Akron grant initiative will fund youth development through sports
Local organizations serving Akron’s youth can now apply for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 as part of a city initiative aimed at expanding access to sports and wellness programming. The city has committed $100,000 to offset the cost of program fees, training and certifications for coaches, mental health services and safety and equipment to […]
Local organizations serving Akron’s youth can now apply for grants ranging from $500 to $5,000 as part of a city initiative aimed at expanding access to sports and wellness programming.
The city has committed $100,000 to offset the cost of program fees, training and certifications for coaches, mental health services and safety and equipment to provide more opportunities for young Akronites.
“We know that sports participation is a fantastic tool to address a range of larger challenges including public safety,” Mayor Shammas Malik said in a statement released Wednesday. “Giving our youth an opportunity to work as a team, learn new skills, develop coping strategies, and see the impact of their hard work and determination can help as a springboard to safe, healthy lives.”
To be eligible, an interested organization must be a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that directly serves Akron youth. Applications for the grants must be submitted by Saturday, May 31, at 11:59 p.m.
Applications can be emailed to Youth Opportunity Strategist Denico Buckley-Knight at dbuckley-knight@akronohio.gov. Paper copies are also available in the lobby at Akron City Hall, 166 S. High St., and can be turned in at the security desk.
This program is part of Akron’s larger investment in youth development and public safety. As part of that effort, the city is adopting the Aspen Institute’s Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, an eight-point framework that emphasizes youth access to fun, safe and developmentally appropriate sports activities.
The bill of rights “focuses on creating a shared community understanding that all youth should have real, meaningful opportunities to develop as people through sports,” Malik said at a press conference earlier this month.
Malik also said the city plans to partner with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative to get at least 64% of Akron youth participating in sports by the end of 2030.
“Other cities have seen the benefits of an increased focus on sports including obesity prevention, cancer risk reduction, gender equity, the social inclusion of people with disabilities and so much more,” Buckley-Knight said.
UNH Picked Fifth in CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of New Hampshire football team, led by fourth-year head coach Rick Santos, was picked fifth in the 2025 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish that was released by the conference prior to Media Day on Wednesday. The Wildcats, who tied for third place in the final 2024 CAA standings and advanced […]
RICHMOND, Va. – The University of New Hampshire football team, led by fourth-year head coach Rick Santos, was picked fifth in the 2025 CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish that was released by the conference prior to Media Day on Wednesday.
The Wildcats, who tied for third place in the final 2024 CAA standings and advanced to the NCAA FCS playoffs, received 119 points in the predicted order of finish to place behind the University of Rhode Island (163 points; eight first-place votes), Monmouth University (142; four), Villanova University (139; two) and Stony Brook University (125).
“Making the playoffs every year is one of the programmatic goals that we strive to, we want to have a national presence and we’re really excited to go into this year,” Santos stated in his opening media day remarks. “It’s probably the youngest team that I’ve ever been a part of. There are some unknowns, there is some uncertainty but I think when you go into a season like that, it’s really exciting and we look at it as an opportunity for growth.
“Through spring practice and what we’ve been doing in the summer has been elite and I’ve been really happy with it. Some young guys are gonna step up and some transfers we brought in are going to vie for meaningful positions as well.”
Senior wide receiver Caleb Burke (Johnstown, Pa.) received Honorable Mention recognition in voting for the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team. Burke ranked second on the team in receptions, receiving yards and TD receptions, as well as third in all-purpose yards, last season.
CLICK HERE to buy season tickets.
Plans start as low as $110 for general admission and include special benefits such as invites to exclusive events, complimentary tickets to UNH sporting events, first right to special events such as NCAA playoffs, and presale opportunities to Family Weekend and Homecoming.
Single-game tickets start as low as $36 for a general admission ticket. A general admission ticket for a premium game is $46. Other point prices for single-game football tickets are $46/$56 for a reserved seat and $61/$71 for a box seat.
For questions regarding tickets – including group tickets – and/or parking, please call 603-862-4000 or email unh.tickets@unh.edu.
UNH is followed in the CAA Football Predicted Order of Finish by Towson University (108), College of William & Mary (104), Elon University (98), University of Maine (71), Campbell University (53), Hampton University (50), UAlbany (47), Bryant University (32) and North Carolina A&T (23).
New Hampshire kicks off the 2025 season Aug. 30 (6 p.m.) at NC Central and the home opener is Youth Sports Day, presented by N.H. Distributors, on Sept. 6 (6 p.m.) against College of the Holy Cross.
Sports used to run on instinct, experience, and feel. Coaches trusted their eyes, players stuck to routine, and fans argued from the heart. But in the past two decades, analytics has reshaped the way games are played, coached, and managed. Sports used to run on instinct, experience, and feel. Coaches trusted their eyes, players stuck […]
Sports used to run on instinct, experience, and feel. Coaches trusted their eyes, players stuck to routine, and fans argued from the heart. But in the past two decades, analytics has reshaped the way games are played, coached, and managed.
Sports used to run on instinct, experience, and feel.
Coaches trusted their eyes, players stuck to routine, and fans argued from the heart. But in the past two decades, analytics has reshaped the way games are played, coached, and managed.
Today, athletes are tracked with wearables, GPS, and cameras that collect massive amounts of data. Teams use this to manage workload, prevent injuries, and improve performance. The focus has shifted from what happens to why it happens.
On the field, strategy is more data-driven than ever. Coaches make decisions—when to go for it, who to match up, how to space the floor—based on hard numbers, not hunches. In scouting, stats and predictive models guide draft picks and trades across every major sport.
Fans are part of the shift too. Advanced stats are now common in broadcasts, fantasy sports, and sports betting. From expected goals to efficiency ratings, numbers are changing how we watch and talk about the game.
Still, data isn’t everything. Intangibles like leadership, pressure, and team chemistry don’t show up in charts. The best teams strike a balance—using analytics to enhance, not replace, human insight.
In the end, analytics isn’t killing the soul of sport. It’s sharpening it.
Backed by NBA and WNBA stars and fueled by the youth sports boom, Shoot 360 is targeting 600 locations by 2030 As youth sports participation and interest in performance tech accelerates, basketball franchise Shoot 360 is expanding aggressively, with plans to grow from over 50 to 600 locations by 2030. Current franchisees and investors include […]
Backed by NBA and WNBA stars and fueled by the youth sports boom, Shoot 360 is targeting 600 locations by 2030
As youth sports participation and interest in performance tech accelerates, basketball franchise Shoot 360 is expanding aggressively, with plans to grow from over 50 to 600 locations by 2030. Current franchisees and investors include NBA and WNBA names such as Trae Young, Sue Bird, Rodney Stuckey, Thad Young, Zaza Pachulia and Peyton Siva.
credit: Shoot 360
To lead its growth, Shoot 360, already active in 28 NBA training facilities, has named two franchise industry veterans to its executive team: Jason Carter as chief operating officer and Jamie Eslinger as chief marketing officer. The hires come as the company develops more than 50 additional locations, building on its presence across North America, Europe and Asia.
credit: Shoot 360
Carter most recently served as president and COO of Bandon Fitness, the largest Anytime Fitness franchise group worldwide. He has also held leadership roles at Honors Holdings, UFC Gym and 24 Hour Fitness. Eslinger previously served as CMO of JEM Wellness Brands, overseeing marketing for Crunch Fitness, Massage Envy and European Wax Center.
“Bringing Jason and Jamie onto the team is a game-changer for our brand,” said Shoot 360 founder and president Craig Moody. “Their experience in franchise growth and operations aligns perfectly with our mission to grow the love of the game by providing positive experiences to each athlete who comes through our door.”
credit: Shoot 360
The Shoot 360 experience combines AI-powered analytics with gamified training to give athletes real-time feedback on shooting, passing and ball-handling. Personalized performance data is delivered directly to each user’s app, offering a consistent and measurable approach to skill development.
See Also
The concept has gained traction by addressing a growing gap in year-round youth athletic training. It also serves a wide age range, from children as young as five to adults looking to sharpen their game or stay active.
Shoot 360 is actively seeking franchise partners in all 50 U.S. states, with near-term growth focused on Florida, Illinois, Texas and the Northeast. The total investment to open a Shoot 360 location ranges from $600,000 to $1.8 million.
Kansas 4-H Shooting Sports Offers Youth Skill-Building and Safety Training During Fair Season
Image courtesy Canva With county fair season upon us, a common 4-H project youth participate in is shooting sports. Kansas 4-H state shooting sports specialist Chandra Plate explains the different opportunities within the project. “We have 10 4-H projects in Kansas for 4-H shooting sports, and on a nationwide basis, we also have 10 4-H […]
With county fair season upon us, a common 4-H project youth participate in is shooting sports. Kansas 4-H state shooting sports specialist Chandra Plate explains the different opportunities within the project.
“We have 10 4-H projects in Kansas for 4-H shooting sports, and on a nationwide basis, we also have 10 4-H projects. So the 10 4-H projects that we have are archery. In Kansas, we do both compound archery and recurve archery,” said Plate. “And then we have air pistol, air rifle, BB gun, hunting skills, muzzle loader, pistol, rifle, shotgun, western heritage. And those are our 10 4-H projects. For pistol and rifle, those are both small bore pistol and small bore rifle.”
Volunteers in 4-H shooting sports receive extensive training over a full weekend, typically starting Saturday morning and running through Sunday afternoon, with some sessions beginning Friday evening depending on the discipline. Each volunteer trains in only one discipline, such as archery, hunting skills, or muzzleloader. The training includes both discipline-specific instruction and youth development education. Safety is the top priority, followed closely by preparing volunteers to support positive youth development.
Plate says not every county in Kansas has 4-H shooting sports, so if you’re interested you’ll need to contact your local extension office and find out if they have 4-H shooting sports. If they don’t, she says you can contact the counties around you to see if they do.
For more information on 4-H shooting sports, visit kansas4-h.org.
Who are the new Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals investors? – Deseret News
The Miller family and Miller Sports + Entertainment announced the addition of a group of Utah investors to Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals and Real Monarchs on Tuesday. The addition of new investors “emphasizes a commitment to elevating soccer in Utah, while deepening investments in youth sports and local community initiatives,” according to the press […]
The Miller family and Miller Sports + Entertainment announced the addition of a group of Utah investors to Real Salt Lake, Utah Royals and Real Monarchs on Tuesday.
The addition of new investors “emphasizes a commitment to elevating soccer in Utah, while deepening investments in youth sports and local community initiatives,” according to the press release.
“Our family believes in the power of sports to unite, uplift and inspire,” Steve Miller, chairman and governor for RSL and the Utah Royals FC, said. “Bringing in local partners who share our love for Utah will help ensure our clubs continue to thrive both on and off the field.”
The Miller family purchased controlling ownership of the teams from David Blitzer in April, as the Deseret News previously reported.
Blitzer remains part of ownership as the second-largest owner, according to the Miller family.
Kristin Andrus, left, delivers a speech with her husband, Jeremy, during a peaceful assembly at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City on Thursday, July 23, 2020. | Yukai Peng, Deseret News
Who are the new RSL and Utah Royals investors?
The new investors “will focus on fostering excellence on the pitch, while investing in facilities, programs and community outreach,” per the statement.
The new RSL Football Holdings investors are:
Matt Hawkins.
Nick Greer.
Jeremy Andrus and Kristin Andrus.
Don Berman, Matt Berman and Erica Berman.
The new ownership group members “have a proven track record of leading world-class organizations and are committed to building championship teams,” Steve Starks, the CEO of the Larry H. Miller Company, said.
Hawkins is the CEO of cloud-based software company Waystar.
“I’m thrilled to join this incredible group of leaders,” he said in a statement. “I believe in building organizations that create positive, lasting impact, and RSL is exactly that — a platform to support athletes, young players, fans and Utah families.”
Greer is the founder and CEO of BUILT Brands, known for its protein bars.
“This is about more than sports,” he said. “RSL, the Utah Royals FC and our affiliated teams showcase the possibility for young athletes to dream big, work hard and become resilient. It is the ethos of our great state, and I couldn’t be more proud to join the Club.”
Jeremy Andrus is the CEO of Traeger Grills, which has its headquarters in Salt Lake City.
“Sports are a catalyst for connection and confidence,” he said. “We’re honored to be part of an organization that brings energy and passion to fans and families across Utah.”
Don Berman is the chairman and founder of Merrick Bank, which is based in Utah.
His daughter, Erica Berman, is an executive at CardWorks, which Merrick Bank is a subsidiary of, and led the Berman family’s bid to bring the WNBA back to Charlotte, according to Davidson College.
His son, Matt Berman, is also an executive at CardWorks, and is an assistant general manager for Davidson’s basketball program, alongside NBA star Steph Curry.
“Being part of the Club is more than an investment — it’s a commitment to our future,” Matt Berman said in a statement. “This is about building something generational for Utah, where soccer is not just a game, but a shared source of inspiration and joy.”
Video: Class of 2026 IU basketball commit Prince-Alexander Moody highlights at Augusta EYBL and Peach Jam – Inside the Hall
Class of 2026 guard Prince-Alexander Moody became IU’s first commitment in the rising senior class last month. The 6-foot-4 combo guard plays at Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland and for Team Takeover on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit. Moody is regarded as a three-star prospect and the No. 180 player nationally […]
Class of 2026 guard Prince-Alexander Moody became IU’s first commitment in the rising senior class last month.
The 6-foot-4 combo guard plays at Bishop McNamara High School in Maryland and for Team Takeover on the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) circuit.
Moody is regarded as a three-star prospect and the No. 180 player nationally according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Watch extensive highlights of Moody from the final EYBL session in Augusta as well as the Peach Jam below:
