This week, some of the biggest names in sports are joining forces with ESPN to launch two new public service announcements as part of its Take Back Sports initiative, powered by Disney—a leading force in supporting kids, families and communities—to get and keep kids playing sports. The PSAs—one featuring NFL legends Eli Manning, Peyton Manning and NBA star Stephen Curry, and another with SportsCenter anchor Scott Van Pelt—aim to spotlight some of the most pressing issues in youth sports, including cost, time commitments and the early specialization models, while underscoring the need to address these challenges so more kids can experience the benefits of playing sports. The Manning brothers and Curry join a growing list of athlete ambassadors, including Luka Dončić, Sydney Leroux, Lamar Jackson and others, addressing the critical issues in youth sports.
Scott Van Pelt PSA (WATCH HERE) With less than 4 in 10 kids ages 6-12 playing sports on a regular basis, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2024 report, Van Pelt is encouraging youth sports parents to join ESPN in its quest to prioritize kids playing sports and having fun. Produced by the creative company, Preacher, this PSA rallies parents to get their kids on the field of play.
“I watch sports for a living, and I can say, the greatest sports experience is watching your kids start and have fun playing sports,” Van Pelt states in the spot.
Eli Manning, Peyton Manning & Stephen Curry PSA (WATCH HERE) The Manning brothers are teaming up with Curry to bring attention to some of the challenges and opportunities in youth sports. The spot uses humor to encourage youth sports parents to join the movement in helping make the youth sports experience better for kids. The PSA was created and produced by Omaha Productions.
“Youth sports have been a game changer in so many lives, including my own, but all sorts of obstacles still prevent kids from accessing and enjoying them,” says Peyton Manning in a statement. “Eli and I are proud to team up with Stephen Curry and ESPN to shine a light on these challenges and help keep kids in the game.”
Both PSAs will run across ESPN platforms throughout the year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to fostering more inclusive and accessible youth sports opportunities.
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About ESPN Corporate Citizenship ESPN believes that, at its very best, sports uplift the human spirit. Its corporate citizenship programs use the power of sport to positively address society’s needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. For more information go to www.espn.com/citizenship.
About Take Back Sports Take Back Sports is a youth sports initiative led by ESPN and powered by Disney, designed to get and keep kids playing sports. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, ESPN is helping parents, coaches and caring adults take back sports and make it fun again. Together with its league, business and community partners, Take Back Sports is working to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play sports.
Michelle Agyemang has been named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2025.
Celebrating athletes who make history with their performances, the prestigious awards were held on Thursday night, and Michelle was selected by a panel of experts as the best young talent across all of British sport.
She came out on top against the previous winner Luke Littler who won the World Darts Championship this year, as well as cricketer Davina Perrin who became England’s second-top run scorer in the 2025 Women’s U19 T20 World Cup.
Michelle follows in the footsteps of other greats who have won the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize, including Wayne Rooney and Sir Andy Murray, while she is the second Gunner to win the prize while at the club, with Theo Walcott collecting the trophy in 2006.
Michelle enjoyed a successful season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season, scoring five times in 22 appearances, before lighting the international stage on fire with England. Our striker scored 41 seconds into her Lionesses debut in the UEFA Nations League against Belgium, earning her a spot in the squad for Euro 2025.
She repaid Sarina Wiegman’s faith, scoring vital late equalisers against Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages, in matches England went on to win as they retained their title, and saw Michelle named the Young Player of the Tournament.
She also won the Golden Girl trophy as Europe’s best young player, and was nominated for the prestigious Kopa Trophy, handed to the world’s top under-21 female footballer.
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Agyemang wins Young Player of the Tournament
Copyright 2025 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
Terrebonne Parish Recreation suspended its All-Stars youth sports program due to recurring fights among parents.
A recreation supervisor cited multiple incidents, including parking lot brawls and altercations with referees, as the reason for the program’s halt.
The parish is implementing a “no tolerance” policy for parents, which includes signing a waiver and a ban on threats, verbal abuse and substance use.
Officials plan to test the new policy for a year and aim to reinstate the All-Stars program in 2027 if parental behavior improves.
When parents kept getting into fights at Terrebonne Parish Recreation’s sporting events, the government decided to put the All-Stars program in time out.
Terrebonne Parish’s All-Stars program began in the 1970s and abruptly ended about three years ago after parents of the athletes kept misbehaving, Bobby Arceneaux said. Arceneaux has been a supervisor with Terrebonne Parish Rec for 52 years, and he said he thought he had seen everything, but when he walked out of a girls softball game in Jefferson Parish to see parents getting into fistfights with the opposing team, he said it was time to take action.
“I guess what broke it was our last year, when we did away with it, the All-Stars girls, we were fighting in the parking lot amongst each other, and here came the cops from every direction,” he said. “And we were on the court and went after a referee the next day.
“‘I’m embarrassed as the girl’s director because we don’t have to do that.”
Arceneaux was called to speak Dec. 17 to the Terrebonne Parish Council after the council had questions about the status of the All-Stars program.
The program, he said, used to be a big deal for Terrebonne. It consisted of multiple competitive youth sports teams. The parish even hosted multiple Babe Ruth League World Championships in Dularge, drawing more than 70 teams to the parish.
When asked why the program was halted, what he said surprised the Council.
“I’m just in awe… we’re talkin’ about the parents are fighting? Is that what we are saying? I mean are we serious?” Councilman Brien Pledger asked. “And to the people that might be listening to this, it’s a damn shame… Don’t relive your glory days, it’s over with. Let your kids do their thing.”
According to Arceneaux, most of the parents were great, and some even served as coaches. Unfortunately, about five parents were threatening violence on officials and getting into fights. Their actions resulted in the parish being banned from several fields. Eventually it was enough, he said, and he called the then-head of Quality of Life Jim Wendell to suggest they close down the program for a while.
Terrebonne Parish Manager Noah Lirette said the parish has been working on a “no tolerance” policy, and parents now have to sign a waiver when they register their children for sports. The Rec. Districts agreed to put up signs displaying the rules in their gyms, and he expects them to be finished with the new policies by the start of the next season of each sport.
“It really is a shame that some folks will sacrifice a great program for kids because they don’t know how to act,” Lirette said. “The no tolerance policy means no alcohol, no drugs on public fields. No threats of violence, no verbal abuse to kids or anybody else. If you break those rules, the police will get involved.”
According to Lirette, he wants a year of testing the “no tolerance” policy, and will bring back All-Stars in 2027.
The NCAA’s approval of new guidance on performance technology use this week offers a preview of questions that youth sports organizations will increasingly face as wearables, biometric tracking, and AI-powered analysis tools become more prevalent at younger age levels.
The guidance, developed after a May summit in Indianapolis, establishes three foundational principles:
Performance technologies are just one tool (not a solution)
They carry unintended risks including mental health impacts
Organizations need written plans for data management, education, and continuous improvement
What the NCAA Guidelines Say
The NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports defined performance technologies as any devices that collect biometric or performance data. This includes wearables attached directly to athletes or equipment, as well as cameras, sensors, surveys, software, and mobile apps that monitor performance indirectly.
The guidance includes three types of statements: foundational statements (the most important takeaways), recommendation statements (general considerations), and strategy statements (for implementation). Key requirements include establishing written plans for technology use, educating relevant groups, managing and protecting athlete data, making informed purchasing decisions, and implementing continuous improvement processes.
The NCAA will begin educational programming at the 2026 Convention, with full consensus statements available in early 2026.
What New NCAA Wearable Guidelines Mean for Youth Sports
While the NCAA guidance applies only to collegiate athletics, the framework addresses issues already present in youth sports:
Data Privacy at Scale: Youth sports operators using GPS tracking, heart rate monitors, video analysis platforms, or recruiting apps collect data on minors. The NCAA’s emphasis on data management plans signals growing expectations that organizations must document how they protect athlete information.
The Mental Health Variable: If NCAA athletes with developed emotional regulation face mental health concerns from performance tracking, the implications for 10-14 year-olds receiving constant biometric feedback or video analysis deserve scrutiny. The guidance acknowledges what many youth sports operators have observed: more data does not always equal better development.
Governance Gap: The NCAA now has structured guidance. Most youth sports organizations do not. As these technologies become cheaper and more accessible, the question is not whether youth sports will use them, but whether operators will implement them with appropriate safeguards.
What Comes Next
The NCAA will roll out educational programming starting at the 2026 Convention, with full guidance available in early 2026. Youth sports organizations watching this space should consider: Do we have a written technology use plan? How are we addressing informed consent with parents? What metrics actually serve athlete development versus organizational marketing?
The technology is not going away. The NCAA’s move suggests the conversation about how to use it responsibly is just beginning, and youth sports will not be far behind.
via: AB
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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
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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:
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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?
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Sign-ups are underway for children wanting to play in the Spring Softball League with the Newcastle Youth Sports Association.
Area parents can sign up their children from the end of December through January 31, 2026. Those registering before December 20 can receive a discount on their $55 fee. Register at: https://playpass.com/ ok-NYSA, and then use the code SPRING26.
You can also refer a friend and get $10 off your next registration. These can be done online at https://playpass. com/ok-nysa/invite.
The Spring League is from March 1 through June 30, 2026 and plays at 3009 State Highway 130 in Newcastle. The game schedule is dependent on number of teams and how many rain outs they could have.
NYSA states it will do its best to have each age group on its own set night, but we don’t have a way to know which nights until we see how many teams sign up in each age group, and the coordination with other cities is complete.
Team signups can also be completed through the website. They are $175 each.
The NYSA states that it is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and positive environment where youth of all skill levels, from beginners to competitive players, can develop their softball skills, sportsmanship, and love for the game.
They believe in promoting community, teamwork and personal growth.
The 2025 U.S. defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, which passed the Senate on Wednesday and is headed to President Donald Trump’s desk, includes provisions that ban biological males from women’s sports at U.S. military academies.
“The NDAA also permanently prohibits men from playing on women’s sports teams at all military academies,” reads a section of a Dec. 9 administrative statement addressing the bill from Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Ala.
Trans athletes have been prohibited from competing in NCAA sports dating back to February 6, when the NCAA updated its gender eligibility policy to comply with Trump’s “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports” executive order.
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A federal appeals court has also recently allowed the Pentagon to temporarily enforce its ban on transgender military service members.
The latest bill is one of the last remaining items that congress will address in 2025.
Lawmakers banded together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a roughly $901 billion package crammed to the brim with defense policy that unlocks funding for several of the Trump administration’s national defense priorities.
TOP GOP SENATOR URGES OLYMPIC OFFICIALS TO SWIFTLY ENACT ‘DECISIVE POLICY’ BANNING MEN FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS
The measure passed through the upper chamber on a 77-20 bipartisan vote. It’s a perennial legislative exercise lawmakers undertake, and one that normally comes and goes with little fuss, given that Congress typically bookends the year with it.
Other provisions, like a requirement for the Pentagon to release the unedited footage of boat strikes in the Caribbean in exchange for fully funding the Department of War’s travel fund, raised eyebrows but didn’t slow down the package’s success.
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That provision comes as lawmakers demand more transparency in the Trump administration’s strikes against alleged drug boats, and in particular, as they seek the release of the footage from a Sept. 2 double-strike on a vessel.
“This defense authorization act, although it doesn’t have as much in there for defense as a lot of us would like, is a step in the right direction,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said. “And I think the defense appropriations bill, which hopefully we’ll vote on later this week, is another example of the investment that we need to be making, to ensure that in a dangerous world, we are prepared to defend America and American interests.”
Fox News Digital’s Alex Miller contributed to this report.
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Jackson Thompson is a sports reporter for Fox News Digital covering critical political and cultural issues in sports, with an investigative lens. Jackson’s reporting has been cited in federal government actions related to the enforcement of Title IX, and in legacy media outlets including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Associated Press and ESPN.com.
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/Gray News) – Two children in Idaho are critically injured after a tree fell on them while they were waiting for the school bus.
The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office said high winds caused rotten trees to fall on power lines before collapsing on the children.
The kids, both under the age of 10, and an older sibling were waiting outside for their bus when the tree collapsed. According to the sheriff’s office, the older sibling was not injured.
Aaron Hudson, the Twin Falls fire deputy chief, told KTVB first responders had to first get the kids out from the tree and downed power lines before they could prepare them for transport.
The sheriff’s office said one of the children was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while the other was airlifted.
According to Hudson, the weather conditions caused difficulties during transport. He said that it prevented the helicopter from going any further than the local hospital.
The family of the children has started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.
Copyright 2025 KMVT via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
