Originally published on DICK’S Sporting Goods Sideline Report

NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / June 12, 2025 / June 11 marked a historic first for DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. Twenty DICK’S House of Sport locations nationwide came alive with energy, excitement and sport for the inaugural “Sports Matter Day of Play”. As part of the festivities The DICK’S Foundation invited youth organizations from communities across the country to participate in a day dedicated to celebrating play, access and opportunity in sports at their local DICK’S House of Sport location.

This first-of-its-kind event was designed to give young athletes the chance to explore and experience new sports. From soccer drills in Boston to softball swings in Miami, each House of Sport became a vibrant, hands-on arena where kids could discover the joy of play. Designed to be inclusive and engaging, the activities encouraged curiosity and confidence in a variety of sports. For many, it was their very first time holding a lacrosse stick, swinging a golf club or rock climbing with encouragement from local coaches and mentors.

“There is nothing better than seeing kids light up when they get to play a sport for the first time,” said Rick Jordan, VP of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “Thats what the day was all about, getting to create those moments and showing young athletes that they belong on the field, the court or wherever their passion leads them.”

In addition to a fun day of play at House of Sport, participating organizations also received a Sports Matter grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, to help ensure that their vital work in the community can continue to thrive. The grants underscore The Foundation’s ongoing mission to provide access and equity in youth sports, one athlete at a time. Since 2014, DICK’S Sporting Goods and The DICK’S Foundation has helped over 3 million kids and committed over $100 million to support young athletes with equipment, registration fees, league costs and playing fields through its Sports Matter Program.

“To have our organization recognized and supported today means a lot to us,” said Jamaal Wornum, CEO and Founder of One Love Sports Academy in Boston. “The kids had a blast trying new sports and events like these are a game-changer for our program that will keep more kids doing what they love.”

The Full List of Participating Organizations and DICK’S House of Sport Locations includes:

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FLINT, Michigan — On Saturday, June 8, Flint Style Soccer hosted its inaugural ‘Empowering Women in Soccer Flint Style!’ clinic, bringing hometown hero and pioneering figure in American soccer, Carrie Taylor, back to Flint.

Taylor, Vice President of Operations for the USL Super League and Technical Director of the USL Women’s Pathway, attended the event to help teach a goalkeeping and skill development session as well as a player wellness workshop for parents and coaches focused on physical and mental health.

The clinic was hosted by Flint City AFC, Flint Style Soccer, and the University of Michigan-Flint Women’s Soccer Program, and took place at Atwood Stadium, featuring appearances by trailblazing soccer leaders with a shared commitment to uplifting the next generation of female athletes. 

Flint Style Soccer was founded in 2016 to help shape young people and their futures by introducing Flint youth to soccer as a means to build confidence, teach teamwork, and foster lifelong lessons on and off the field. Today, Founder Steve Wolbert and President Erin Franzen continue that community-based initiative to create camaraderie and pride within the community, via soccer. 

Courtesy photoParticipants warm up during the ‘Empowering Women in Soccer Flint Style!’ clinic at Atwood Stadium on Saturday, June 8, 2025.Taylor has over 30 years of experience as a coach, executive, and advocate for women in soccer. She made history as the first woman to coach a men’s professional team in the USL Championship with San Diego Loyal SC. She’s served various roles throughout the country, and bringing her expertise right back to her hometown of Flint was a highlight for organizers.

“We love Carrie Taylor,” says Franzen. “She’s a Flint native with an incredible soccer resume, and she’s also a long-time sponsor of Flint Style Soccer. She is so supportive of our mission of making soccer accessible to Flint kids and has been totally committed to making this clinic happen since Monica Perez (one of Flint Style’s senior coaches) shared the idea with her years ago. I don’t think we could find a better coach to help us design and lead this clinic if we tried.”

Taylor was born and raised in Flint, graduated from Flint Central, played in the Flint Olympian Games, and started the first-ever varsity soccer program at the University of Michigan. 

“I’ve always tried to stay connected to Flint and support the Flint soccer community over the years,” says Taylor. “I’ve been blessed to have a really long career across the country, nationally, and even internationally in soccer. Flint helped me get my start, they helped me fall in love with the game. Everything that I’ve been able to achieve in my life started with the soccer programming in Flint — so what Flint Style Soccer is doing is very near and dear to my heart.”

Franzen hoped the clinic could allow girls to connect and learn from women who have experience playing soccer at an elite level. She knew that ‘seeing is believing’ and was proud to have Flint City ACF and UM-Flint Women’s soccer team coaches involved, alongside former D1 players and seasoned coaches.

“Girls’ sports are secondary way too often,” she says. “By having a clinic that is designed by women and led by women for young women, we’re creating a really safe, fun, and supportive environment that will allow the players to thrive.”

Courtesy photoA participant plays during the ‘Empowering Women in Soccer Flint Style!’ clinic at Atwood Stadium on Saturday, June 8, 2025.

Not only is it about the sports, but it’s also about the bigger picture of what a clinic like this can provide to young girls and women.

“You never know when you’re going to impact a young person,” Taylor says. “There could be a 10-year-old girl that may not be very self-confident who comes to this clinic. She understands that she can learn a skill and be successful. The research shows that young women who participate in sports are generally more successful in their careers long-term. It’s not just about soccer, it’s helping to inspire the things that go unnoticed like self-confidence, learning something new, interacting with teammates, being brave and bold.”

Although the talent that led the clinic is world-class, there was a very modest price tag for such an event. Registration was just $5, which is reflective of the organization’s mission to remove barriers among youth sports.

Families know how costly kids’ hobbies can be, and sports are no different, with the need for jerseys, equipment, water bottles, food, travel expenses, etc. Thanks to sponsors, donors, partners, and volunteers, Flint Style Soccer was able to provide most of the community programming for free. 

“Our goal is to make this an annual tradition,” Franzen says. “The more we invest in our girls now, the stronger our entire community becomes.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.  – Bethune-Cookman Athletics placed 198 student-athletes on the 2024-25 Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Commissioner’s Honor Roll and All-Academic Achievement Award Honor Roll, released Friday, June 6, by the league office from its headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama.

The SWAC Commissioner’s Honor Roll is comprised of student-athletes with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher during the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters.

“I am extremely proud of how Bethune-Cookman Athletics continues to display academic excellence, in ad- dition to our athletic prowess, from our student-athletes here in Daytona Beach,” commented Reggie Theus, B-CU Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball head coach.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work our student-athletes put in each and every day in the classroom with amazing faculty and staff here at B-CU. And for us to continue showing it throughout the SWAC, it just continues to put a positive light on everything we’re trying to achieve as a department – and that starts with our student-athletes.”

Some other figures of note academically for the Wildcats from the 2024-25 athletic term include a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.20 in the spring, as well as a having 12 teams maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

A New Jersey youth baseball umpire who was brutally attacked by a coach and left with a broken jaw during a 2022 game in Branchburg was awarded $650,000 in damages following a two-day civil trial this week in Middlesex County court.

The judgment is believed to be the largest verdict of its kind in New Jersey history, according to Andrew L. O’Connor, the umpire’s attorney.

The countdown has begun for the FIFA World Cup coming to Silicon Valley next year.

Representatives from the Bay Area Host Committee and Santa Clara celebrated the one-year countdown to the World Cup Wednesday with speeches and a youth soccer clinic led by the San Jose Earthquakes. Levi’s Stadium will host six games in 2026, beginning June 13. City officials dedicated a plaque to commemorate the games and unveiled a one-year timer, which will be moved around the community and presented at various city events.

“Let’s make sure that when the world looks at Santa Clara, they’re not just seeing a host city, but a community that never stopped believing in its children’s future,” Mayor Lisa Gillmor said.

About 160 children from Santa Clara youth sports groups participated in the soccer clinic after the commemoration ceremony, according to Bay Area Host Committee CEO Zaileen Janmohamed.

She said the host committee is working on events to include Santa Clara and Bay Area residents in the World Cup festivities, such as more clinics and watch parties. She said the World Cup has historically had seismic impacts on the nation’s soccer communities, as the 1994 World Cup helped create Major League Soccer.

“Today is a really good example of what you can expect,” Janmohamed told San José Spotlight. “We want to make sure that we have … a way for people in the community to feel like they’re part of the World Cup, even if they’re not coming to a game. That’s what you should start to see.”

Santa Clara is gearing up for a busy 2026, as Levi’s Stadium will host Super Bowl 60 Feb. 8, only a few months before the World Cup matches in June, both facilitated by the Bay Area Host Committee. Preparations are underway for both events and Janmohamed said the largest lift — a roughly $25 million renovation of Levi’s Stadium’s field to fit FIFA requirements — is nearly complete.

“We’ve been in this planning phase, ‘what if we did it this way,’” Janmohamed said. “We’re moving from that ‘what if’ to a ‘let’s do this.’”

Santa Clara officials have been looking for ways to get residents involved and see more local economic benefits from these mega sporting events. When Santa Clara hosted Super Bowl 50 in 2016, the Bay Area collectively saw a $240 million boost, but only about 7% of that revenue went to Santa Clara.

Councilmember Karen Hardy said she wants to work with the host committee and FIFA to bring more benefits into the city. She suggested letting Santa Clara youths have a moment on the field during the games or letting residents purchase discounted tickets, but both are up in the air. The city is working on hosting a concert at Santa Clara University in the months between Super Bowl 60 and the World Cup games, to give residents more opportunities to celebrate.

“We’re working on getting that funding and doing that for the community … as a present to our residents,” Hardy told San José Spotlight.

Engaging the community will be key in this year’s run up to the events. Aly Wagner, founder of the local National Women’s Soccer League team Bay FC, said engaging with the larger soccer community as a youth during the 1994 World Cup inspired her to pursue the game. Wagner won two Olympic gold medals and two FIFA World Cup bronze medals during her 20 years playing internationally.
Wagner said she hopes the upcoming World Cup games similarly inspire Silicon Valley’s youngest generations of soccer players. FIFA is expected to announce the World Cup’s group stage teams on Dec. 5, which includes all teams in the various groups and who will play at which stadiums. She said it’ll be easier to rally the community around the games once it’s known who will play at Levi’s Stadium.

“Touching it and feeling it and being a part of it is very different from watching it on a broadcast,” Wagner told San José Spotlight. “We’ve always been a hotbed for talent in soccer, now we have an opportunity to grow that because more people are going to be exposed and fall in love with this game.”

Contact B. Sakura Cannestra at [email protected] or @SakuCannestra on X.