This Sunday is Father’s Day, a time set aside to recognize and appreciate dads, stepdads, and father figures for the roles they play in families and communities.
Across the U.S., people are celebrating in different ways—from backyard cookouts and family dinners to simple phone calls or messages of thanks.
Father’s Day has been officially recognized in the U.S. since 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law as a national holiday.
But it started much earlier.
The first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane, Washington, in 1910. It was organized by Sonora Smart Dodd, who wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own.
Inspired by the already established Mother’s Day, Dodd pushed for a similar day to recognize fathers.
Over time, the idea spread, though it took decades to become a permanent holiday.
Father’s Day is often marked by giving gifts, spending time together, or simply saying thanks.
Popular gifts include tools, tech gadgets, clothes, and hobby-related items.
Some people choose to go out for meals or plan low-key activities like watching sports or going fishing.
For many, Father’s Day is a chance to pause and appreciate the people who helped raise them, whether that’s a dad, stepdad, grandfather, uncle, or mentor.
As youth sports participation costs rise and facility availability remains a bottleneck for growth, US-based 360 Hoops has announced a formal commercial rollout for 2026.
The company, which specialises in a patented three-basket hardware system and a proprietary 3v3v3 gameplay format, is positioning itself to address the primary pain point for facility operators: revenue density per square metre.
The pivot from prototype to national property follows a 2025 validation phase that included visibility on ESPN’s “The Ocho” and integration into US youth development programs.
By allowing five units to be deployed on a single standard basketball court, the system can support up to 60 active athletes simultaneously, a six-fold increase over traditional 5v5 training sessions.
Co-founder of 360 Hoops, Anthony Gomez, noted that the value proposition for club directors and private complexes hinges on this spatial efficiency.
“It really comes down to one question: how much value can you generate per square foot?” Gomez said.
The business model is built on vertical integration, combining high-margin unit sales with long-term revenue pathways including sanctioned tournament rights, licensing, and brand partnerships.
This “ecosystem” approach seeks to create a defensible category that insulates the brand from competitors—a tactic often seen in the rapid commercialisation of sports like pickleball and padel.
The organisation’s credibility is supported by the involvement of Mike Brey, an assistant coach for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who serves as an investor and advisor.
His presence suggests a focus on ensuring the technical skills developed in the 360-degree format are transferable to the traditional game, a necessity for long-term adoption by governing bodies and schools.
With a Year 1 target of 30 markets, the company plans to establish flagship complex partnerships before expanding into schools and community parks.
The non-stop 14-minute game format offers a high-density content opportunity that aligns with current trends in fast-paced, urban sports consumption.
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A weekend shooting at Monarch Ridge Apartments, initially investigated as a homicide, has been ruled accidental by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. Despite the ruling, the incident has reignited concerns about safety at the complex, which has a history of violence.
Residents report that court-ordered safety measures, including surveillance cameras, license plate readers, security patrols, and a gated entrance with a guard, are now in place. However, some residents, like Dominic Lewis, believe the violence stems from outsiders. “The chaos it comes from outsiders that come up here. It’s not really the residents,” Lewis said.
The shooting involved an uncle and his nephew during a party inside an apartment. Although the incident was deemed accidental, it has drawn attention back to the complex’s safety record. Last year, the city of Birmingham filed a public nuisance lawsuit against Monarch Ridge after the fatal shooting of 21-year-old Asia Poole. The case settled in January, mandating the implementation of security measures.
While residents acknowledge the visible security improvements, some express concerns about the atmosphere they create. “I think a lot of this is really… adds to the chaos because you really… to be honest with this gate you really kind of feel in prison,” Lewis said. He emphasized the need for a more caring approach and long-term solutions, having recently met with City Attorney Nicole King to discuss potential paths forward.
The settlement includes a year-long court oversight, set to expire next month, leaving the future of these measures uncertain.
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.
Read more
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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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.
