With 365 days to look back on, there’s no way anybody can remember every single event that took place in a given calendar year. But nonetheless, as a newspaper, we attempt to chronicle such a project in 600 words or less, give or take a couple of hundred, for the year’s final edition or the beginning of a new one. If, by chance, I missed an event in the following prose, email me at jmcconnell@marbleheadnews.net, and I’ll make sure to include it in the next edition of the Marblehead Current on Jan. 7.

Running whiz Nate Assa completes senior year with state, regional titles; All-American honors 

MHS senior track captain Nate Assa, currently starring as a freshman on the Purdue University track teams, had unparalleled success throughout his final year as a Magician athlete. 

Assa started off his remarkable run to national glory during the All-State Meet of Champions at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Roxbury on Feb. 22. It’s where he won the two-mile in 9:05.3. One week later on March 1 back at the Lewis complex, he secured the All-New England championship with a personal best time of 9:04.60. A couple of weeks later at the New Balance Indoor Track National High School Meet in Allston, he ran a 14:32 5K to finish sixth, which earned him a spot on the All-American team. 

In early May, Assa received an invite to run against his national peers once again, this time outdoors in Amherst, New Hampshire. He placed ninth in the mile there with a personal best time of 4:15.21. 

Pretty much one month later on June 5 at Fitchburg State University, Assa (9:14.52) conquered the state for the second straight season in the two mile, and the regional meet followed in New Britian, Connecticut on June 14, where he secured that title again in the 3,200 meters, crossing the finish line with a personal best of 9:04.57, while running that distance. He was then off to the New Balance National Outdoor Meet in Philadelphia on June 19, and at the end of that day, he took home the silver medal after completing the 5,000 Franklin Field course in 14:25.19, which was also a personal best for that distance. In a space of only three months, the Marblehead two-miler was able to accumulate two state crowns and two regional conquests, while finishing among the Top 6 twice nationally after running slightly longer distances. There’s no doubt that Nate’s streak of successful outcomes won’t be duplicated anytime soon.

 Athletic complex named after former athletic director, coaching legend 

In late July, the Marblehead High School athletic complex that includes Piper Field was renamed to honor former athletic director and football coach Alex Kulevich for his many contributions that he made to the program over the years. Kulevich and his family were on hand for the dedication.  

MHS girls basketball team plays at the TD Garden 

On Saturday, Jan.11, coach Paul Moran’s squad was invited to participate in the Lawson Invitational Tournament, held annually at the TD Garden in memory of Andrew James Lawson, a Norwell native, who passed away in 2018 at the young age of 27 after a two-year battle with cancer. But that’s only half the story. Andrew was also a Down’s Syndrome victim, but he never let it stop him from participating in sports at an early age. He was a three-sport athlete at Norwell High School, and after graduation he then became a coach of its boys soccer and basketball teams. He was also a Special Olympics athlete. Upon his death, his family set up a foundation in his name that promotes inclusion and support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and this Garden tournament every year heightens awareness of the cause. By the way, Moran’s club defeated its Northeastern Conference rival Saugus, 39-36 on the fabled parquet Celtics floor. It was just one of many games there on that day in early January. 

Coach steps up to save season 

When Hadley Woodfin resigned as head coach of the MHS girls co-op hockey team last December, there was concern that the season might have to be cancelled until Jon Strzempek, the boys JV coach, stepped up to become its interim head coach in early January. They finished the year with a 4-15-1 record and plenty of promise for future success. 

In early April, athletic director Kent Wheeler took the interim tag off Strzempek, and proceeded to make him the team’s permanent head coach. 

 MHS swim team wins 24^th NEC title under Guertin’s watch 

Since 1989, the high school swim program has had just one leader, and she is the legendary Sue Guertin. Last February, she once again guided her Magicians in the pool to another Northeastern Conference championship. It was the 24^th title in Sue’s coaching career at the high school. For the record, the team went undefeated last winter with a 6-0 record. 

Best of the rest for 2025 

After finishing up with an 8-0-1 record, the girls indoor track team shared the indoor NEC title with perennial powerhouse Peabody… 

Marblehead Youth Basketball Association sixth grade traveling team won its second straight Cape Ann League title after beating Lynnfield at Salem High School, 52-47… 

The Marblehead Little League Softball 11-year-old all-star team avenged the 2024 loss to Peabody to win this year’s District 16 title going away, 16-1. Pitcher Tatum Cole led the way by throwing a no-hitter to help secure the easy win… 

The 1985 Marblehead High School baseball team, coached by Roger Tuveson, celebrated the 40th anniversary of its state championship…. 

Stefan Shepard for sports and Charlotte “Charlie” Roszell for arts were this year’s recipients of the Sterny’s Way Scholarships, named after David Stern, longtime youth sports coaching legend, who was also a strong supporter of the Arts. He passed away in 2010. The scholarships were established in his name in 2019…. 

The Hockey Headers began their season earlier this month with two games against NEC rival Winthrop at the Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, New York, the site of the gold medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team’s Miracle on Ice success story. Despite losing both games, it was definitely an experience that these Marblehead boys will never forget.  

Related

Lorena Llamas’ teenage son is obsessed with football. In Nevada, that means suffering through practices in direct sunlight and on scalding-hot turf.

“The heat is killer,” said Llamas, a mom of two in North Las Vegas. Her son, a high school senior, has seen teammates throw up during some practices. “He’ll always say, ‘Mom, my feet feel like they’re on fire.’”

Parents and experts told The Indy that heat is just one reason that Nevada consistently ranks last nationwide for participation in youth sports. High costs and complicated scheduling issues also play a big part. 

Nevada has had the lowest or second-lowest rate of children on sports teams every year since 2017 except 2019, according to data collected through the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH), a project of the Census Bureau, and analyzed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University.

Although standalone data for 2024 is not yet available, new data shared with The Nevada Independent on the last two years combined shows Nevada again coming last in sports participation, even as its rate ticked up slightly.

Nationwide, in 2023-2024 nearly 57 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 17 were part of a sports team or club. In Nevada, it was just 46 percent.

“Nevada was always a state that was never thought of for sports,” said Llamas. She attributed the lack of a robust sports culture to Nevada’s heat and smaller number of higher education institutions or major sports teams. Llamas has noticed more young people getting excited about playing football since the Raiders came to Las Vegas in 2020.

“Our players do not get enough attention here,” she said. “There is so much talent in Nevada.” 

Below, we dive into some of the factors that contribute to Nevada’s lagging sports participation and break down the data.

Increasing costs

Most states, including Nevada, have seen sports participation rise since the COVID-19 pandemic, when most schools canceled programming for at least a season. 

But even before the pandemic, Nevada’s participation rate was consistently lower than the nation’s. 

Data from the National Federation of State High School Associations shows the number of student-athletes in Nevada high schools has been relatively stable, going from approximately 45,200 student-athletes in 2015-2016 to approximately 44,800 in 2024-2025. During the same period, Nevada’s high schools added more than 16,000 students. 

Richard Rosenkranz, a UNLV professor who studies interventions to boost nutrition and exercise, attributed Nevada’s low participation rates to high costs.

In 2022, his family moved from Kansas to Nevada, where his son enrolled in a public school in Las Vegas and joined the school’s cross-country team.

Rosenkranz said he and his wife were “shocked” by the team’s sticker price. They had to pay almost $500 for their son to run cross-country, a one-season sport. Sports were free at his son’s public school in Kansas.

“Immediately, a lot of Nevada families just cannot afford that,” he told The Nevada Independent. 

Sports costs are rising fast nationwide. Project Play, an initiative of the Aspen Institute think tank, found American families spent an average of $1,000 on their child’s primary sport in 2024, a jump of 46 percent, or about $300, since 2019.

Llamas estimated her family spends about $500 each football season, mostly on required expenses for the team and for traveling to games. 

She said her family was lucky they could afford these costs. 

Statewide, there are wide income disparities in sports participation. According to the national survey’s data, from 2022 to 2023 nearly three times as many students from high-income families (at or above 400 percent of the federal poverty line) played sports than students from low-income families (at or below the poverty level).

Nevada does not waive sports fees for low-income students, as a handful of states do. California outright bans fees for all students.

Rosenkranz blames rising expenses on cultural shifts, which have transformed youth sports from a more casual form of fun into a high-pressure industry oriented toward college recruitment. 

“We’ve essentially professionalized a lot of sports,” he said. To remain competitive, Rosenkranz said, academic and extracurricular sports programs need to hire full-time coaches, upgrade facilities and equipment, and travel to tournaments. 

Programs pass some of those costs onto families, or families find themselves spending more in private lessons or new gear.

In its 2024 report, Project Play also blamed the post-pandemic shift to kids focusing on single sports, making competition even more intense and expensive.

Unique “burden” in Nevada

Experts say Nevada’s reliance on shift work and shorter-term labor further complicates access to sports.

“It poses more of a financial burden in a state where … so many parents have multiple jobs in the service industry, where kids have higher shares of parents who can’t afford it,” said Rosenkranz. 

Many parents work in the state’s 24/7 hospitality industry, where work shifts are longer or later than other jobs and where families cycle in and out of the state more often. Census data also shows that Nevada has a higher share of households where every parent works, at 59 percent in 2024. 

That makes it harder for parents to bring kids to practice, Rosenkranz said, especially in a state with limited public transportation.

“Obviously, Vegas is a very transient town where people work all kinds of jobs. It’s a 24 hour city,” said Scott Blackford, director of programs at Nevada Youth Sports (NYS), an organization that runs recreational and club sports in Southern Nevada and manages charter schools’ sports leagues.

To accommodate scheduling issues, “We try to offer different programs, whether recreational leagues or competitive leagues, or camps, clinics, all the different programs you can offer, to fit individual families,” he said. 

Although NYS usually doesn’t work in traditional public schools, he said the group has run some pilot programs so that “a child can stay after for an hourlong practice, in case mom and dad couldn’t take them to practice that night.” 

NYS also offers shorter-term programs where families commit to sports only for eight weeks. Programs such as these expand the group’s demographic reach, Blackford said, even as costs rise. 

“We pride ourselves on trying to not raise prices,” Blackford explained. “But, you know, everything is going up across the world.”

Other factors

Nevada’s intense heat creates further problems.

Synthetic turf fields are increasingly popular for field-based sports due to their lower maintenance costs than grass. But research has shown such fields can be 50 degrees hotter than grass.

“The shade infrastructure is horrible; the weather is hot all summer. There’s an immediate lack of enjoyment,” said Rosenkranz.

But Blackford said Nevada’s temperatures could be a plus by enabling yearlong sports programming. 

“Summer is going to be a little tough, but if you’re born and raised in Arizona or Nevada, you’re kind of used to it. … We’re fortunate to have four seasons of sports a year,” Blackford said, while admitting that finding air-conditioned facilities can be a struggle.

Rosenkranz said Nevada’s low sports participation reflects the state’s generally poor mental and physical health outcomes.

Earlier this year, a bill mandating daily recess in Nevada’s public and charter schools — which is required in only 13 states — failed in the Legislature.

“Are there places where they can play before school? Or in the classroom, at recess, at physical education — all of the activities that happen during the school day?” Rosenkranz asked. “Or are we just asking kids to sit quietly in a lunch room?”

In 2024, only 9.1 percent of Nevada’s 12-through-17-year-olds were physically active for an hour every day. The nationwide rate was 14.9 percent.

Nevada also reports higher rates of depression, suicide and substance use disorder among youth. It ranked last among states in the 2025 and 2024 surveys of youth mental health by the nonprofit Mental Health America. 

Boosting sports participation could help address these issues, Rosenkranz said, adding that sports lower the risk of chronic disease and improve mental health by giving kids a chance to socialize, resolve disagreements and challenge themselves.

“Also, sports are fun,” he said. “And people should be having fun.”

— This story is used with permission of The Nevada Independent. Go here for updates to this and other Nevada Independent stories.

Related

State

AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada

Zip Code

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People’s Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People’s Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People’s Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People’s Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People’s Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People’s Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People’s Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D’Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, Revolutionary
People’s Rep’c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People’s RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People’s Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People’s Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People’s RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People’s Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People’s RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – The Knoxville Police Department is warning East Tennesseans of scammers at West Town Mall.

KPD said there have been at least two incidents in which people were posing as members of a youth sports team collecting donations at the mall.

In one of those cases, KPD said the victim was swindled out of $1,600 in credit card transactions.

“Before donating to an organization or individual, take time to do your research,” KPD said in a social media post. “Whether online or in person, be extremely cautious before sharing your credit card information with people you don’t know. If you do plan to donate, using cash is the safest option.”

Anyone who thinks they have been the victim of a scam is asked to report it to the department at 865-215-7268.

Copyright 2025 WVLT. All rights reserved.

Key Takeaways

• Rob and Lauren Powers acquired two underperforming Shoot 360 locations in Frisco and Grapevine, Texas, in October 2024
• Their first St. Louis-area unit attracted 250 members in its first 90 days and now serves approximately 500 members
• Shoot 360’s training software is used by 28 NBA teams, with investors including Sue Bird, Trae Young, and Breanna Stewart
• The Dallas units currently have 215 and 345 members respectively as turnaround efforts continue

From First-Time Franchisees to Multi-Unit Operators

Rob and Lauren Powers opened their first Shoot 360 location in a St. Louis suburb in April 2024 after signing with the basketball training franchise in 2023. Both brought coaching backgrounds to the business, with Lauren in volleyball and Rob in basketball.

The couple focused on community building before opening, hosting a VIP week that invited local coaches and basketball influencers to tour the facility and learn about the technology-driven training model. That approach paid off quickly. The location signed 250 members within its first 90 days and has grown to approximately 500 members today.

That early success positioned them for expansion. In October 2024, they acquired two underperforming units in Frisco and Grapevine, Texas, both suburbs in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro.

Identifying and Addressing Operational Gaps

The previous owners of the Texas locations had stepped back from day-to-day operations due to personal circumstances, leaving gaps in staffing expectations, facility maintenance, and overall energy.

“There were no clear expectations of what each person needed to do in their job here as far as employees,” Rob Powers said. “The facilities were not up to par either. Everything from lighting to cleanliness to overall look and feel of the franchise was under what expectations were from corporate.”

The Powers started their turnaround with hands-on work, spending their first days scraping gum off floors and cleaning the facilities themselves. They followed that with one-on-one conversations with every employee to understand individual goals and reset expectations.

The Grapevine location currently has approximately 215 members, while Frisco has about 345. Both units are now building local relationships through partnerships with area basketball leagues.

A Player Development Model in a Competitive Market

Shoot 360 differentiates itself by focusing exclusively on individual skill development rather than team-based competitive programming. The franchise uses proprietary software currently deployed by 28 NBA teams, and has attracted investment from professional players including Sue Bird, Breanna Stewart, Trae Young, Zaza Pachulia, and Thaddeus Young since franchising began in 2019.

“What’s unique about Shoot 360 is we’re 100 percent focused on individual skill development, so any kid on any part of their journey can find a home where they feel loved and can improve their basketball game,” Rob Powers said.

Lauren Powers echoed the positioning: “We are not competition to anybody. We never discourage anybody from going to other trainers, but nobody else has the NBA technology that we have.”

Looking Ahead

The Powers plan to continue expanding in Dallas while maintaining their St. Louis operation. They have expressed interest in eventually becoming a training resource for other Shoot 360 franchisees.

“We’re definitely looking to impact as many kids as we can through this,” Rob Powers said, “so we’re going to continue to ride the wave and look for new opportunities.”

via: Franchise Times

YSBR provides this content on an “as is” basis without any warranties, express or implied. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, legality, reliability, or use of the information, including any images, videos, or licenses associated with this article. For any concerns, including copyright issues or complaints, please contact YSBR directly.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

Our core mission: Make Youth Sports Better. As the leading authority in youth sports business reporting, we deliver unparalleled coverage of sports business trends, youth athletics, and emerging opportunities across the youth sports ecosystem.

Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:

• Sports sponsorship and institutional capital (Private Equity, Venture Capital)
• Youth Sports events and tournament management
• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) developments and compliance
• Youth sports coaching and sports recruitment strategies
• Sports technology and data analytics innovation
• Youth sports facilities development and management
• Sports content creation and digital media monetization

Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

Join our growing community of 50,000+ industry leaders who depend on our trusted youth sports business analysis to drive success in the youth sports industry.

Stay connected with the pulse of the youth sports business – where industry expertise meets actionable intelligence.

Sign up for the biggest newsletter in Youth Sports – Youth Sports HQ – The best youth sports newsletter in the industry 

Follow us on LinkedIn

Follow Youth Sports Business Report Founder Cameron Korab on LinkedIn

Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?

Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

About Play Up Partners

Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.

Why Sponsor Youth Sports?

Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.

What Does Play Up Partners Do?

We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.

Our Approach

Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:

• Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
• Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
• Elevate the youth sports ecosystem

Our Vision

We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.

Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing

Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?

We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.

Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.

FOX VALLEY (WLUK) — Youth sports have become a year-round reality for many families, as more and more indoor sports facilities are being built in Wisconsin.

“I try to fill that gap for some of the boys,” said Rick Cavaiani, owner/founder of Cavaiani Baseball Training in Little Chute.

Youth sports have become a year-round reality for many families, as more and more indoor sports facilities are being built in Wisconsin. (WLUK)

Training starts as young as eight years old

Teams of 10-year-olds and 11-year-olds scrimmaged while off of school for Christmas break Monday afternoon. Cavaiani serves players from ages eight to 18, providing structured training beginning in November.

“I feel a lot more prepared than normal teams would, because they don’t practice in the winter,” said Garrett Reukauf, who plays for Cavaiani’s 11-and-under team.

Reukauf hopes to become the next Alex Breckheimer of Chilton or Ethan Cole of Fond du Lac, going from Northeast Wisconsin to professional baseball.

“When I first started playing travel baseball, my facility was an old glass-blowing company,” said Cole, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies last year and played for 5 Star Wisconsin, based in Oshkosh. “It was a super small building — two cages, maybe a room for 90 feet.”

The current setup includes nearly a full infield and multiple batting cages, a weight room, high-tech devices to track his pitching and a small locker room. He doesn’t think he would have been drafted without the facilities or coaching at 5 Star — believing those to be necessities in Wisconsin.

“We’re inside the majority of the year,” said Evan Wick, the co-owner of 5 Star Wisconsin, when asked about the disadvantage Midwest baseball players have. “Kids down south get to see the real ball fly at their own real field every single day.”

The indoor training is producing results.

“When I graduated in 2002, there were four of us in the state of Wisconsin, including myself, that eventually played Division I baseball,” said Cavaiani. “I think this past year, there were almost 50.”

Concerns about longevity, injuries and cost

There are certainly concerns about year-round sports.

1. It costs thousands of dollars per player, as youth sports has become a $30-40 billion industry
2. Sports injury has become the second leading cause of emergency room visits for youth
3. Burnout is on the rise

It’s for the parent to decide whether the risk is worth the reward. But from November to April — for some players once a week, and others three-to-four times — you may find a 10-year-old or a college student playing baseball in Northeast Wisconsin.