House Bill 103, known as the Youth Athlete Protection Act, proposes new statewide requirements for youth sports organizations and local governments in Alabama. The bill mandates that all coaches, including volunteers, undergo criminal background checks and complete annual mandatory reporter training. Additionally, organizations must adopt a youth athlete protection policy outlining clear rules for coach behavior, one-on-one interactions, communication with athletes, and reporting suspected abuse.

Rep. Leigh Hulsey, the bill’s sponsor, explained the motivation behind the legislation. “This bill came about after several families in my district reached out to me with concerns about youth athletics and the need for stronger safeguards. There have been situations involving families that raised serious concerns. At the end of the day, I believe we will never be wrong when we take steps to protect children,” Hulsey said.

The bill requires youth sports organizations and local governments to certify compliance with the state annually or face prohibition from offering youth sports programs. Hulsey emphasized the bill’s preventative nature, stating, “I believe this bill can be very effective, especially in preventing individuals with a criminal history involving inappropriate behavior with minors from being placed in positions of trust with our children. It’s a common sense step that prioritizes safety while supporting youth sports in our communities.”

The legislation, which takes effect Oct. 1, 2026, does not apply to K-12 schools or informal pick-up sports but covers most organized youth leagues across the state. The Department of Human Resources (DHR) will oversee compliance, develop a model Youth Athlete Protection Policy by Jan. 1, 2027, and provide mandatory reporter training for coaches. Noncompliant organizations must suspend operations until compliance is verified.

This bill would authorize DHR to rely on national resources, such as the U.S. Center for SafeSport, when developing the model policy.

Below is Rep. Hulsey’s full statement in response to questions from ABC 33/40:

This bill came about after several families in my district reached out to me with concerns about youth athletics and the need for stronger safeguards. While I can’t speak to whether athletic abuse is a widespread issue across the entire state, I do know there have been situations involving families that raised serious concerns. At the end of the day, I believe we will never be wrong when we take steps to protect children.

This legislation wasn’t prompted by any organization or group, but as a result of conversations with parents and a belief that reasonable protections should be in place everywhere. The bill simply ensures that adults who are coaching children in youth athletic programs are able to pass a background check. I am sure many municipalities already do this, so in many cases it likely won’t change current practices, but it helps create consistency across the state.

I believe this bill can be very effective, especially in preventing individuals with a criminal history involving inappropriate behavior with minors from being placed in positions of trust with our children. It’s a common sense step that prioritizes safety while supporting youth sports in our communities.

Portola Coach Brian Barham talks to his team during a timeout. (Photo courtesy Brady Kim).

Portola’s girls basketball team, coming off the most successful season in the eight-year history of the program, is having another memorable year under Coach Brian Barham.

Portola, which is in the competitive Pacific Coast League, which also includes Sage Hill and Rosary Academy, is off to a 13-6 overall start and looking for a solid run in the CIF post-season playoffs again.

“Last year, we ended our season in the semifinals round of the state tournament,” Barham said. “This season, we return three starters off that team. As always, we’re the smallest squad on the floor every night. Knowing this, we have stuck with our space and pace system.

“Speed wise, this is a special group to watch. We’re averaging just over 70 shots per game. Our squad has learned the more the balls move, the better we look.”

Portola was 19-16 overall last year and 6-2 in league play.

Three seniors have led the way for the Bulldogs, who are ranked 12th in Orange County.

“Maddison Nguyen remains one of the faster guards in Orange County while averaging 13 points per game,” Barham said. “Her speed and ability to compromise a defense creates so many opportunities for her teammates.”

Another top player is senior Kara Niho is closing in on 1,000 career points.

“If she hits it, she will be the fifth player in our program’s history to achieve the milestone,” Barham said.

Another senior, Amelia Booth “took her game to the next level,” Barham said.

Booth is averaging 11 points, 14 rebounds and and four steals a game.

“She is the emotional driving force for our team. In the fall, Amelia committed to Saddleback College where she will join her former teammate, Nina Saiki (Portola 2025),” Barham said.

Barham said he knows there will be challenges in the league.

“This season, we will have our hands full during PCL league play,” he said. “The league runs through Sage Hill, who are still the Yankees. We have three private schools in the league, so it will be an uphill battle every night. On the bright side, the tough competition helps preparation wise for a possible CIF run.”

Barham said he has been proud of the way the team has approached games.

“We often tell the players, ‘the way you play the game will be the way you live your life, so don’t be boring.’ We want our players to be dynamic on and off the court. As a coach, it’s very rewarding to watch this undersized group never punk out. I am proud of their fighting spirit.   

“I would love to see this group have a special ending. However, our fate is in the hands of the basketball gods. As always, we will whatever we deserve.”

Portola opened league play Tuesday losing to Rosary Academy 56-52. The Bulldogs were scheduled to play Sage Hill Friday night and also have a non-league game Saturday at home vs. Westiminster.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

Meghan Henry lives in Portland.

Youth sports has long been lauded as one way to instill a sense of belonging, responsibility, patience and accountability in young people. Sports, particularly team sports, pushes youth to think beyond the “me” and toward the “we.”

“Sportsmanship is as important as winning,” we say. We should be good humans as we strive to be good athletes. In the last few weeks, I have had the misfortune of witnessing behavior very out of line with these tenets. 

My daughter plays basketball on the eighth grade team of King Middle School in Portland. The team is composed of four (maybe five) players who have played this game before. The other 11 players have never played. Not only is most of the team new, the coaches are also new. They are dedicated King staff filling an unexpected gap, have no experience coaching and limited basketball experience in general.

But the players and coaches are learning, they are showing up, they are trying their best, they are helping each other out on the court — often to understand the basic rules of the game. 

As you may have guessed, the King team is not in the middle of a winning season. We have lost every game, often by a pretty good margin. During most of these games, the other teams exhibit behavior you’d expect. The coaches pull the best players after the first half, they don’t press or try too hard to steal the ball from kids obviously still learning to control the ball, they don’t shoot three-pointer after three-pointer. Basic sportsmanship.

In two of our recent home games, however, we have had teams come in missing that bit of sportsmanship that the other teams exhibited. Windham won the game 73 to our 6. Falmouth won 64 to our 19. During both of these games, the coaches kept their best players in, they stole the ball constantly, they smirked.

Windham celebrated when they hit 67 points (6-7!) while King still had just 6 points. And they continued to score. Their coaches encouraged this. They laughed. They argued with the refs. Falmouth did the same. During the last two minutes of the Falmouth game, the coaches and the players were engaging in “operation 6-7” and had all the players shooting three-pointers for the last few minutes just so they could laugh. The King players kept up their efforts. They did not give up and Falmouth was denied that extra bit of mocking celebration, thank goodness. 

You cannot ignore the underlying context that shines a harsher light on this. Windham and Falmouth are both well-resourced schools. King is not. Our gym has a court that is smaller than regulation, and we do not have bleachers. The King staff line up metal chairs along the wall before each game. When you sit, your toes can touch the sideline.

Many of the King players are in families here (legally) to seek asylum from countries to which they cannot return. The current environment adds a level of stress to all families in our community, and especially those who live in fear of having their parents taken during school drop-offs. For these and other reasons, few King parents can attend the games. 

However, the political climate and socioeconomic disparities are not the responsibility of the student athlete to fully understand. It should be the responsibility of the coaches to help them understand. What are we teaching our youth when we allow players to engage with the world this way?

Each team could have won handily and handled it with grace. They chose not to. These players are watching and learning how to behave on the court. This is not a “participation trophy” argument. The better teams should win and, in an evenly matched game, the better players should play more than the players still learning.

Please do not confuse a plea for sportsmanship with anything other than that. These teams took on the role of every antagonist in an underdog sports movie. During this holiday season, I hope that these coaches and others who have lost sight of the real goal of youth sports reflect on whether they are focusing enough on helping student athletes be good humans as they become — no doubt — exceptional athletes. 

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP, Mich. — In an update related to the dozens of animals found at a Bedford Township property Wednesday, the Battle Creek Police Department (BCPD) announced Friday that some dead animals were also found on the property.

Several dogs and one cat were found dead in addition to the 29 dogs, 15 cats, and two horses that had been removed from the Woodside Drive property that day, according to BCPD.

Police said the residence was operating as animal rescue but received a tip that raised concerns about animal care.

The dogs and cats are now in the care of the Calhoun County Animal Shelter and partner facilities, where staff are continuing medical and behavioral evaluations.

Shelter Executive Director Jackie Martens told News Channel 3 on Thursday many of the dogs are showing positive signs, but not all animals were up to date on rabies vaccinations.

Records for the cats have not yet been provided, meaning the shelter may need to re-vaccinate and spay or neuter them as a precaution.

Veterinarians are continuing medical evaluations. The horses were taken to a secure location that officials are not disclosing due to the ongoing investigation.

The owner was not home when authorities searched the property and no arrests have been made, according to BCPD. As detectives continue to investigate, the department said they will likely submit the case to the Calhoun County Prosecutor’s Office for review of potential criminal charges.

As the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear two high-profile cases involving transgender student athletes, LGBTQ+ advocates are urging the justices to consider not only constitutional questions, but the real-world consequences facing trans youth across the country.

On Jan. 13, the court will hear oral arguments in West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox, cases that challenge state laws barring transgender girls from participating on school sports teams that align with their gender identity. While the cases focus on athletics, advocates say the broader implications reach far beyond the playing field.

What’s at Stake for Trans Youth

The challenged laws in West Virginia and Idaho are part of a growing wave of state-level restrictions that target transgender participation in school sports. Supporters of the bans often frame them as necessary for fairness or safety. Critics argue they rely on assumptions rather than evidence and impose blanket exclusions that fail to account for differences in age, sport, or level of competition.

The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people, has taken a firm stance against the bans. In a statement released ahead of the hearings, CEO Jaymes Black urged the Supreme Court to reject what he described as discriminatory policies.

“Like all young people in this country, transgender youth deserve the opportunity to play sports at school, if they want to,” Black said, emphasizing that exclusion sends a damaging message about belonging.

Mental Health Impacts Backed by Data

The Trevor Project points to a growing body of research linking anti-transgender legislation to negative mental health outcomes. According to the organization, transgender and nonbinary youth living in states where restrictive laws were enacted reported up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts compared to peers in states without such policies.

Their 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People found that 46% of transgender and nonbinary respondents seriously considered suicide in the past year. Political debates and legislation were cited as a major source of distress, with 90% of LGBTQ+ youth saying recent politics harmed their well-being.

Sports participation, meanwhile, appears to have protective effects. LGBTQ+ youth who reported playing sports showed nearly 20% lower rates of depressive symptoms than those who did not. Still, fewer than one in three LGBTQ+ young people participate in athletics, often citing discrimination or fear of mistreatment as barriers.

Beyond Fairness Arguments

Black also criticized the laws for applying broad restrictions without nuance. “These one-size-fits-all bans treat every sport, age group, and level of competition the same,” he said, adding that they are rooted in misinformation rather than evidence.

While acknowledging the need for thoughtful discussion around safety and competition, Black drew a clear line between regulation and exclusion. “Banning an entire group of young people from any participation whatsoever is discrimination, plain and simple,” he said.

Polling from The Trevor Project suggests the emotional toll is immediate. Among transgender and nonbinary youth surveyed, debates around sports bans triggered feelings of anger, sadness, stress, and fear, underscoring how public discourse alone can impact mental health.

Looking Ahead

The Supreme Court’s decisions in these cases could shape how states approach transgender inclusion in schools for years to come. Regardless of the outcome, The Trevor Project says its mission remains unchanged.

“No matter what they decide,” Black said, “we will continue fighting for a world where transgender and nonbinary youth feel safe, seen, and accepted exactly as they are.”

The city of Tracy will take suggestions for naming the Tracy Sports Complex on 11th Street, for one more week, with Thursday, Jan. 15, the deadline for submitting names.

The Tracy City Council, at its Dec. 2 meeting, updated its naming policy for city facilities, giving the council the ability to name certain parts of a public building or parks and recreation facility for a city dignitary or member of the community.

The result was the naming of the baseball fields at Legacy Fields for former Mayor and current San Joaquin County Supervisor Robert Rickman, the soccer fields at Legacy Fields for late Tracy Youth Soccer League leader Shirley Thompson, and the lobby at Tracy City Hall for the most recent former Mayor Nancy Young.

During the discussion the council also considered naming the softball fields at Tracy Sports Complex for former Mayor Brent Ives, Tracy’s mayor from 2006 to 2014, and a city council member when the sports complex was planned, developed and then dedicated in 2002.

Instead, the council agreed that it wanted to name the full complex for Ives, but under the policy for naming public buildings and parks and recreation facilities, reviewed and updated that night, choosing to rename the Tracy Sports Complex requires the city to go through the full naming process.

The city opened the process on Dec. 15, allowing people to make nominations, and following the Thursday deadline for nominations, the naming recommendations will go to the Parks and Community Services Commission. The commission meets on the first Thursday of every month, with the next meeting scheduled for Feb. 5. The commission then picks three names, listed in order of preference, and forwards its recommendation to the City Council.

Applications for naming of public buildings and parks and recreation facilities are at www.cityoftracy.org/our-city/departments/parks-recreation-department/park-naming-nomination. They can be mailed or brought in person to Tracy City Hall, 333 Civic Center Drive, Tracy, CA 95376, or emailed to parks@cityoftracy.org, with the subject line “Naming Public Buildings, Parks & Facilities.”

• Contact the Tracy Press at tpnews@tracypress.com or (209) 835-3030.