Rec Sports

Newport Beach digs in for 2 beach volleyball events featuring pros, Olympians

Published

3 months ago

September 23, 2025

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.

Link

Rec Sports

Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority gets help with Bayou Towers

Published

4 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Dec. 22, 2025, 4:10 a.m. CT

A Louisiana Senator’s office is now involved to help navigate the bureaucratic delays stalling the demolition of Bayou Towers.
The demolition is caught between four entities: FEMA, HUD, the local parish government, and the housing authority.
While HUD approved the demolition, FEMA has not yet completed its assessment to determine if the building’s damage exceeds 50% of its value.
Recent incidents of falling debris have raised community concerns about the building being a potential health hazard.

Officials say a Louisiana Senator has stepped in to help navigate delays in the demolition of Bayou Towers.

Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority Director Nikita Gilton updated the commissioners Dec. 17 on the status of Bayou Towers at the first meeting since pieces of the structure began falling Dec. 5. According to Gilton, workers had to secure floors 8 through 11 and remove the awnings. With that work complete, the building once again remains in limbo, but Gilton said elected officials are stepping in to help them out.

“State Rep. Jessica Domangue reached out to us and put us in touch with Sen. Bill Cassidy’s Office,” Gilton said. “After I spoke with the chair and our attorney, I signed a waiver to let Mr. Cassidy’s office speak to FEMA on our behalf.”

Asked about the discussions, Cassidy’s office declined to comment on the matter.

The fate of the building rests between four entities: Federal Emergency Management Agency, Housing and Urban Development, Terrebonne Parish Government and the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority. The money for the building came from HUD for the Housing Authority to purchase the structure. The Housing Authority must get approval from HUD before taking any action.

The Terrebonne Parish Government placed 911 emergency equipment on the roof of Bayou Towers in December 2006. Sulzer Group Senior Project Manager James McDaniel told the Terrebonne Parish Council, Jan 28, that removal of the equipment was important and a plan from the parish to move along with the FEMA process. Sulzer Group is contracted to be the go-between for the housing authority and FEMA.

Demolition of Bayou Towers was approved in February 2024 by Housing and Urban Development, but FEMA has not completed its assessment of the building. FEMA decides whether to repair or demolish a building on a 50% analysis. If the damage exceeds 50% of the building’s value, FEMA it is demolished and rebuilt to current building standards.

The Housing Authority received a pay out from its insurance company for Bayou Towers, but will not disclose the exact amount. Officials with the Housing Authority say they signed non-disclosure agreements in the settlement process. The Housing authority is hoping to receive the remainder from FEMA, who determines the total value it will provide victims and subtracts from that amount the difference paid out by insurance companies.

Speaking with The Houma Courier on Dec. 6 following the panel shattering across Scott Lane, the community surrounding Bayou Towers said they were concerned that the building has become a health hazard. Other members showed up to the Terrebonne Parish Council Meeting asking that the Council take action to see the building get taken down.

Stephanie Yowell is an environmental scientist with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. She said if the building has asbestos in it there’s the potential that it could go airborne. She said the threat is low, but without conducting an air quality test there’s no way to know.

“Unless the building itself is crumbling actively and pieces are falling all the time, the concern is low,” she said.

If the surrounding community is concerned, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality Environmental Project Coordinator Cindy LaFosse said residents could call (225) 219- 3640 and DEQ could look into it.

According to Attorney Brandon DeCuir, who represents the Houma-Terrebonne Housing Authority, the building poses no threat to the surrounding community, unless they go inside.

“It is not a health hazard right now. It is not a health hazard as it stands, especially with it being walled off to anybody and any occupants… but if somebody went in there they could have an issue,” DeCuir said. “The reason it’s walled off, and the reason why people are not let in is because, not the caustic material that you are looking for, but because of the structure’s issues… You can’t go through that building safely.”

Link

Rec Sports

Meet 10 new coaches for the winter season

Published

12 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Updated Dec. 22, 2025, 6:45 a.m. ET

The high school sports winter season on the Cape and Islands, not only brings a change in the weather, but also to the teams. The roster changes with new players, but also to the coaching staff.

Coaching a team of high school athletes for the first time is not an easy task to take on. It could be a match made in heaven, or it could have growing pains the first year.

Link

Rec Sports

Effects of learning, exercise, and game curriculum model on the physical fitness of preschool children aged 3–6: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Published

19 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Stodden, D. F. et al. A developmental perspective on the role of motor skill competence in physical activity: an emergent Relationship. Quest. 60, 290–306 https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.2008.10483582 (2008).

Ortega, F. B. et al. Systematic review and proposal of a field-based physical fitness-test battery in preschool children: the PREFIT battery. Sports Med. 45, 533–555. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-014-0281-8 (2015).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Council of Europe Committee for the Development of Sport. Handbook for the EUROFIT Tests of Physical Fitness; Eurofit, C., Ed.;Italian National: Rome, Italy, (1998).

Cattuzzo, M. T. et al. Motor competence and health related physical fitness in youth: A systematic review. J. Sci. Med. Sport. 19, 123–129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2014.12.004 (2016).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Janssen, I. & Leblanc, A. G. Systematic review of the health benefits of physical activity and fitness in school-aged children and youth. Int. J. Behav. Nutr. Phys. Act. 7, 40 (2010).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Latorre-Román, P. et al. Physical fitness in preschool children: association with sex, age and weight status. Child. Care Health Dev. 43, 267–273. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12404 (2017).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Kriemler, S. et al. J.Effect of school based physical activity programme (KISS) on fitness and adiposity in primary schoolchildren:cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 23, c785 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c785 (2010).

Martínez-Vizcaíno, V. et al. Effectiveness of a school-based physical activity intervention on adiposity, fitness and blood pressure: MOVI-KIDS study. Br. J. Sports Med. 54, 279–285 https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2018-099655 (2020).

García-Hermoso Antonio; Alonso-Martinez Alicia M; Ramírez-Vélez Robinson; Izquierdo Mikel. Effects of exercise intervention on health-related physical fitness and blood pressure in preschool children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Sports Med. 50, 187–203 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01191-w (2020).

Wick, K., Leeger-Aschmann, C. S., Monn, N. D. & Radtke, T. Interventions to promote fundamental movement skills in childcare and kindergarten: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 47, 2045–2068. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-017-0723-1 (2017).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Chen, W. et al. Health-related physical fitness and physical activity in elementary school students. BMC Public. Health 18, 19 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5107-45 (2018).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Wang, G. et al. The effect of physical exercise on fundamental movement skills and physical fitness among preschool children: study protocol for a Cluster-Randomized. Controlled Trial Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 19, 6331 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph1910 (2022).

Weizhen, G. & Huan, W. Meta-analysis of the effects of physical activity intervention on physical fitness of 3-6-year-old children in China. China School Health 42, 1311–1317 + 1322.https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2021.09.009 (2021).

Robinson, L. E. Effect of a mastery climate motor program on object control skills and perceived physical competence in preschoolers. Res. Q. Exerc. Sport. 2, 355–359. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2011.10599764 (2011).

Article

Google Scholar

Robinson, L. E. The relationship between perceived physical competence and fundamental motor skills in preschool children. Child Care Health Dev. 37, 589–596 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2010.01187.x (2011).

Logan, S. W. et al. Getting the fundamentals of movement: a meta-analysis of the effectiveness of motor skill interventions in children. Child. Care Health Dev. 38, 305–315. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01307.x (2012).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Robinson, L. E. et al. Teaching practices that promote motor skills in early childhood settings. Early Childhood Educ. J. 40, 79–86. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-011-0496-3 (2012).

Article

Google Scholar

Palma, M. S., Pereira, B. O. & Valentini, N. C. Guided play and free play in an enriched environment: impact on motor development.Motriz. Revista De Educacao Fisica. 20, 177–185. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-65742014000200007( (2014).

Article

Google Scholar

Robinson, L. E., Palmer, K. K. & Bub, K. L. Effect of the children’s health activity motor program on motor skills and self-regulation in head start preschoolers: an efficacy trial. Front. Public. Health 4, 173 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2016.00173 (2016).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Robinson, L. E., Veldman, S. L., Palmer, K. K. & Okely, A. D. A ball skills intervention in preschoolers:the CHAMP randomized controlled trial. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 49, 2234–2239. https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001339 (2017).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Tortella, P., Haga, M., Lorås, H., Sigmundsson, H. & Fumagalli, G. Motor skill development in Italian pre-school children induced by structured activities in a specific playground. PLOS ONE. 11, e0160244 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0160244 (2016).

Veldman, S. L., Jones, R. A. & Okely, A. D. Efficacy of gross motor skill interventions in young children: an updated systematic review. BMJ open. Sport Exerc. Med. 2, e000067 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2015-000067 (2016).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Johnstone, A., Hughes, A. R., Martin, A. & Reilly, J. J. Utilising active play interventions to promote physical activity and improve fundamental movement skills in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Public. Health 18, 1–12 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5687-z (2018).

Abusleme-Allimant, R. et al. Effects of structured and unstructured physical activity on gross motor skills in preschool students to promote sustainability in the physical education classroom. Sustainability 15 (10167). https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310167 (2023).

Zhexiao, Z., Yaodong, G., Jianshe, L., Huanbin, Z. & Xiaoguang, Z. Design and empirical study of functional exercise program of preschoolers aged 3 ~ 6 years based on motor development.33, 187–198 https://doi.org/10.14036/j.cnki.cn11-4513.2021.02.010 (2021).

Goodway, J. D. & Branta, C. F. Influence of a motor skill intervention on fundamental motor skill development of disadvantaged preschool children.Res. Q. Exerc. Sport. 4, 36–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/02701367.2003.10609062 (2003).

Article

Google Scholar

Park, I. S. et al. Experience-dependent plasticity of cerebellar vermis in basketball players. Cerebellum 8, 334–339 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12311-009-0100-1 (2009).

Debaere, F., Wenderoth, N., Sunaert, S., Van Hecke, P. & Swinnen, S. P. Changes in brain activation during the acquisition of a new bimanual coordination task. Neuropsychologia 42, 855–867. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2003.12.010 (2004).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Kraft, E. et al. The role of the basal ganglia in bimanual coordination. Brain Res. 1151, 62–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainres.2007.01.142 (2007).

Article
ADS
PubMed

Google Scholar

Floyer-Lea, A. & Matthews, P. M. Changing brain networks for visuomotor control with increased movement automaticity. J. Neurophysiol. 92, 2405–2412. https://doi.org/10.1152/jn.01092.2003 (2004).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Puttemans, V., Wenderoth, N. & Swinnen, S. P. Changes in brain activation during the acquisition of a multifrequency bimanual coordination task: from the cognitive stage to advanced levels of automaticity. J. Neurosci. 25, 4270–4278. https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3866-04.2005( (2005).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Van Der Graaf, F. H., De Jong, B. M., Maguire, R. P., Meiners, L. C. & Leenders, K. L. Cerebral activation related to skills practice in a double serial reaction time task: striatal involvement in random-order sequence learning. Brain Res. Cogn. Brain Res. 20, 120–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogbrainres.2004.02.003 (2004).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Zhang, L. & Li, H. W. Huan; Hu Shuiqing; Wang Zhengsong. Relationship between fundamental movement skills and physical fitness in children. Chin. JSch Health 41, 554–557.https://doi.org/10.16835/j.cnki.1000-9817.2020.04.020 (2020).

Wang, H. & Hu, S. Li Yichen; Zheng Yingdong. Canonical correlation of motor skills and physical fitness in preschool children. China Sport Sci. Technol. 55, 46–51. https://doi.org/10.16470/j.csst.2019018 (2019).

Article

Google Scholar

Wang Tingting.Research on the Development Characteristics and Mechanism of Physical Activity. Physical fitness and motor skills of preschoolers. Chinasport Sci. Technol. 58, 49–61. https://doi.org/10.16470/j.csst.2020068 (2022).

Article

Google Scholar

Amato, A. et al. Young basketball players have better manual dexterity performance than sportsmen and non-sportsmen of the same age: a cross-sectional study. Sci. Rep. 13, 20953. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48335-7 (2023).

Article
ADS
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Latorre-roman, P. A., Mora-lopez, D. & Garcia-pinillos, F. Effects of a physical activity programme in the school setting on physical fitness in preschool children. Child. Care Health Dev. 44, 427–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12550 (2018).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Gong Menglan. Research on the influence of physical games on the physical quality of the older children.Guangzhou. Inst. Phys. Educ. 04, 40. https://doi.org/10.27042/d.cnki.ggztc.2021.000077 (2022).

Article

Google Scholar

Lubans, D. R., Morgan, P. J., Cliff, D. P., Barnett, L. M. & Okely, A. D. Fundamental movement skills in children and adolescents: review of associated health benefits. Sports Med. 40, 1019–1035. https://doi.org/10.2165/11536850-000000000-00000 (2010).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

MacNamara, A., Collins, D. & Giblin, S. Just let them play? Deliberate Preparation as the most appropriate foundation for lifelong physical activity. Front. Psychol. 6 (1548). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01548 (2015).

Liu, J. Break through the key and promote the high quality development of school physical education in the New Era. J. TUS 37, 249–256. https://doi.org/10.13297/j.cnki.issn1005-0000.2022.03.001 (2022).

Article

Google Scholar

Shuliu Liao. A study on the effect of teaching, practicing and competing teaching model to improve junior high school students’ interest in physical education and endurance quality. Nan ling normaluniversity 04, 23 https://doi.org/10.27037/d.cnki.ggxsc.2023.000404 (2024).

Article

Google Scholar

Zuozheng Shi, X. The LEG program promotes the development of physical activity and fundamental movement skills in preschool children aged 3–6 years: a Delphi study. Front. Public. Health 13, 1521878–1521878 https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1521878 (2025).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Daryl Siedentop. Sport Education: Quality PE Through Positives Port Experiences (Human Kinetics, 1994).

Cao Zhiyang. Research on the practice of PMS mode in kindergarten sports activities. Guizhou Normal Univ. 09, 75–79. https://doi.org/10.27048/d.cnki.ggzsu.2023.000675 (2023).

Article

Google Scholar

Donath, L. et al. Fundamental movement skills in preschoolers: a randomized controlled trial targeting object control proficiency. Child. Care Hlth dev. 41, 1179–1187. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12232 (2015).

Article

Google Scholar

Theobald, M. et al. Children’s Perspect. play. Learn. Educational Pract. Educ. Sci. 5, 345–362 https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci5040345 (2015).

Kinder, C. J., Gaudreault, K. L. & Simonton, K. Structured and unstructured contexts in physical education: promoting activity, learning and motivation. J. Phys. Educ. Recreat Danc. 91, 30–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/07303084.2020.1768181 (2020).

Article

Google Scholar

Cadenas-Sanchez, C. et al. Assessing physical fitness in preschool children: Feasibility, reliability and practical recommendations for the PREFIT battery. J. Sci. Med. Sport 19, 910–915 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2016.02.003 (2016).

Mora-Gonzalez, J. et al. Estimating VO2max in children aged 5–6 years through the preschool-adapted 20-m shuttle-run test (PREFIT). Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 117, 2295–2307. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3717-7 (2017).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Cadenas-Sanchez, C. et al. Physical fitness reference standards for preschool children:the PREFIT project. J. Sci. Med. Sport. 22, 430–437. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.09.227 (2019).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

China National Physical Fitness Monitoring Center. Fifth National Physical Fitness Monitoring Workbook. 2023.08.

Eveline, V. C. et al. Preschooler’s physical activity levels and associations with lesson context, teacher’s behavior, and environment during preschool physical education. Early Child. Res. Q. 27, 221–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2011.09.007 (2012).

Article

Google Scholar

Toussaint, N. et al. A preschool-based intervention for early childhood education and care (ECEC) teachers in promoting healthy eating and physical activity in toddlers: study protocol of the cluster randomized controlled trial PreSchool@HealthyWeight. BMC Public. Health. 19, 278. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6611-x (2019).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Natale, R. A. et al. Role modeling as an early childhood obesity prevention strategy: effect of parents and teachers on preschool children’s healthy lifestyle habits. J. Dev. Behav. Pediatr. 35, 378–387. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000000074 (2014).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Behan, S., Belton, S., Peers, C., O’Connor, N. E. & Issartel, J. Moving well-being well: investigating the maturation of fundamental movement skill proficiency across sex in Irish children aged five to twelve. J. Sports Sci. 37, 2604–2612. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2019.1651144 (2019).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Wang Guangxu, Z., Shikun, S. & ShanLiu, Y. Effects of different physical exercise program interventions on fundamental movement skills of preschool children. J. Shanghai Univ. Phys. Educ. Sport. 47, 85–94. https://doi.org/10.16099/j.sus.2023.02.02.0001 (2023).

Article

Google Scholar

Popović, B. et al. Nine months of a structured multisport program improve physical fitness in preschool children: a quasi-experimental study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 17, 4935. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17144935 (2020).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Wang, G. et al. The effect of different physical exercise programs on physical fitness among preschool children: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 20, 4254. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH20054254 (2023).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Zhu & Weining A study on the current physical quality of 3–6 year olds and its influencing factors. Fujian Normal Univ. 03, 121 https://doi.org/10.27019/d.cnki.gfjsu.2023.000510 (2023).

Article

Google Scholar

Liu, J., Gao, F. & Yuan, L. Effects of diversified sports activity module on physical fitness and mental health of 4–5-year-old preschoolers. Iran. J. Public. Health. 50, 1233–1240. https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v50i6.6422 (2021).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Tortella, P., Haga, M., Lorås, H., Fumagalli, G. F. & Sigmundsson, H. Effects of free play and partly structured playground activity on motor competence in preschool children: A pragmatic comparison trial. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public. Health. 19, 7652. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH19137652 (2022).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Mostafavi, R., Ziaee, V., Akbari, H. & Haji-Hosseini, S. T. Effects of SPARK physical education program on fundamental motor skills in 4–6 Year-Old children. Iran. J. Pediatr. 23, 216–219 Available online: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23724186 (2023).

Google Scholar

Zhenya, C. & Shuming, W. Relationship between physical Activity, sedentary behavior and physical health of preschool children. Xueqian Jiaoyu Yanjiu. 3, 42–56. https://doi.org/10.13861/j.cnki.sece.2020.03.004 (2020).

Article

Google Scholar

Murrin, C. M. et al. Body mass index and height over three generations: evidence from the lifeways cross-generational cohort study. BMC Public. Health 12, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-81) (2012).

Serrano-Gallén, G., Arias-Palencia, N. M., González-Víllora, S., Gil-López, V. & Solera-Martínez, M. The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and fatness in 3–6 years old boys and girls: A cross-sectional study. Transl Pediatr. 11, 1095–1104. https://doi.org/10.21037/TP-22-30 (2022).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Williams, H. G. et al. Motor skill performance and physical activity in preschool children. Obesity 16, 1421–1426. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2008.214 (2008).

Article
PubMed

Google Scholar

Luo, X. et al. Association of physical activity and fitness with executive function among preschoolers. Int. J. Clin. Health Psychol. 23, 100400. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.IJCHP.2023.100400 (2023).

Article
PubMed
PubMed Central

Google Scholar

Link

Rec Sports

DTR Youth Cheerleaders Host First Annual Sports Banquet

Published

28 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On December 13, 2025 the DTR Youth Cheerleading Teams and their Coaches Lavender Barrois, Barbara Gomillion and Shelby Barthelemy hosted the 1st Annual Youth Sports Banquet. This event was held for all the football teams from 7-8, 9-10, 11-12 and their families. These groups of kids have worked hard on and off the field all season and are well deserving of this achievement. During the event, ea…

Link

Rec Sports

Crenshaw Coffee Cart gives back to youth in South LA

Published

36 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

LOS ANGELES — In Leimert Park, coffee is not just fueling a community, but helping prepare young people for life as entrepreneurs.

Tony Jolly, owner of Ora Café in Leimert Park, wanted to pay it forward and give someone else the same opportunity to own a business.

So around the corner from his shop, Jolly started something called the Crenshaw Coffee Cart.

The cart gives underserved youth, between 16 and 20 years old, and some who were previously incarcerated, the training and experience needed to not just be employable, but one day a business owner themselves.

Click the arrow above to watch the video.

Link

Rec Sports

Here’s how to help with Yakima’s parks and recreation cuts | Government

Published

44 minutes ago

December 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The city is partnering with the Yakima Valley Community Foundation to give people a way to donate directly to parks and recreation programs and facilities.

Going into 2026, the Yakima Parks and Recreation department is facing major cuts that will reduce parks maintenance, community programs and facility availability.

For months, the City Council has been working to address a $9 million budget shortfall. Over the summer, the council approved around $3 million in cuts, reducing funding for things like Tahoma Cemetery lawn watering, the summer concert series and movies in the park. Funding for youth and adult sports programs was eliminated.

After a property tax levy on the November ballot failed, the City Council made an additional $6 million in cuts, including a proposed $3 million from police, $1.75 million from fire and $1.4 million from parks and recreation.

The proposed parks and recreation cuts included reducing parks maintenance by 16% and eliminating general fund contributions to the Yakima Harman Senior Center, Washington Fruit Community Center and Lions Pool. After hearing from dozens of concerned community members, council members agreed to use one-time reserve funding to keep the Harman Center open for all of 2026, the Washington Fruit Community Center open through June and Lions Pool open through February — but the long-term future of the facilities is still uncertain.

Sharon Miracle, president and CEO of the Yakima Valley Community Foundation, said she believes the impacts of the cuts will be hard to ignore, especially when it comes to parks maintenance.

“It means bathroom facilities will be closed. It means those porta Johns that are out around the parks for maybe a senior taking a walk in the park, or a mom with a young child who needs to go to the bathroom — those won’t be available, and our parks won’t be well cared for,” she said. “And those are green spaces that not just local residents use, but people coming to our town see and visit, and it’s one of the things that makes this community vibrant.”

Earlier this year, the city and community foundation set up a fund to help save summer concerts and movies. Now, they’re opening four more funds where people can contribute to the Harman Center, Washington Fruit Community Center, Lions Pool and park maintenance.

A longstanding partnership

Ken Wilkinson, the city’s parks and recreation manager, said the city’s partnership with the Yakima Valley Community Foundation isn’t new.

In 2018, the city received multiple anonymous donations for improvements at Randall Park and approached the community foundation about setting up a fund to manage and invest the money. The community foundation said yes, and with the help of additional donations and state funding, the city was able to complete a $1.4 million renovation project at Randall Park.

The two entities have also partnered to open up funds for Miller Park improvements and construction of the Martin Luther King Jr. Aquatic Center — the latter of which received around $3 million in community donations.

The partnership gives people a place where they can easily make tax deductible donations for city projects with no fees attached. It also helps assure people their money is going to the specific cause they want it to, Miracle said.

“This is a way that folks can actually make sure and feel comfortable that what they’re donating to — for example, Parks and Rec — that those funds can only be spent within the Parks and Rec budget,” she said.

After the levy failed, Wilkinson said it was clear people wanted to help.

“People at city council meetings were there to talk about parks and Washington Fruit Center and Harman Center and Lions Pool and all that,” he said. “And they started to say, ‘Well, can we donate? Can we give? What can we do to continue to support all the great quality of life stuff that you guys do?’”

So, the parks department reached out to the community foundation for help with donations.

Wilkinson said the funds are beginning to gain momentum. The parks maintenance fund recently received an anonymous $300,000 donation, representing a significant step toward the city’s $400,000 goal. The Harman Center also recently received an anonymous $50,000 donation, and Wilkinson is optimistic that the city will be able to host at least a few concerts and movies this summer. The total goal for that fund is $50,000.

In December, Yakima resident and Washington Broadband President Forbes Mercy also made a $115,000 donation to the city to save the youth sports program and fund construction for outdoor calisthenics bars at Chesterley Park. Mercy said he’d made donations to the city last year, and after selling part of his company, he wanted to keep the momentum going.

For him, it’s a way of paying a dividend of appreciation to the community that’s supported him.

“Instead of just handing it back to the government as taxes, even though it’s a small percentage you could write off, I felt it was more beholden that I continued to help things,” he said. “And you couldn’t ask for a better time to help the city than right now.”

Looking to the future

Wilkinson said he’s beyond grateful for the community support he’s seen thus far.

“This community is so generous, and we are so appreciative in Parks and Rec, you know, not just for these funds, but what our individuals have done like that anonymous donation to Randall Park — just incredible,” he said.

Mercy said he’s encouraging people to help pick up small items where they can.

“In this time of lean income and lean abilities for the city to add some of these quality-of-life issues that only can happen when we have a larger funding amount, then we need to fill in that difference,” he said.

But individual donations are just one part of a bigger picture. To ensure a sustainable future for major quality-of-life items, like the pools and community centers, the city will need to find a long-term solution. Both Mercy and Miracle have said that they’re proponents of putting the property tax levy back on the ballot as a way to generate a more sustainable source of revenue for the city.

“That isn’t the role of philanthropy, is to always fill that gap,” Miracle said. “The City Council is responsible for finding a way to fund the services that it provides, and a tax levy is something reasonable, and that’s a very, very affordable tax levy.”

The proposition on the November ballot would have increased the property tax levy to $2.46 per $1,000 of assessed value. Voter turnout for the election was relatively low — around 27%. Miracle said she sees that as a reflection of a need for people to be more engaged with the issues going on in their communities, so they understand what’s at stake.

Moving forward, she hopes the City Council can find a reliable path forward.

“We’ve had a lot of strategy meetings about, ‘Gosh, what can we do? How do we fix this in a bigger scheme?’” she said. “Because it’s one thing just to fill it in with donations, but that’s not sustainable, and I want to really emphasize that relying on donor bases to fill in the city government’s gaps is not a sustainable piece. We need to figure out how to rectify that budget going forward.”

To donate, people can visit the Yakima Valley Community Foundation’s website and click the “Donate Now” button. Miracle said the community foundation also accepts checks.

Link