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.
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club (SBVC) has announced plans to construct a new indoor youth volleyball facility at 4550 Hollister Avenue in Goleta after Santa Barbara County approved a ground lease.
The facility would be developed on county-owned land through a long-term ground lease approved by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors. With the lease approved, the project will enter the planning and permitting phase next.
The property is located next to Santa Barbara County Fire Station 13 and the Page Youth Center.
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club is a youth and junior volleyball organization serving both girls and boys. While formally established in 2010, the club has been part of the local volleyball community since 1994.
In spring 2025, SBVC entered a new phase through a leadership partnership with the Los Angeles Volleyball Academy to strengthen its coaching structure and competitive programs.
Expand Sports Opportunities for Youth
The new facility is expected to expand youth sports opportunities in Santa Barbara County, where limited access to indoor court space has long made training and competition challenging for local programs, SBVC said in a statement.
A dedicated facility is expected to reduce those challenges by providing a consistent, year-round space for volleyball training and competition.
Matt Riley, executive director of SBVC, described the facility as a long-term investment in Santa Barbara’s youth, citing its potential to create positive experiences and build confidence.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027.
What the Indoor Facility Entails
The indoor, year-round gym will host practices, training sessions, and organized league play. While volleyball will be the primary focus, the space may also be used for other youth sports programs.
Santa Barbara has long faced a shortage of indoor sports facilities, particularly for youth programs. The new gym would allow SBVC to reduce its reliance on shared school facilities and expand learning opportunities for athletes.
“By investing in youth sports and creating spaces where kids can learn teamwork, confidence, and resilience, we’re strengthening the fabric of our community for years to come,” Santa Barbara County Supervisor Laura Capps said in the statement.
SBVC officials said additional details on design, programming, and community engagement opportunities will be released as the project moves forward.
Project Funding
Santa Barbara Volleyball Club operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The project will be funded primarily through philanthropic donations and grants, with the county continuing to collaborate with the club on permits and entitlements.
SBVC officials said the partnership with the county reflects a shared commitment to expanding access to youth-focused recreational spaces while making productive use of public property.
A proposed nationwide youth sports event outlined by President Donald Trump has sparked debate across the sporting world, with questions emerging over how the competition would work and who would run it.
The concept, branded the “Patriot Games,” was announced this week as part of celebrations for the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. While the idea is framed as a showcase for elite high school athletes, its sporting structure remains largely undefined.
What the Patriot Games would look like
Speaking in a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Trump said the Patriot Games would be an “unprecedented four-day athletic event” featuring top high school competitors from across the country.
Under the proposal, each U.S. state and territory would be represented by one male and one female athlete, suggesting a multi-sport or all-around format rather than a single-discipline championship.
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Trump also reiterated his position on gender eligibility in sport. “But I promise there will be no men playing in women’s sports. You’re not going to see that. You’ll see everything but that,” he said.
Big questions for youth sport
From a sporting standpoint, key details are still missing. The White House has not said which sports would be included, whether athletes would qualify through state championships or nomination, or which organisation would oversee rules, safety, and selection.
Those uncertainties prompted online debate among fans and commentators, with some likening the concept to fictional elimination-style contests, while others compared it to Olympic-style meets, state games, or national all-star events.
FactPost, a social media news account, summarised Trump’s remarks by highlighting the proposed four-day format and the plan to include one male and one female athlete from each state and territory.
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Politics enters the conversation
Democrats added a political dimension to the reaction by sharing a clip from The Hunger Games on their official social media account, alongside a quote from the 2012 film.
“And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice,” the post read.
The comparison, intended as satire, fuelled criticism that the proposal risks prioritising spectacle over sport if left loosely defined.
Another week of headline decisions
The Patriot Games announcement came during a week of other high-profile moves from the White House. Separately, it was announced that the Kennedy Center would be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.
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Trump said he was “surprised” and “honoured” by the decision. BBC News previously reported that he had dismissed the Kennedy Center’s board and replaced it with allies, who later voted for him to become chairman.
For now, the Patriot Games exist only as a concept. Whether they develop into a credible national competition for young athletes will likely depend on governance, transparency, and how closely the event aligns with established standards in youth and high school sport.
"And so it was decreed that, each year, the various districts of Panem would offer up, in tribute, one young man and woman to fight to the death in a pageant of honor, courage and sacrifice." (The Hunger Games, 2012) https://t.co/fCx32lUMYbpic.twitter.com/3FJw4boQLv
RIO GRANDE VALLEY – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) men’s and women’s tennis teams will host a free junior clinic on January 10 at H-E-B Tennis Center in Harlingen prior to the men’s tennis dual match against Arkansas.
The youth tennis clinic is free and open to all participants. Participants must be enrolled in grades 5-10 to register. The clinic will run from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. and those participating in the clinic will be treated with food at the conclusion of the clinic.
All participants are encouraged to stay and watch UTRGV’s season-opener against Arkansas which will begin at 5 p.m. at H-E-B Tennis Center.
Those interested in signing up for the youth clinic can do so at GoUTRGV.com/TennisClinic.
“The clinic is going to be a great opportunity for the kids to come out and get on court with Division I athletes, work with them, ask them questions, and then get to see what match day looks like,” head men’s tennis coach Nathan Robinson said. “They will get to see the players warm up and play against a top 50 program in the country in Arkansas. It’s going to be a great afternoon and evening of tennis for the Valley.”
“Our goal is to get kids fired up about tennis and sharing the experiences of our student-athletes to inspire them about sports and education,” head women’s tennis coach West Nott said. “Tennis is a lifelong sport where chasing the yellow, fuzzy ball can provide a lot of health benefits. We want to connect the dots for young kids on learning the values of exercise, sticking with a long-term goal, and most importantly, a way to have fun without being in front of a screen. Beginners are welcome to attend as we will have rackets for players to borrow.”
For more information, please contact assistant coach Ekaterina Vorobeva at ekaterina.vorobeva@utrgv.edu.
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The community of Port Washington, located on the North Shore of Long Island, understands the important role that athletics can play in shaping the development of its youth.
Since 1963, the Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) organization has played a central role in providing year-round playing opportunities for local youth, with sports offerings ranging from baseball to wrestling, from field hockey to lacrosse.
While most of the PYA’s programs are top-notch, perhaps none is more impactful in the community than the lacrosse program. Registration numbers were at an all-time high last season, with 300 boys’ and girls’ participants from K-6. That’s in addition to a robust “littles” lacrosse program for 3-4 year olds.
“We’re fully invested in developing all kids,” said Morgan O’Connor, who has served as a PYA coach for the past six years and now oversees the girls’ lacrosse division.
O’Connor credits the quality of the PYA’s volunteer coaches as one of the primary reasons for the success of the lacrosse programs.
“We work hard to find the best coaches in the area, and have been pretty fortunate through the years to have so many be a part of our program,” she said.
Community support is one of the hallmarks of the Port Washington youth program, a USA Lacrosse member organization. Having its own outdoor complex — Lions Field — with ample field space helps overcome one of the barriers that many other youth programs face. A strong partnership with the varsity and JV teams at Paul D. Schreiber Senior High School provides additional support.
Matt Lilien, commissioner of the boys’ division, says that the older kids serve as important role models for the younger kids.
“The impact of the high school players is immense,” Lilien said. “Whether they are demonstrating drills at a practice or helping with our winter program, they really have the attention of the younger boys.”
“There’s a great trickle-down effect by having the local high school players helping with beginner clinics and events,” O’Connor said.
Lilien says that while the PYA is committed to providing a quality top-down lacrosse experience for all, the coaches also put some responsibility back on the kids.
“It’s important to us that kids are learning the right way, but also the right things,” he said. “We really harp on kids being good teammates and having the right attitude. Effort, team, and sportsmanship are all really important things that we stress. We want lacrosse to be fun for everyone.”
One of the PYA’s biggest events is the annual Harvey Cohen Youth Tournament, named in honor of the legendary National Lacrosse Hall of Fame member who committed most of his adult life to growing the game on Long Island. The two-day event in late May attracts as many as 80 town teams and serves as a major fundraiser, including donations to charity.
“The tournament is a major undertaking, but it’s a very fun event,” O’Connor said. “We’re fortunate to have so many people who are willing to help.”
Lilien credits Port Washington’s family atmosphere and parental involvement as being strong support pillars for the PYA program.
“Port Washington is a sports town, and people are always looking to help out,” Lilien said. “The more people that we have involved, the better the overall experience will be for the kids.”
Now in its sixth decade of serving the community, the PYA appears top be as strong as ever.
“Lacrosse has always been big here, but we’re very grateful for the commitment of so many others through the years that have helped build this thing to where it is now,” Lilien said. “Our success is due to all of them.”
President Donald Trump announced Thursday the White House will host the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes from across the county, as part of the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year.
“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said.
Democrats have mocked the athletic competition online, comparing it to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian young adult novel and popular movie franchise in which children are forced to fight to the death in televised arenas.
The president revealed the plans for the Patriot Games in a video announcement from Freedom 250, which was launched Thursday. It is a “a national, non-partisan organization leading the Administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” according to a news release.
Trump previously previewed the competition in July, saying at the time it would be televised and led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.
During the video, Trump also highlighted his plans to begin construction soon on a new arch monument in the nation’s capital.
“We are the only major place without a triumphal arc. A beautiful triumphal arc, one like in Paris, where they have the great, a beautiful arc. They call it the Arc de Triomphe, and we’re going to have one in Washington, DC, very soon,” Trump said.
A UFC fight on the South Lawn is another of Trump’s ideas for the 250th celebration and will take place on his birthday, June 14.
“On Flag Day, we will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” Trump said.
Trump has long touted his desire to shape the nation’s 250th celebrations. In the past year, the Trump administration has moved quickly to align federal funding with the president’s anniversary priorities, and agencies have followed suit.
The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has embraced the president’s Great American State Fair initiative. The idea was first floated by Trump on the campaign trail in 2023, and it asks states to compete to have their fair chosen by Trump as the “most patriotic.”
Meanwhile, the White House is conducting a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution and has demanded the 250th content at the nation’s largest museum complex renews national pride.
