, he learned to swim and participated in a basketball league.
Cardale Tademy wants to bring youth basketball back to the Palisades YMCA.
In school, he ran track, played baseball and Pop Warner football. “My favorite sport was basketball,” said Tademy, who noted that he worked as a high school and college basketball referee for 15 years.
YMCA Executive Director Jim Kirtley is excited that Tademy has joined the Palisades Y. “His Stonestown Y family was very sad to see him relocate. Cardale has extensive experience in community youth work and recreation.”
Kirtley told Circling the News that Tademy will be focused on youth sports, summer day camp, Pumpkin Patch/ Christmas tree lot, and special events. “We are very excited to have Cardale’s enthusiasm and love for youth mentorship at the Palisades Y!”
Tademy said he moved to Southern California because of his mom, who lives in Long Beach. “She’s having some issues with her legs and feet. I’m the only son, so it’s my responsibility to be there for her now.”
The YMCA clinic and draft day for co-ed flag football and co-ed soccer will be held Saturday, January 4, at noon at Simon Meadow. The seasons will run January 11 through February 29 and all practice and games will be on Saturday. Uniforms are included.
“I’m looking forward to working and serving the parents, youth and the Palisades community!” Tademy said. “Everyone is a winner, and all are welcome to participate. It’s a developmental sports program that will teach fundamentals, sportsmanship, team play, health and fitness, game rules, and observe the ‘all play’ rule.”
Youth sports questions? Email Tademy at Cardaletademy@ymcala.org.