CLEVELAND — According to the nonprofit Aspen Institute’s 2025 Project Play Report the amount of money an average U.S. family spends on their child’s primary sport has increased by 46% since 2019.

As executive director of America Scores in Cleveland, Alison Black is passionate about introducing kids to important skills through sport. 

“All of us have a very focused social, emotional learning development model,” said Black. “We think sport is the hook to that.”

Having kids involved in sports comes at a cost though, and parents are opening their wallets. According to the most recent Project Play survey, U.S. families spent an average of nearly $1,500 on just one child’s sports experiences last year.

Andy Pohl is the director of the Shaker Youth Baseball League and DNA Travel Baseball. He says he’s noticed parents paying even more for things like travel teams and private trainers in hopes of their children getting a college athletic scholarship.

“What we’ve evolved into is making youth sports and putting it really into an adult construct,” Pohl said. “You have this competition of families chasing all these different programs. Youth sports has become a multi-million-dollar industry, and it never was that way growing up.”

Jose Colon Nogueras has two kids who play soccer and says the costs can easily add up.

“It’s $500 for the whole season. On top of that, you’ve got to buy gear,” Nogueras said. “When you put everything together, it has an impact on the family or the parents that are paying for this.”

Nogueras says the money is worth it for what sports are teaching his children.

“It helps them deal with different problems,” he said. “It helps challenge them to become better. I think, [it] is essential for the growth and the development of a child.”

Black agrees with that sentiment. It’s why America Scores Cleveland is partnering with four other nonprofits throughout the city to form a coalition that provides free or low-cost sports-based development programs to young people.

“Sports is now pricing kids out,” said Black. “Making sure that kids have access into sport… is becoming a bigger issue, not just here in Cleveland, but it’s a huge national issue.”

Black hopes the new coalition that is just getting started can help ease the financial burden youth sports has on families in Northeast Ohio. 

“We’ve removed as many barriers as possible,” she said. “It really is teaching the community that sports is more than just this high competitive nature, and that we have to think about youth development first and foremost for sport.”

The program, named Elevation 801, is open to area students on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m., at no cost to families. Bus transportation is offered on those days from Highland and Mound Fort junior highs.

BL football coach Ty Smith — in collaboration with Mitch Arquette, the district athletic supervisor, and fellow Scots coach Lyndon Johnson — has developed a business model he hopes will drive substantial change in how students approach personal health, not just their preferred sports teams. It’s open to youth, whether or not they play a school sport.

“A lot of them are getting left behind,” Smith said. “Then, what happens is, this year, whenever I got here, I’m walking around trying to get kids to come out for football two weeks into the season, and you may get some kids, but they’ve never been in a weight room, they’ve never been in a conditioning program, and a lot of them have never put on shoulder pads.”

The average U.S. family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a 46% increase since 2019, according to Project Play. As of Tuesday, Smith reported 31 students signed up for his program and expects that number to double by next week.

Elevation 801, which targets junior high students, is the latest in the district’s strategy to get more students involved with school sports. In May, the district announced a partnership between itself, Ogden City’s Wildcats football program and the Wasatch Front Football League to address low participation.

Smith, who suited up just 28 total players in BL’s 2025 football opener, knows the wall he’s up against, and the former Mississippi high school football coach says fixing the problem begins with structure.

“It’s not just a Ben Lomond problem, I think it’s a youth problem,” Smith said. “This isn’t a sports-specific issue… Here in Utah, you see a lot of it.”

The program, providing “after-school care and athletic development designed to help students rise to their full potential,” according to the program’s official sign-up flyer, is opening its doors to any student of any background, whether they plan on competing or not.

Smith is specifically chasing those students who would otherwise go without after-school training due to the financial strain of other sports programs or their family’s financial situation.

As of last year, families can expect to spend $40 to $120 per hour on private trainers or lessons, regardless of the sport, according to Athletes Untapped.

“They’re charging kids for weekly workouts, they’re charging kids to play in this certain league,” Smith said.”It’s getting so much with the price of it, with the way the economy is right now, and a lot of people can’t pay that.

“What we’re focused on here is we’re trying to make it so everybody doesn’t have to go to the bank every month to send their kids to get the training they need.”

All sessions are currently held at the Ben Lomond High School Athletic Center in Ogden, a $28.2 million project completed in 2021, which features a 1,500-seat main gymnasium, 300-seat indoor practice facility, weightlifting equipment, auxiliary gyms, a one-sixth-mile running track, and a golf simulator.

The lasting goal of the program, Smith said, is to improve the footing of every participant, wherever they stand.

“If a kid comes here and he’s training from seventh, eighth, and ninth grade here, doing this, and he goes to another school across the interstate, or goes to Weber High or Roy, or down to Salt Lake, that’s fine,” Smith said. “We’re not doing this just to say you’re coming here to play high school sports. We’re doing this truly to get these kids an opportunity to get better, put themselves in a better situation, and give the parents a little bit of relief.”

Interested students and their families can sign up at https://forms.gle/DZZEAFxMNQ23LeiF9, or by emailing Smith at smith.ty@ogdensd.org.

Connect with prep sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.

ST. MATHIAS — When it comes to riding a snowmobile, education is a must for young people as they get ready to get on a machine.

Recently, 20 snowmobile riders were certified after a Department of Natural Resources youth certification class in St. Mathias. Learning how to not only operate a snowmobile but how to operate it properly was the goal Saturday, Jan. 3, as the group of youths from across the state gathered at St. Mathias Park.

The in-person portion of the class was put on with the help of the Fort Ripley Trail Busters, St. Mathias Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Contributed / Jim Guida

The three-hour class was a youth snowmobile certification safety class, one of several such courses offered during the winter months across the state, said Jim Guida, a Minnesota DNR conservation enforcement officer covering the Brainerd area and a member/trainer with the Fort Ripley Trail Busters.

The classroom review and riding performance course, hosted by the

Fort Ripley Trail Busters snowmobile club

and St. Mathias Park and Recreation, had the kids come out before taking the practical test at St. Mathias Park. The snowmobiles used for the testing portion were all donated for use by members of the club.

The in-person field day portion of the hybrid class comes after the students complete an

online portion

of the

DNRs snowmobile safety training

program.

“They bring the voucher saying that they’ve completed the at-home portion, and then they go through a review with a certified instructor,” Guida said. “We also introduce them to a state conservation officer and talk about the role of a conservation officer when it comes to snowmobile enforcement. Then they take the exam.”

A snowmobile safety certification is required by law for Minnesota residents born after Dec. 31, 1976. The youth course is available to those who are between the ages of 11 and 15 years old. However, the certification will not become valid until the youth is 12 years old.

Contributed / Jim Guida

One of the biggest things someone can do to have a safe ride is refrain from alcohol use, Guida said.

“We are prioritizing education and promoting understanding — speed and alcohol use contribute to over half the accidents that we see on snowmobiles,” Guida said. “It’s important to take it seriously and be aware that accidents and crashes can change lives.”

Also important is crossing a roadway at a 90 degree angle to minimize the amount of time spent on the roadway.

“Automobiles driving on the highway are going to be heavier and oftentimes traveling faster than you,” Guida said. “If there was contact made, there’s no seat belts, there’s no security blanket with airbags on a snowmobile.”

Helmets are required to be worn by all riders under 18, and are recommended for all riders. Guida asks people to slow down when there is not much snow, as ground features are often not completely covered by snow but are hidden by the light snow, such as large rocks, uneven vegetation and culverts.

“Most fatal crashes that I’ve seen and investigated happened early on in the season when the snow pack is not on the trails,” Guida said. “Maybe they were new to snowmobiling, unfamiliar with the trail, and then these objects or this condition existed, and they weren’t able to overcome it and crashed. Everyone needs to slow down.”

Crow Wing County has a speed limit of 50 miles per hour or less for snowmobiles, depending on conditions. When someone enters an area or is driving adjacent to a public street with a speed limit below 50, that speed limit for that area applies to the snowmobile as well.

“Let’s say we’re going through the city of Merrifield, it’s like 30 miles an hour. If I’m in the ditch of that 30-mile-an-hour stretch, 30 miles per hour is also my speed limit,” Guida said.

• Watch the weather and check trail conditions before riding: Don’t ride in adverse weather conditions. Plan your trip and check the trails you’ll be riding prior to departure.
• Don’t drink alcohol and ride: Alcohol is a factor in over 60% of all fatal accidents in Minnesota, as well as many non-deadly snowmobile accidents.
• Never ride alone: Always ride with a friend on another snowmobile. If one machine becomes disabled, there is another to get help.
• Dress for safety and survival: Always wear a quality Department of Transportation helmet and face mask. Wear layers of clothing to keep warm and dry. 
• Slow down: Excessive speed is a major factor in many accidents, especially at night.
• Stay to the right: Almost every trail is a “two-way” trail. So stay to the far right of the trail, especially on hills and corners. Obey all trail signs and cross roadways with extreme caution.
• Stay on the trail or stay home: Trespassing is a major complaint about snowmobilers and can result in trail closure.
• Riding on ice – lakes and rivers: It is safest to avoid riding on lakes and rivers. If you must ride on ice, wear a life jacket over your outer clothing.

Source: Minnesota DNR

JANUARY

Winter Dinner — To benefit Colorado Springs Philharmonic Guild, 6 p.m. Saturday, The Broadmoor, 1 Lake Ave. Tickets: e.givesmart.com/events/Mhq.

100+ Women Who Care Colorado Springs — 5:30 p.m. Jan. 21, The Warehouse Restaurant, 25 W. Cimarron St.; 100wwccs.com.

Jeffrey Alan Band — 7 p.m. Jan. 23, Stargazers Theatre, 10 S. Parkside Drive, donation of nonperishable food items or cash to benefit Care and Share Food Bank; stargazerstheatre.com.

Tennis Pro Am — To benefit Newborn Hope, 6-9 p.m. Jan. 30, Colorado Springs Racquet Club, 2529 N. Murray Blvd. Registration: secure.qgiv.com/event/newbornhopeproam2026.

“Neighbors” — A fundraiser to benefit Westside Cares, through Thursday, Auric Gallery, 125 E. Boulder St.; auricgallery.com.

Empty Stocking Fund — Go online to make a donation, through Jan. 24: emptystockingfundco.org.

Through Jan. 31: TreeCycle Christmas Tree Recycling — To benefit Colorado Springs Youth Sports, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays, Rocky Top Resources, 1755 E. Las Vegas St., $5 suggested minimum donation per tree. All decorations, stands and spikes must be removed from trees before drop-off. Tree debris, other than from Christmas trees, cannot be accepted; csyouthsports.net/treecycle.

MARCH

34th Annual Colorado Springs Wine Festival: Wines of South America — To benefit the Colorado Springs Conservatory, March 4-7, various Colorado Springs locations. Tickets: winefestivalofcoloradosprings.com.

Colorado Springs Plunge & 5K — To benefit Special Olympics Colorado, 9 a.m. March 7, Rock Ledge Ranch, 3105 Gateway Road. Registration: p2p.onecause.com/2026cosplunge.

St. Patrick’s 25th Gala Celebration — To benefit Catholic Charities of Central Colorado, 5 p.m. March 14, Cheyenne Mountain Resort, 3225 Broadmoor Valley Road. Tickets: ccharitiescc.org/event/st-patricks-day-shamrock-shindig.

APRIL

Angel Gala — To benefit Angels of America’s Fallen, 5:30 p.m. April 18, Hotel Polaris, 898 North Gate Blvd. Tickets: aoafallen.org.

—

Email event details at least two weeks in advance to [email protected] with Community Calendar in the subject line.

There are multiple investigations into a brawl between young hockey players during intermission of an AHL game on Saturday.

The incident occurred during the Hershey Bears’ Mites On Ice intermission segment. Players from the Central Penn Panthers Youth Ice Hockey Club began fighting as Bears and Cleveland Monsters personnel were in the dressing rooms at Giant Center in Hershey, Pa.

Hershey’s mites on ice game went off the rails again. 😂

Team White’s tiny but heavily padded goalie didn’t tend the goal and instead began cleaning house in a huge brawl.

🎥: @lhollenbach515 pic.twitter.com/dBunnD8S36

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) January 11, 2026

The mite players, including goalies, rushed toward one another and traded punches. One player appeared to hit his teammate. No officials attempted to break up the brawl, and the crowd cheered on the youth players.

Mite hockey players are aged 8 and under.

Kids getting AFTER it on the ice in the Hershey Bears intermission game #ElectricFactory pic.twitter.com/DtPjjbK3Vl

— Allie Berube (@allieberube) January 11, 2026

Video taken by fans from inside the arena began to spread on social media Saturday night. The fight was even mentioned on “Hockey Night in Canada.”

In a statement on Sunday, the Atlantic Amateur Hockey Association (AAHA) referred to the incident as a “staged fight.”

The AAHA said Sunday in its statement that “appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against those players and team officials involved with the staged fight” after an investigation. The AAHA statement noted that neither it nor USA Hockey sanctioned the Bears’ Mites On Ice Game on Saturday.

In addition to the AAHA’s investigation, the Central Penn youth club pledged an “internal review to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the incident” in a statement posted to its Facebook page. That statement said, “The safety, well-being, and positive experience of all participants — especially our young players — are of the utmost importance.”

The Central Penn Panthers are based in Lancaster, Pa., and were founded in the early 1990s, according to the club’s website. Teams feature players ages 4 to 18 from levels AA, A, and B.

On Sunday, the AHL’s Bears referred to the statement released by the Central Penn youth club at the end of their own statement.

“What occurred during last night’s youth scrimmage involving one team (split into two sides) held during an intermission of a Hershey Bears game did not reflect the values of the sport or the standards we expect when young athletes are on the ice,” the Bears’ statement said. “Hockey must always be played within the rules, with safety as the top priority.

“The Hershey Bears are proud to provide opportunities for young players to experience the game in a professional environment. At the same time, we cannot support or allow conduct that puts participants at risk.

“We are reviewing this matter and will work closely with participating teams and partners to ensure clear safeguards, supervision, and expectations are in place for any future youth activities held during our games. Our focus remains on protecting young players and upholding the integrity of the sport.”

At least one other recent Bears’ Mites On Ice game featured a fight.

— Ian Oland (@ianoland) December 21, 2025

The Bears are an AHL affiliate of the NHL’s Washington Capitals, who also feature games between mite-aged players during games. One on Thursday night featured Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin’s son.

Alex Ovechkin wasn’t about to miss his son playing hockey during the intermission 🥹 pic.twitter.com/gymro6RleU

— NHL (@NHL) January 8, 2026