About JCC Maccabi Games® & Access

The JCC Maccabi Games®, an Olympic-style sporting competition held each summer, are five days that can change the lives of Jewish teens. During the JCC Maccabi Games®, teens from communities around the globe are immersed in a sports and recreation program imbued with Jewish values and experiences. The goal of the JCC Maccabi Games® is to contribute to the maintenance and enrichment of Jewish identity in youth and to the development of democratic values and leadership through healthy competition and sportsmanship. The JCC Maccabi Games® is the second largest organized sports program for Jewish teenagers in the world and has now influenced over 130,000 Jewish youth in North America and around the world.

The first North American JCC Maccabi Games were held in 1982 with 300 athletes. Since 1982 the JCC Maccabi Games® have offered over 100,000 Jewish teens a unique social, cultural, and life-shaping experience. The Games provide a vibrant contribution to the athletic, social, and cultural growth of the participating youth by promoting healthy development, physical fitness, creativity, and teamwork that strengthen the teens’ identity, self-esteem, and personal growth. The energy and excitement make it an unforgettable time for every participant, from participant to volunteer, from coaches to host families. 

Access Games

The JCC Association is proud to add Access, a JCC Maccabi Games® experience for athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, to our signature JCC Maccabi program family. Access was piloted in San Diego in 2022. It continued in Fort Lauderdale in 2023 and Houston in 2024. The program is a three-and-a-half day experience and held in conjunction with the JCC Maccabi Games®.

Access teens (ages 12-22) from the selected JCCs across the continent will participate in this exciting JCC Maccabi® experience made up of both unified and specialized activities that include:

• Opening Ceremony 
• Athletic competition and skill development 
• Hangtime (Israel programming)
• JCC Cares community service
• Exploration of the 6 JCC Maccabi Midot Values
• Social Activities
• Closing Ceremony

Mission Statement

Through the JCC Movement, JCC Maccabi® advances and enriches Jewish life by building inclusive community of belonging around sport that fosters Jewish identity, peoplehood and connection to Israel by:

• Bringing together Jewish teens for athletic, cultural and social experiences, rooted in pluralistic Jewish values that culminate in a pinnacle Olympic style global event.
• Enabling the creation of local JCC communities of connection that engage and enrich Jewish teens, families, alumni and lay leaders.
• Galvanizing host communities around a collaborative, pluralistic, intergenerational Jewish experience that builds and strengthens engagement, leadership and Jewish life.
• Inspiring lifelong Jewish journeys and expanded Jewish connection by providing a bridge to continental, global and Israel experiences within and beyond the JCC and Maccabi Movements. 

Athlete Eligibility 

In order to participate in the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games®:

• Athletes must be at least 13 years old and CANNOT have turned 18 years old as of August 8, 2025. 
• All athletes must be Jewish, which is defined as follows:
  • One of the athlete’s parents is Jewish and the athlete is being raised Jewish or:
  • A Jew by choice and is being raised Jewish. 
• You must be part of a delegation. A delegation is a group of athletes and coaches who represent your Jewish Community Center (JCC or YM-YWHA) at the Games. Athletes should contact their local Jewish Community Center to find out if the JCC is taking a delegation to the Games.

 2025 FTL ATHLETE PREREGISTRATION

Sports

The 2025 Games will be hosted in both Tucson, AZ and Pittsburgh, PA. This list is NOT confirmed and is subject to change.

Team Sports:

Baseball
Softball
Boys' Basketball
Girls' Basketball
Boys' Soccer - 7 v 7
Girls' Soccer - 7 v 7
Girls' Volleyball
Ice Hockey

Individual Sports:

Competitive Dance
Golf
Star Reporter (social media/sports journalism)
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track