Syracuse, N.Y. – The Syracuse Toffees meet up every year to watch the Everton football club compete in the English Premier League.

When the club’s supporters aren’t watching the games, the Toffees host food banks and other charitable events. Now, the Toffees are getting the opportunity of a lifetime.

The Toffees and local youth soccer club Ball On Center Alliance FC will collaborate with Everton to host a soccer clinic this summer. Children ages 5-14 can participate in a clinic Aug. 4-8 at Nottingham High School taught by coaches traveling overseas from Everton’s development system in the United Kingdom.

Everton is offering three different packages for the camps. Children aged 5-7 will pay $150 while those aged 7-14 can choose between a daily three-hour camp for $235 or a six-hour camp for $405 via the Everton FC website.

Everton was once the home for American soccer legends like Landon Donovan and Tim Howard. The club was recently purchased by the Friedkin Group, an ownership group out of Houston. Now, the club is furthering its presence in the United States.

The Toffees are led by president Andy Woodring, an Everton fan from Rochester, New York, who fell in love with the club while his parents were living in England in the early 2000s.

Woodring has been involved with the Toffees for nearly a decade. He is directly connected to the team and said he had been asked for years if there was interest in holding a camp in Syracuse.

Once he found a partner in Boca FC, Woodring said he couldn’t resist the chance to assist in Everton’s stateside efforts. Players don’t need to be a member of BOCA FC to participate in the camp.

“They’re about building humans first,” Woodring said of Everton’s youth academies. “Building people who happen to be good soccer players. And that’s kind of the idea they want to build over here.”

The United States will host the Club World Cup and the senior World Cups for both the men and women in the 2020s, and Everton wants to be the team that profits the most from that. The club will be playing games in Chicago, Atlanta and New Jersey.

Everton knows that hosting events in major American cities will only get the club so far, which is why it emphasizes grassroots efforts in cities such as Syracuse. When the club evaluated the fandom of the Syracuse Toffees and the sincerity of Woodring, it decided Central New York was a place to be.

“Clubs that host our programs need to have an understanding of what they’re getting,” said Roy Collins, Everton’s development director for soccer schools.

“A lot of it comes from people coming out and saying, ‘Hey, I’ve run a club with so many kids in it, we love the English Premier League, we like Everton and we’d like to consider being offered a chance to host a program.’ ”

Everton has hosted camps in 22 states and has 30 kids enrolled in the Syracuse camp, Collins said.

Everton is the only club that sends its actual coaches to develop children in the Syracuse area and has run a camp in Clifton Park, near Albany.

The camps provide Everton the opportunity to teach kids the proper way to play the game and teach the coaches of the host clubs better schemes and ways to practice.

The camps are mutually beneficial. If the club finds players they like, they can sign the children to their youth academies, where they get paid to develop and could ultimately find themselves on the senior team in the Premier League.

“We want to use the U.S. market to help brand our club,” Collins said. “We know, historically, it’s an iconic club. … If you compare what our camps cost to what other camps similar to our camp costs, we are on the lower end because we could charge a lot more for it, but the club didn’t want to do that. The club would rather make it affordable and get as many kids to go as possible.”

Atrium Health is proud to serve as the Official Health Care Provider of more than 100 schools, offering expert Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers for your school in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Union, Cabarrus, and Lincoln counties, and the Fort Mill School District.

Our mission is to keep your student-athlete and our community healthy, safe and injury-free. Each month, we will be spotlighting some of our dedicated Team Doctors and Athletic Trainers and sharing tips and exciting news in the world of sports medicine and high school athletics.

Many high school athletes across North Carolina get their sports medicine care the old-fashioned way: from a coach with basic first aid training, or a teacher who took a 10-hour course to become a “state-approved first responder.” That patchwork system has left student-athletes in many communities without consistent access to real healthcare professionals.

Atrium Health wants more for the communities it serves.

Through their innovative partnership with the schools in the Greater Charlotte region, Atrium Health has created something closer to what you’d find at a Division I college program than a typical public school system. Licensed Athletic Trainers employed by Atrium work full-time on campus, building relationships with students and families while providing direct access to some of the region’s top sports medicine specialists.

The difference isn’t just in the quality of care, it’s in how quickly that care happens, and how seamlessly students move from injury to recovery.

Beyond the Tape and Ice

Katie Hanes-Romano has seen both sides of this equation. As Atrium Health’s Central Region Athletic Training Manager, she oversees programs across multiple school districts. But she also remembers her own high school experience, when no Athletic Trainer was available at all.

“We see our athletes every day,” Katie explains. “We know them by name, we know their faces, we know their families.”

That daily presence creates something most high school athletes never experience: genuine relationships with healthcare professionals who understand both their sport and their aspirations. These Athletic Trainers become mentors and advocates, not just emergency responders.

Morgan Edwards, a recent graduate, says her Athletic Trainer, Hannah Bramblett, exemplifies this approach at Cuthbertson High School in Union County, where her athletic training room has become a hub for both treatment and prevention. Between pulled quads and persistent scapular pain, Morgan dealt with multiple injuries that could have derailed her athletic career.

“I was just a freshman when I had my first injury,” Morgan recalls. “I didn’t even know someone like Hannah was there to help me. But she made time for me, just like she does for every athlete. She helped me stay calm, manage the pain, and get back to doing what I love.”

The Network Effect

What sets Atrium Health’s approach apart isn’t just having licensed professionals on campus. It’s the network they’ve built that activates when injuries require specialized care. In other school systems, families often struggle to navigate insurance requirements and specialist referrals. Students in Atrium’s program get fast-tracked through the health system’s sports medicine infrastructure.

Athletic Trainers have direct communication with team physicians from Atrium’s Musculoskeletal Institute, specialists who focus specifically on sport-related injuries rather than general pediatric medicine. When an Athletic Trainer suspects an ACL tear or identifies a concerning concussion, they can text the team physician directly and get students seen within days, rather than weeks.

“Our Athletic Trainers bridge the gap between injury and return-to-play,” Katie says. “They’re able to get athletes seen faster, get tests done faster, and really move them through the recovery process because of those established relationships.

Morgan’s father, Shaun Edwards, experienced this firsthand.

“Just knowing someone was immediately available made a huge difference,” he says. “We trusted Hannah completely. She helped guide us through the process and gave Morgan the right advice from the beginning.”

That seamless coordination extends throughout the recovery process. When students need physical therapy or follow-up care, Athletic Trainers help coordinate appointments and maintain communication with families. Morgan’s mother, Ginger Edwards, appreciated never having to wonder what was happening next.

“There was never a gap in communication,” she said. “If we had questions, we could reach out directly. But Morgan usually knew exactly what was going on because Hannah kept her well-informed.”

When Seconds Count

For Nelson Garner, Union County’s Athletic Director, the value of Atrium Health’s program becomes clearest in a crisis. Earlier this year, a football player sustained what appeared to be a spinal injury during practice. It was the kind of scenario that would normally create panic among teammates, coaches, and families.

“The Athletic Trainer on site did a phenomenal job of not only securing the student-athlete to the spinal board, but also bringing a calm and reassuring presence,” Nelson recalls. “That kind of response comes from experience and training.”

Beyond emergency response, Atrium Health’s program helps school districts exceed North Carolina’s requirements for Athletic Trainer coverage while providing broader health initiatives. The Heart of a Champion program offers comprehensive annual physicals that screen for cardiac issues and other health concerns before students begin their seasons.

“It’s one of the most comprehensive youth sports screenings in the region,” Nelson says. “It’s another example of how Atrium Health goes above and beyond.”

Building the Gold Standard

The impact on students like Morgan extends beyond their high school careers. Watching her Athletic Trainer’s dedication to every athlete has inspired Morgan to pursue Athletic Training herself. She says she wants to provide the same level of care for future student-athletes.

“Seeing how much she cared about every athlete really influenced me. This is what I want to do,” says Morgan.

In 2021, Hannah’s first year at Cutherbertson, she established a sports medicine student aid program. She has trained 8-10 student volunteers over the last four years. Morgan is a graduate from that program, and Hannah couldn’t be more proud. She knows exactly the kind of impact she’s had on Morgan, and it’s mutual.

“I hope that anyone who has had an encounter with me knows how much passion I have for what I do,” Hannah says. “The athletes are my reason why. I am lucky enough to have someone like Morgan work under me for all four years of high school. It would be a full circle moment in my career to work with her again one day.”

For Katie, that kind of influence represents Atrium’s broader vision for sports medicine. After nearly 20 years as an Athletic Trainer, she sees the Atrium Health Athletic Trainer program as a model that could reshape how healthcare systems support young athletes nationwide.

“We want to be the gold standard — not just in North Carolina, but nationally,” she says. “We’ve had applicants say they’ve heard about our program from professors and mentors. That says a lot.”

For families throughout the communities Atrium serves, this partnership has transformed what it means to be a student-athlete. Where parents once faced the daunting prospect of navigating complex healthcare systems alone, they now have trusted advocates who know their children and understand their goals.

“When you send your child to one of our schools for athletics, you can be assured they’ll have a qualified and caring Athletic Trainer taking care of them, plus a group of doctors supporting them behind the scenes,” says Nelson. “This is truly what a community healthcare partnership should look like.”

To learn more about why Atrium Health Musculoskeletal Institute is the region’s leader in orthopedics and sports medicine care, click here. To schedule an appointment with an Orthopedic or Sports Medicine specialist, call 704-863-HURT (4878) or schedule online.

Medical Directors:

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas threw out the ceremonial first pitch wearing the latest edition of Arizona’s City Connect uniform at the Diamondbacks City Connect Nike RBI High School Showcase at El Oso Park. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News)

PHOENIX – Concerns about baseball’s future have long haunted MLB executives. Recent improvements in viewership and attendance have suggested a resurgence in popularity, but ultimately the league knows the growth of the game circles back to youth signing up and taking the field from a young age.

Since reaching the World Series in 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks have captured fans’ attention. Once in the basement of the daunting National League West, the team has emerged as a legitimate contender. Now, it is working to build the next generation of great Arizona ballplayers.

The Diamondbacks’ RBI program serves to support young baseball players who may not have the means to play based on a number of obstacles, including the cost to play. The program supports players from ages 5 to 18 and is committed to increasing youth interest in softball and baseball in Arizona.

James Kuzniak, the coach at Yuma’s Gila Ridge High School, has worked with the Diamondbacks for the past nine years, running youth camps and tossing batting practice at Chase Field. In 2024, he joined the RBI program as an assistant coach to help some of Arizona’s overlooked young players reach the next level.

“It gives them a taste of pro ball before they get into pro ball,” Kuzniak said before the Diamondbacks City Connect Nike RBI High School Showcase at El Oso Park. “From the gear to the travel to the hotels, meal money, (the Diamondbacks) take care of everything from the top down.”

The Diamondbacks’ RBI program, which launched in 2020 under the MLB Jr. RBI recreational program, stands for “Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities.” The RBI team has since traveled and competed against other MLB RBI teams around the country. The Diamondbacks won regional finals to advance to the MLB RBI World Series in Florida in 2023 and 2024, as the number of players in the program and the overall talent continued to rise.

Arizona ranked second to last in the nation (42.6%) in the percentage of children ages 6 to 17 who played a team sport or took lessons in 2020 and 2021, according to a 2023 study by Project Play. The national average was 51%. Beyond baseball and softball, youth participation in sports around the country has plateaued. Kuzniak is part of the mission to rebuild those connections to sports and the community it can provide to those in need.

“It really gives hope,” Kuzniak said about the potential impact of the RBI program. “Even me doing it in my local community. I have young kids talking to me like, ‘Hey man, I hope one day I could play on the RBI team .’ … To see 10-, 11-year-olds, kind of giving them that goal of ‘Hey, one day I want to play and make the RBI team,’ it’s really cool.

The Diamondbacks’ RBI program sets out to connect communities in Arizona through the game of baseball and encourage more young athletes to participate. (Photo by Truitt Robinson/Cronkite News)

“It kind of gives them something to look forward to. … It doesn’t have to be competitive. It’s not about winning or losing. There’s a lot of failure in this game, from the big leagues on down.”

The RBI program could contribute to the game’s recent resurgence. Thanks in part to rule changes, ESPN’s MLB viewership has increased 22% from last year, and FOX’s viewership has improved 10%, the league reports.

MLB attendance is also up. The Diamondbacks, for example, are averaging 31,461 fans at Chase Field in 2025 versus 28,912 in 2024.

Still, even big leaguers like Diamondbacks outfielder Alek Thomas understand the everyday struggle that baseball presents. Thomas, in his fourth season with the team, once found himself in the same shoes as the kids in Phoenix. Growing up in Chicago, Thomas is an alumnus of the White Sox RBI team. Now serving as a mentor for the generation to follow, he is one of many Diamondbacks players supporting the program.

“Being able to have that experience, the White Sox, they supported all the things that we did,’’ Thomas said. “And now, being a part of an organization where they do the same thing is really cool. Being a player instead of a kid is different. Things come around full circle. Just to be able to talk to these guys and give them whatever advice I can give them is really cool.”

As the Diamondbacks’ RBI team gets its season started, aiming to reach a third-consecutive MLB RBI World Series in Florida, the growth of the program provides reason for optimism for the future of baseball in Arizona. Project Play’s survey conducted in late 2024 shows that the national average spending amount by parents for their child to play their primary sport has eclipsed $1,000, a trend that has increased by 46% since 2019. The MLB RBI programs around the country help to eliminate those obstacles while rebuilding communities in the inner cities and keeping kids active.

“(The Diamondbacks’ RBI program) has built up really quickly because the Diamondbacks have put a lot of money into it,” Kuzniak said. “They’ve really invested in it … It’s not just about the baseball. You treat (the players) like people, and you take care of them like people, and they’re going to do good things for you, once they see that they’re part of the family.”

Nine Chautauqua County organizations are receiving nearly $150,000 in legacy funds from the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation through the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo.

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation established the Legacy Funds in 2016 as endowments at the Community Foundation to provide annual support to areas that were important to Mr. Wilson during his lifetime: Caregivers, Community Assets, Design and Access, and Youth Sports. Endowment funds are designed to grow over time and provide funding for charitable causes according to a client’s wishes, forever.

The Legacy Funds at the Community Foundation complement the work of the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and were created to provide immediate impact and long-term benefit in Western New York.

Funds awarded locally from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Caregivers include:

• Chautauqua Hospice & Palliative Care – $12,000 for Short Term Stays at The Star Hospice House
• Community Connections at Findley Lake – $22,000 for Community Connections at Findley Lake Caregiver Support Program
• Family Service of the Chautauqua Region, Inc. – $25,000 for Supporting Caregivers and Elderly

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Design and Access have been awarded to:

• Chautauqua Region Economic Development Corporation – $35,000 for Chautauqua County Overland Trails Revitalization Project, Phase V
• City of Jamestown – $20,000 for Bergman Park Disc Golf

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Legacy Fund for Youth Sports funds have been awarded to:

• Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County – $16,000 for Empower Her Athletic Club
• Chautauqua Striders Inc. – $9,000 for 2025 Youth Track & Field Development Program
• City of Dunkirk Youth and Recreation Department – $10,000 for Dunkirk Sports Sampling

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Dear Abby: My son is a loving husband, father and son. He coaches his 12-year-old son, my grandson, in various sports and sometimes is just a spectator. I’m worried because he often berates his son’s playing ability. He has yelled at him during and after games, whether he is coaching or not. He yelled and screamed at him in front of everyone and later at home.