El Centro PAL

El Centro PAL offers soccer, softball, boxing, wrestling, golf, bicycle repair, arts and crafts, cooking, and educational programs. Soccer and softball teams currently practice at Swarthout Field in El Centro and play in local leagues and tournaments. Boxing is co-ed and has a stated $1.00 facility fee per day, and wrestling is co-ed with a stated $1.00 facility fee per day and a cost to join the IV Panthers Wrestling Club.

Programs

• Soccer — 8-17 years of age · Co-ed. El Centro PAL teams currently practice at Swarthout Field in El Centro and play in local leagues and tournaments. No or very minimal cost is stated.
• Softball — 8-17 years of age · Co-ed. El Centro PAL teams currently practice at Swarthout Field in El Centro and play in local leagues and tournaments. No or very minimal cost is stated.
• Boxing — 8-17 years of age · Tuesday through Friday 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM; Tuesday through Thursday 5:00 to 6:45 PM · $1 per day · Co-ed. A $1.00 facility fee per day is stated; the homepage says to call the office for more information.
• Wrestling — 5-17 years of age · Monday through Thursday 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM; Monday through Thursday 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM · $1 per day · Co-ed. A $1.00 facility fee per day is stated, with a cost to join the IV Panthers Wrestling Club.
• Golf — 10-17 years of age · Co-ed. No cost is stated. The about page says the program is presently offered; the activities page notes it is off for the summer of 2025.
• Bicycle Repair — 10-17 years of age · $1 per day · Co-ed. A $1.00 facility fee per day is stated. The activities page notes it is off for the summer of 2025.
• Arts and Crafts — Listed on the about page as one of the programs El Centro PAL presently operates.
• Cooking — Listed on the about page as one of the programs El Centro PAL presently operates.
• Educational programs — Listed on the about page as one of the programs El Centro PAL presently operates.

At a glance

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• Price range: $1 per day

About the provider

The El Centro Police Department founded El Centro PAL in 1994. Its mission is to provide recreational, educational, and athletic programs for all youth. The organization says it serves youth from El Centro, Brawley, Calexico, Imperial, Seeley, Heber, Holtville, and Calipatria, and it says it is committed to fostering positive police/community relationships with youth in El Centro and across the county. Its leadership team includes President Joe Jack Barker, Vice President Efrain Tanori, Treasurer Sandy Liera, Secretary Andra Alford, several directors, Executive Director Tony Gutierrez, and Programs & Events Director and El Centro PAL Sports Representative Rafael Peraza.

El Centro PAL offers sports and activities at no or very minimal cost to better accommodate the needs of families in El Centro and Imperial Valley. Boxing and wrestling are described as co-ed. The about page says El Centro PAL is a self-funded non-profit youth crime prevention program and provides affordable quality afterschool programs with a law enforcement mentoring nexus and a crime prevention message.

Last updated September 13, 2026.