Beach volleyball fans can head to the Newport Beach Pier Oct. 7-12 for two events that bring together Olympians and AVP players for a week of competition and family fun.
The first event, the Beach Pro Tour Elite 16, runs Oct. 7-11 for five days of international competition with top professional American beach volleyball players, including Taryn Brasher, Kristen Nuss, Sara Hughes and Miles Partain. International stars, including Swedish Olympic gold medalists David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, are also expected.
Two-player teams will compete for a $300,000 prize and world-ranking points.
Then, on Oct.12, the third-annual Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational returns with U.S. Olympians Phil Dalhausser, Kelly Cheng and Nuss headlining, and four-player beach volleyball teams competing for a $250,000 prize.
“It’s the best game to watch,” said Steve Obradovich, who is an Assn. of Volleyball Professionals (AVP) Hall of Famer and co-founder of the Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational. “You can know nothing about volleyball, come down and go, ‘Wow, this is really cool.’”
Beyond watching pro volleyball players do their thing, there are several family activities planned.
There will be meet and greets with the athletes and a step-and-repeat wall for photos.
Also planned is a youth volleyball event Oct. 8 with demonstrations and interactions with coaches and players.
Oct. 9 is Legends Day when Hall of Famers, Olympians and AVP stars will be on site throughout the day, with an exhibition match at 3 p.m. before the final competition.
Free, first-come, first-served seating on the sand iwill be available, though VIP tickets are available for purchase for better vantage points and extras like beverage sampling.
Kevin Martin, Newport Beach Volleyball Invitational co-founder, said this is the first year they’re collaborating with Volleyball World to bring the international tournament to town.
He said they’ve tried to grow the invitational each year. The tournament will air on Volleyball World television, with some events on Peacock.
“I’m a volleyball enthusiast, not like Steve, but it’s a big part of my life, and I thought Steve’s idea was great, and I wanted to bring something new and exciting to Newport,” Martin, who works in private equity, said of starting the invitational a few years ago. “It’s one of the highlights of the year for us in Newport, and we think one day it’ll be as big as the [Hoag Classic] golf tournament, which we host at our Newport Beach Country Club, and the annual Newport Beach Boat Parade.”
The invitational also serves as a fundraiser for the Orange County Youth Sports Foundation, a nonprofit that helps the underserved access sports programs.
John Ursini, social chairman and recruiting chairman of the foundation, said the organization received $20,000 from last year’s invitational.
Funds donated to their nonprofit go toward $3,000 scholarships that are given to 14 to 18 underserved, high school athletes every year.
Proceeds also support other local organizations that need funding for sports-related programs.
“I think they’ve chosen us, and we’re happy to support them, and it’s kind of a win-win for everybody,” Ursini said of the partnership with the invitational.
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.
Read also: Napoli advance to Super Cup final after late McTominay-Tomori clash
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.
Read also: Finalissima shock as Spain and Argentina clash lands in Doha
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.
Read also: Finalissima 2026: Spain vs Argentina in Qatar as Messi eyes return to Lusail
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.
Support UTRGV Tennis | Become a Fan on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Follow us on Instagram | Follow us on YouTube
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.
NAPLES, Florida — The Marana Youth Thunder 12-and-under football team has achieved the pinnacle of youth football success, capturing the Division 3 National Championship in the American Youth Football (AYF) tournament.
The thrilling championship game, held in Naples, Florida, saw the Thunder dominate the Woodbridge Raiders from Delaware with a convincing 40-19 victory. This win marked sweet redemption for the team, as they had previously lost to the same Raiders squad in double overtime the year before, finishing in third place nationally.
Leading the charge was standout player Princeton Britt, who earned the prestigious Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for his exceptional performance throughout the tournament.Guiding the team from the sidelines was head coach Philip Britt, Princeton’s father, adding a special family touch to this historic accomplishment.
This group of young athletes has been a force in recent years, securing an impressive five consecutive city championships along with two regional titles. The national championship represents the breakthrough moment, capping off years of hard work and dedication.
The victory highlights the strength of youth sports programs in Marana and serves as an inspiration for young athletes across the region. Congratulations to the Marana Youth Thunder on their well-deserved national title!
