Rec Sports
Girls On The Run at Chadron Highschool Track – KCSR / KBPY
More than 125 girls, run buddies, and coaches waited behind the start line on Sunday, October 26, at Chadron’s Highschool Track. A total of 8 teams ran including Rushville, Chadron Intermediate, Hay Springs, Hemingford, Alliance, Crawford, and Chadron Highschool.
Amid confetti, the runners started their 5K race around the track, through Memorial Park to Mears into Wilson Park, then up 8th Street again through Memorial, and back up and around the track to finish under an arch of victory.
Volunteers marked the course with bells and flags and on their way through Memorial Park, runners went through a wave of bubbles, blown by hand and machines.
Linda Rischling, Panhandle Girls On The Run coordinator, said. ‘ It’s not just a running club!’
The 3rd through 6th grade girls meet twice a week for eight weeks, the 5K race closing their season.
The Luka Doncic Foundation, which was established by the Los Angeles Lakers star in 2024 to empower and inspire young athletes worldwide, is celebrating World Basketball Day and a year of important progress with the launch of several new initiatives aimed at reshaping the youth sports landscape.
According to the press release, the Foundation has been guided by the mission that sports should be something kids love and want to keep coming back to and is working to protect that belief in a few different ways: developing new approaches to coaching in youth basketball; taking a hard look at how the youth basketball system actually works and where it breaks down; and, building a global athlete support program to help kids across all sports keep playing when barriers get in the way.
“Each of these partnerships was carefully developed to move the Luka Doncic Foundation forward in pursuit of its mission to ensure youth sports are a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world,” noted Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager. “These initiatives are helping us lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive through sports – regardless of their background or circumstance.”
“I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished in the year since we’ve launched, and I can’t wait to see what else we can do together,” said Doncic. “If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes, and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right.”
Included in these new initiatives is the development of the Total Hoops Curriculum, which is working to develop a pilot curriculum and implementation toolkit that develops and supports a system of coaching that allows kids to play freely, embrace mistakes, and rediscover their love of the game.
To showcase and test this new curriculum, the Foundation will partner with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to host a pilot clinic during NBA All-Star 2026. Newly trained Total Hoops Approach coaches will work with 100 youth athletes ages 9-15 from across Los Angeles to test new techniques aimed at reminding kids what sports can give them – friendship, confidence, and joy – and helping coaches make the court a place they want to return to.
Additionally, this coming spring, the Foundation will open applications to athletes ages 12-15 from all sports in U.S.A., U.K., China (PRC), France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia providing grants to help overcome barriers to participation.
Per the Luka Doncic Foundation, World Basketball Day is about more than just basketball. It’s a day to celebrate everything the sport brings to its young athletes – joy, connection, and a sense of belonging. Protecting that mission is at the core of the foundation, and each of these initiatives and partnerships are meant to further that ideal.
Luka Doncic buys E-bikes for teammates and Lakers staff
Luka Doncic has constantly displayed his generosity through the work of his foundation, but he also recently extended that to his teammates and Lakers staff members by buying them all E-bikes to celebrate the holiday season.
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Rec Sports
Princeton Area Community Foundation awards more than $1.3 million to 40 local nonprofits ⋆ Princeton, NJ local news %
The Princeton Area Community Foundation has awarded more than $1.3 million in Community Impact Grants to 40 nonprofits working to strengthen communities, fight hunger and homelessness, and expand access to mental health care, education, and job training in the region.
The $1,309,614 in grants is funded by individuals, families, companies, and foundations, including Johnson & Johnson and the Burke Foundation.
“Our Community Impact Grants program allows us to support a wide range of nonprofits doing incredible work in our region,” said Mathieu Nelessen, president and CEO of the foundation. foundation. “Providing books to toddlers in daycare, tutoring for students, nutritious meals and emergency rental assistance to families, job training for young people, and case management support for seniors are just some of the ways these nonprofits are making a difference for our neighbors, and we are thrilled to help support these programs.”
Three of the grants were made in memory of longtime Community Foundation trustees: Dr. William Burks, Allen Porter, and John “Jack” Wallace, who all died earlier this year.
“Bill, Allen, and Jack dedicated years of their lives to volunteer service with our organization, as well as other nonprofits in the community,” Nelessen said. “We are thankful that we are able to honor their memories with these grants, supporting causes that were important to each of them.”
Grants by focus area
Community and capacity building
- BookSmiles — $5,000 for delivering books to local daycares.
- Center for Modern Aging – Princeton — $45,500 for free social services and benefits help for older adults.
- Hamilton Area YMCA — $60,000 for the Community Sports for All youth sports access program.
- Hearts and Homes Ministries Inc. — $10,000 for distributing essential household items to households in poverty.
- People & Stories / Gente y Cuentos — $8,100 for literacy programs in underserved communities.
Food security
- America’s Grow-a-Row — $10,000 for the Fresh Produce Initiative serving hunger relief partners.
- Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton — $12,500 for a greenhouse partnership with Snipes Farm to supply fresh produce.
- Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County — $50,000 for brick-and-mortar and mobile food pantries. (Grant in memory of former trustee and board treasurer Allen Porter.)
- Meals on Wheels of Mercer County — $25,000 for home-delivered, medically tailored meals for seniors.
- Mount Carmel Guild — $33,500 for the Community Support Program providing food and emergency financial aid.
- Send Hunger Packing Princeton — $25,000 for weekly produce distribution to families of schoolchildren.
- Share My Meals — $12,500 for expanding the Meal Recovery Program in Trenton.
- Snipes Farm and Education Center — $25,264 for Healthy Food Access for Trenton Families produce shares.
- Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) — $50,000 for expanding meal sites and food truck stops in Trenton’s food desert communities. (Grant in memory of founding board member and trustee emeritus John D. “Jack” Wallace.)
Homelessness and housing stability
- Anchor House — $50,000 for services for youth and young adults facing homelessness and housing insecurity.
- Arm In Arm — $50,000 for the One Family at a Time eviction prevention and housing stability program. (Grant in memory of trustee emeritus Dr. William P. Burks.)
- CASA for Children of Mercer & Burlington — $20,000 for advocacy for children in foster care.
- HomeFront — $50,000 for expanding shelter and support for families in crisis.
- Rescue Mission of Trenton — $30,000 for 24/7 emergency shelter services.
Mental health and youth support
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County — $30,000 for one-to-one mentoring programs.
- PEI Kids — $26,000 for counseling for child and youth victims of sexual abuse and community violence.
Education and workforce development
- Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County — $6,250 for VR Teen Workforce Training.
- Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) — $12,500 for replacing a bus used for after-school and summer programs.
- The Children’s Home Society of NJ — $100,000 for school-based social-emotional learning programs.
- Dress For Success Central New Jersey — $25,000 for the Business Academy at Trenton Central High School.
- Every Child Valued — $47,000 for breakfast and after-school programs for students from low-income households.
- The Father Center of New Jersey — $50,000 for the Bridges2Success workforce and life skills initiative.
- HISPA — $60,000 for role model and college programs for low-income students in Mercer County.
- Isles — $32,500 for the Youth Institute education and workforce development program.
- James R Halsey Foundation of the Arts — $12,500 for the Let’s Film trauma-informed, arts-based program.
- Latin American Legal Defense and Education Fund (LALDEF) — $50,000 for adult education, advocacy and youth mentoring programs.
- Millhill Child & Family Development — $40,000 for the Creating Access to Limitless Possibilities youth programs.
- Princeton Ballet Society — $12,000 for the DANCE POWER in-school residency in Trenton.
- Princeton-Blairstown Center — $15,000 for Venture Out, a free STEM experiential program for Trenton middle school students.
- Princeton YMCA — $50,000 for after-school and ACE programs supporting K-12 students.
- Stretto Youth Chamber Orchestra — $30,000 for scholarships, teacher training and instrument support for Trinity Strings.
- UrbanPromise Trenton — $100,000 for tutoring, leadership development and college support, including the StreetLeaders program.
- We Make: Autism At Work — $7,500 for the Campus Community vocational training program for people with autism and other disabilities.
- The WorkWell Partnership — $7,500 for financial empowerment and job-readiness services for returning citizens.
- YWCA of Princeton — $23,500 for expanding the Art Start early childhood arts program.
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/fCx32lUMYb pic.twitter.com/3FJw4boQLv
— Democrats (@TheDemocrats) December 18, 2025
Sources: BBC News, social media posts by Donald Trump, Democrats, FactPost
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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.”
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Princeton Area Community Foundation awards more than $1.3 million to 40 local nonprofits ⋆ Princeton, NJ local news %
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