MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) – For many families, “summer travel season” means it’s time to plan a relaxing vacation they’ve been dreaming about all year long. For others, it means a nonstop circuit of weekend road trips with the team, living out of suitcases and hunting down hotels that are a stone’s throw away from the fields or gym.

Youth sports isn’t just a weekend hobby, it is a $91 billion industry annually, with almost 60 million kids registered to participate in community sports across the country. According to a recent Aspen Institute report, 27.5% of those kids are on travel teams. That’s a lot of sideline cheers and more hotel breakfasts than we can count!

Whether families are planning their summer around bucket list destinations or team schedules, the challenges of managing travel are often the same. From staying organized and keeping everyone entertained to choosing a property that’s ready to welcome teammates and their families, being on the go all summer can leave you ready for a vacation at the end of your vacation.

Lifestyle and parenting expert Caryn Antonini is no stranger to being on the road with kids – she is a mother of two boys who are currently athletes, and she shared her most valuable travel tips as viewers and listeners map out their summer adventures.

Click here for more information.

Copyright 2025 WALA. All rights reserved.

No one schools you like a seventh grader.

Three spoke to the Annapolis City Council on Monday, testifying to an uncomfortable truth: The affluent capital of Maryland can be a horrible place to play.

“The fields in Annapolis are either a dust field, mud pit or uneven ground instead of well-kept Bermuda fields,” said Nola McCamley, a student at Bates Middle School. “I am worried I will get injured twisting an ankle or tear my ACL because of the fields.”

It‘s been like this since my kids started playing team sports 20 years ago. There are nice parks in Annapolis, and if you can access the water, the Chesapeake Bay is your playground.

But the sorry state of the large rectangular fields needed for soccer, lacrosse and other sports is driving kids away, and the relationship between the city and its 17 nonprofit rec leagues is, to put it mildly, adversarial.

Annapolis will select a new mayor and at least three new City Council members in November. Over the next six months, I’ll explore problems they’ll face, both leftovers from Mayor Gavin Buckley’s eight years in office and new challenges.

Two Democrats want to be mayor: Alderwoman Rhonda Pindell Charles and former Alderman Jared Littmann. The filing deadline is in July, but no Republican or independent has announced a run yet.

Voters should ask candidates about their vision for recreation. It’s not just about play time.

Volunteers who run these programs believe youth athletics have the power to address some of the inequality and violence that mar Annapolis as a place to live.

“Most of us speaking tonight have kids on our teams who have been touched in the last six months by gun violence in our city, at the Boys and Girls Club turf field, at the bus stop on Clay Street and most recently, the murder in Robinwood,” said Emily Tomasini, a coach and board member at the nonprofit advocacy group PlayAnnapolis.

“I’ve been touched by it.”

The next mayor and council will inherit a department with a $1.7 million budget and roughly 250 full- and part-time employees. Roslyn Johnson leads it. Hired two years ago, she sees the criticism organized by PlayAnnapolis on Monday as misinformed.

“They told their own narrative last night,” she said, “not a truthful narrative.”

PlayAnnapolis surveyed 300 families and found that many consider field quality and services inferior in the city. They blame Johnson.

“The Annapolis Parks and Recreation Department clearly doesn’t know how to do it,” said Neilye Garrity, the group’s executive director. “And they blame overuse.“

This is a hyperlocal issue, the kind that seldom makes news.

Anne Arundel County Public Schools owns the big multipurpose fields in the city and considers them educational assets. It partners with others for their use where it can.

Annapolis manages the ones at Bates Middle, the Phoenix Academy and Germantown Elementary schools. The county maintains one at Annapolis Middle — inches across the city line — and smaller ones at elementary schools.

Truxtun Park, the city’s largest park, has two lighted baseball-softball diamonds and basketball courts. None of the city’s rectangular fields are lighted, and just one is all-weather turf, the Boys & Girls Club.

The county is renovating PAL Park, also outside the city. It has lighted diamonds and a small, rectangular grass field. Quiet Waters Park nearby has no ballfields.

Thousands of kids in the city and county vie for field space in the Annapolis area. It is allocated through the county reservation system, joined by the city last year.

It gives teams first dibs on fields closest to players’ homes. But demand is so great that games and practices spread to Crownsville, Broadneck and farther afield. Teams outside the city, facing similar pressure, and adult leagues land in Annapolis, too.

This year, a new middle school sports program complicated the formula, with rec teams losing an hour of afternoon practice.

In 2023, PlayAnnapolis asked the county for help. The city offers fewer rec programs in fewer places than the county, a comparison Johnson says is unfair because of the relative size of each government.

“Meanwhile, we don’t even have [school] aftercare,” said Garrity, who’s also Littmann’s campaign manager. “We have dormant community centers. At the core, we’re missing fundamental operational things.”

Some of the details are maddening.

The state paid for upgrades at Bates, but the school system installed a grass field instead of more durable turf, citing cost and environmental concerns. The worn dirt space is closed for reseeding.

Weems Whalen Field, built by the city atop an ash heap, has been closed for 12 years because of contamination concerns.

Orioles great Cal Ripken donated the city’s only all-weather field to the Boys & Girls Club. When the club halted its sports program, it became the middleman for reservations.

Problems created over decades will take time to fix, but some upgrades are in the works.

County schools and rec and parks will add lights to the Annapolis Middle field this fall, a $1 million project. Opening Weems Whalen will cost more and take years to remedy.

Buckley hasn’t ignored recreation and parks.

He’s laid the groundwork for new bike trails, expanded pickleball, upgraded the skatepark at Truxtun and improved trails at Waterworks Park. Two waterfront parks are being developed, neither with playing fields.

This year, he proposed a basketball court and e-gaming center at Stanton Center, serving neighborhoods plagued by drugs and gun violence.

“This will be a game changer for that community,” Johnson said.

PlayAnnapolis offers scholarships for kids whose families can’t afford team sports or get to the fields. Families who can are leaving for greener fields — taking their money with them.

It’s the kind of small-town blues the next mayor could easily ignore. But no matter who wins in November, he or she will face hard feelings on both sides.

“I don‘t understand,” said Tim DeWitt, who manages field access for the Annapolis Soccer Club. “I am fighting with them over everything.”

SCOTTSDALE, AZ (May 16, 2025) – College Football Hall of Fame quarterback and two-time Super Bowl Champion Jim McMahon will bring his colorful personality to the 2025 UMB Bank Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff presented by Fairmont Scottsdale Princess as keynote speaker.

Arizona’s premier college football kickoff event returns to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess on Friday, August 15. The event begins with a VIP session, including exclusive photo opportunities and meet-and-greet with McMahon, at 11 a.m. The pregame networking complete with an immersive college football experience opens to all attendees at 11:30 a.m. with the ballroom doors opening at 12:15 p.m. The popular post-event Yellow Jacket Overtime happy hour follows at 2:30 p.m. to cap off the day.

Tables for this annual celebration of the start of the 2025-26 college football season are available now at FiestaSportsFoundation.org/FootballKickoff. Interested attendees may also contact the Fiesta Sports Foundation Ticket Office at 480-350-0911 or tickets@fiestabowl.org. A portion of each sale helps provide Rate Bowl game tickets to veterans, kids and teachers through the Send-A-Vet, Send-A-Kid and Send-A-Teacher Community Champions program.

“Jim McMahon was one of the most captivating personalities in sports, in addition to being one of the best quarterbacks of his era. We’re thrilled to have him as our keynote speaker for the UMB Bank Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff and can’t wait to hear him share his one-of-a-kind stories with our attendees,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Executive Director & CEO Erik Moses. “The road to the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl starts on August 15 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess as football fans from across the Valley celebrate the start of our favorite time of year – football season!”

During the main program, McMahon will take center stage to discuss his Hall of Fame career at Brigham Young University, his NFL career that included the unforgettable 1985 Chicago Bears Super Bowl title season, how his charismatic persona came to be and his post-career life as an Arizona resident.

“When I received the invitation to be the speaker for the UMB Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff this year, I was honored and immediately agreed. Fiesta Sports Foundation is one of the most elite organizations in college football and Arizona is home to thousands of BYU and Chicago Bears fans,” McMahon said. “I can’t wait to share some stories from my career, celebrate the incredible community impact and help raise money and awareness for the Fiesta Sports Foundation’s Wishes for Teachers grant program.”

McMahon twice led the nation in passing and total offense in 1980 and 1981 and he guided BYU to a pair of Holiday Bowl victories. The 1980 Holiday Bowl was monumental for the Cougars as it was not only BYU’s first-ever bowl victory, but it came in dramatic fashion as McMahon engineered a 21-point rally to help BYU overcome a 20-point deficit to SMU with four minutes remaining.

A three-year All-American and three-time WAC Player of the Year, McMahon earned NCAA Co-Offensive Player of the Year and was selected as the Davey O’Brien Trophy and Sammy Baugh Award winner in 1981.

Following a career where McMahon set 70 NCAA records from 1978-81, McMahon was the fifth overall pick by the Chicago Bears in the 1982 NFL Draft. McMahon enjoyed a 15-year NFL career and was a two-time Super Bowl champion. Most notably, McMahon quarterbacked the 1985 Bears – arguably one of the greatest teams in NFL history – to a title in Super Bowl XX with a 46-10 win over New England.

Over 15 seasons spanning stints with the Bears, San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals and Green Bay Packers, McMahon was 67-30 as a starting quarterback. The 1986 Pro Bowl selection retired following the 1996 season but not before capturing his second championship as a member of the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI.

“Jim McMahon’s accolades speak for themselves and he’s a name that will elicit fond memories for football fans, especially those of BYU and the Chicago Bears,” said Fiesta Sports Foundation Board Chair Judy Bernas. “His inclusion in this year’s UMB Bank Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff ensures the event is another must-attend as we gear up for another exciting football season.”

Reimagined last year, the UMB Bank Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff presented by Fairmont Scottsdale Princess returns as the ultimate college football experience. Attendees will be immersed in all of college football’s most iconic traditions and revered trophies with photo opportunities and interactive games for all to enjoy, all while dressed in their favorite college football team’s apparel and colors.

During the main program, the Fiesta Sports Foundation’s preseason boys tackle and girls flag football preseason All-State high school teams will be recognized. The event will also highlight the Fiesta Sports Foundation’s philanthropic impact and will include a paddle raise to raise money for Palo Verde Fiesta Sports Foundation Wishes for Teachers program.

“UMB Bank is excited to sponsor the Fiesta Sports Foundation Football Kickoff in support of the Fiesta Sports Foundation and the work the organization does to lift up the Arizona community,” said John Damiris, president of UMB Bank – Arizona Region. “The event is a great way to not only mark the start of the college football season, but it also celebrates tradition and the impact sports has on communities across the country.”

McMahon, a member of the College Football, Utah Sports and BYU Athletics Hall of Fame, is the latest in a decorated list of past Football Kickoff keynote speakers. Past speakers include Arizona Cardinals and Pittsburgh legend Larry Fitzgerald Jr., Michigan’s Desmond Howard, Notre Dame’s Lou Holtz and Rocket Ismail, Florida’s Steve Spurrier, Ohio State’s Urban Meyer, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and Tommie Frazier and Arizona State’s Jake Plummer.

The Vrbo Fiesta Bowl hosts a College Football Playoff Semifinal this season, set for Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. MST in Glendale. Bowl Season in Arizona kicks off in Arizona with the Rate Bowl in downtown Phoenix and the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe. Dates for the Rate Bowl and Fiesta Bowl Parade will be announced at a later date.

ABOUT FIESTA SPORTS FOUNDATION

Since its inception in 1971, the Fiesta Sports Foundation has been a world-class community organization that executes innovative experiences, drives economic growth and champions charitable causes, inspiring pride in all Arizonans during and outside of college football bowl season. As a nonprofit organization, it is driven by its vision to create unforgettable experiences through world-class sporting events, unparalleled hospitality and life-changing community impact. Through the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Rate Bowl and its year-round events, including the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl Parade presented by Lerner & Rowe, corporate partnerships and numerous community events throughout the year, the Foundation provides charitable resources to support Arizona nonprofit organizations that serve communities through a focus on youth, sports and education. Learn more at www.FiestaSportsFoundation.org and @Fiesta_Bowl on X/Instagram.

ABOUT UMB BANK

UMB Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: UMBF) is a financial services company headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri. UMB offers commercial banking, which includes comprehensive deposit, lending, investment and retirement plan services; personal banking, which includes comprehensive deposit, lending, wealth management and financial planning services; and institutional banking, which includes asset servicing, corporate trust solutions, investment banking and healthcare services. UMB operates branches throughout Missouri, Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. As the company’s reach continues to grow, it also serves business clients nationwide and institutional clients in several countries. For more information, visit UMB.com, UMB Blog, UMB Facebook and UMB LinkedIn.

Company Description

Volo creates free youth sports programs through adult social sports.

The aim of the Volo Kids Foundation was to use sport as a tool for healing and a means of uniting communities. To execute our vision we partnered with City Council Members, community organizers, and recreation centers to launch the first Volo Kids Foundation program at Herring Run Recreation Center.  Volo Kids has since expanded to six cities across the country and is still growing.

Proof We Are Awesome

• Ranked Among Inc-5000 Fastest Growing Companies
• Serving more than 19,000 kids in free youth programs
• Over 300,000 Adult Participants Nationwide
• 9 City Markets & Counting…

If you have a desire to make a difference through community and sports, Volo could be your next and final career destination. Come fly with us.

Job Description

 Lead Coach responsibilities include, but not limited to:

• Serve as direct contact with the kids and families to assure that they are having a safe and fun experience
• Plan practice drills using provided resources and curriculum
• Understand & lead both kids and other coaches through program drills in a FUN and engaging way
• Consistently move on from one drill to the next as to keep the players engaged, and identify places where volunteers can fill in to prevent downtime
• Lead pre-game and post-game huddles that emphasize sportsmanship and mindfulness
• Know and lead field set up and clean up each week
• Provide guidance to volunteers if there are questions about drills/ roles
• Provide support to volunteers if any issues arise with parents, players or venues
• Jump in as admin support if needed
• Report any player, parent, ref, coach issues to site lead

Sports Needed : Soccer, Basketball & Football 

Rate: $22.50 per hour

Qualifications

Must-Haves

• 1 year of coaching or teaching 
• Attend mandatory staff training 

“WOW” Us With …

• Passion for sports and social activities
• Outgoing and ready to handle anything presented
• Punctual and professional

Additional Information

Volo is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that proudly pursues and hires a diverse workforce. We do not make hiring or employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion or religious belief, ethnic or national origin, nationality, sex, gender, gender-identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws or company policy. We strive to create a healthy and safe workplace and we prohibit harassment of any kind.

Don’t see a position that matches your background or interests?  We’re a growing company and always looking for top talent.  Drop us your resume here and we’ll contact you when there’s a match!

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

COLERAIN TOWNSHIP, Ohio — Colerain High School named Evan Heitman as its boys basketball coach on Friday, pending board of education approval.

Heitman succeeds Brett Kostoff, who decided to step down from the position in late April after two seasons. Kostoff has since joined the St. Xavier coaching staff as an assistant coach.

Heitman, a 2011 Colerain graduate, has coached high school basketball for 10 years. He began his coaching career at his alma mater as an assistant for two years.

“We are excited to introduce Evan Heitman as our new coach,” Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said in a statement. “A Colerain native with experience in several successful programs, he understands the unique challenges involved. We believe Coach Heitman will develop a K-12 program that enables our kids to stay in the district where they belong. Also, we are looking forward to the staff Evan is assembling and the expertise they will contribute.”

After Heitman’s first stint at Colerain, he spent four years as the North College Hill head freshman coach and varsity assistant. He helped to lead the Trojans to a 22-3 record and a district title in 2017-18.

Heitman was the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant at La Salle for three seasons. He played a significant role in leading La Salle to a Greater Catholic League South division co-championship in the 2022-23 season.

Last season, Heitman was the Finneytown varsity assistant, working with Wildcats head coach Brandon Robinson whom he coaches Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball with through the Shining Star program. Heitman has been involved with that program for the past four years.

Heitman was born and raised in the Colerain Township community. He currently resides in White Oak with his fiancée, Sara, and his two dogs. Heitman’s sister, Brittney, his mom Sonya, and his brother-in-law all graduated from Colerain as well.

“First and foremost, I want to thank Matt (Stoinoff) and all of the people of Colerain for believing in me and giving me this opportunity,” Heitman said in a statement. “It’s such a full-circle moment, having walked these hallways, started my coaching career, and now having the opportunity to be the head coach. Next, I want to thank all the amazing coaches I’ve had the opportunity to work with and learn from, which got me here today.”

Heitman is looking forward to contributing to the community, school and basketball program.

“Living here and growing up going to games, I know all about the top-notch culture here at Colerain, which will be a priority for me to expand on,” Heitman said. “It’s a tight-knit community and a great school, and I just feel so privileged to be back, with the chance to build the basketball program.”

Colerain had a 2-21 record this past season, including 0-16 in the Greater Miami Conference.

Norwood names new coach

Norwood named Brian Callahan as its boys basketball coach Friday, according to Norwood athletic director Chuck Richardson.

Callahan, a former Lynchburg-Clay High School head coach, succeeds Ty Gibert in the Norwood coaching position.

Callahan grew up in the Norwood community and was on the coaching staff in the mid-2000s.

“He said during the interview process that Norwood is his dream job and I hope to see him turn his dream into a reality,” Richardson said. “I could sense that he was a gym rat, grinder, student of the game and well organized, which is something I’m always looking to see during the interview process. We are looking forward to see how things turn out with his vision and direction moving forward.”

Callahan has 29 years of high school basketball experience. He also coached on the AAU level with Shining Star and has his own program, Ohio Crossover.

“We were looking for a Head Coach/Program Manager that had prior head coaching experience, Richardson said. “Someone that we felt that would grow program numbers and would emphasize growth and development in the entire program. Coach Callahan has had multiple stops in reputable programs in the area as a freshman and JV head coach as well as a lead varsity assistant. As of recent he was the head coach at Lynchburg-Clay where he led them to double digit wins the last two seasons.”

Norwood had a 4-19 record including 0-12 in the Miami Valley Conference this past season.

Clark Montessori to begin interviews

Clark Montessori is scheduled to start interviews Friday for its boys basketball coaching position, according to Clark Montessori athletic director Derek Williams. The school received 20 applicants for the position. Former Clark Montessori coach Cashmere Wright, a former University of Cincinnati basketball player, was named the Walnut Hills coach April 28.

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