FLORENCE, Ala. (December 30, 2025) – For a second straight year, the University of North Alabama Department of Athletics will host a free youth clinic to celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Saturday, January 31 from 10 a.m. to noon at the UNA Rec Center.
 
The free clinic is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and is open to ages 4-12.
 

“Hosting our second annual National Girls & Women in Sports Day clinic reflects our commitment to empowering girls through athletics,” said Debbie Williams, UNA Associate Athletic Director for Business Affairs and Senior Woman Administrator. “After welcoming over 100 young girls last year, we are excited to continue growing this event by giving our female student-athletes the opportunity to inspire confidence, demonstrate leadership and highlight the positive impact of sports both on and off the field.”
 
All of UNA’s women’s sports programs, including student-athletes and coaches, will be involved in the camp. This includes women’s basketball, beach volleyball, indoor volleyball, cheer and dance, cross country, women’s golf, soccer, softball and women’s tennis.
 

Following this event, the UNA women’s basketball team will host FGCU at 6 p.m. inside CB&S Bank Arena. The NGWSD celebration will continue during the game. This game will also serve as Youth Sports Night.
 
NGWSD is an initiative created by the Women’s Sports Foundation. The annual observance is the first Wednesday of February during National Signing Day.

To register, click here.

 

For more information on North Alabama Athletics, visit www.roarlions.com and follow UNA Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Luxury Homes

These are the three most expensive homes sold in Massachusetts in 2025, according to MLS and Zillow data.

The saying goes “money talks, wealth whispers,” but the eye-popping homes — complete with eye-popping price tags — behind the biggest residential real estate transactions across Massachusetts in 2025 are talkers.

At a time when the $925,000 median sales price for a single-family home in Greater Boston already seems out of reach for many, this top trio is in a mortgage payment (or cash offer) league of their own.

As for the locations, the neighborhood backdrop to these transactions isn’t shocking: Martha’s Vineyard, Boston’s Back Bay, and Nantucket rule the roost. Here are the three priciest home sales in the Bay State in 2025, according to MLS and Zillow data.

Price: $37,000,000 

Sold: July 10, 2025

The crown jewel home of 2025 came with a presidential seal of approval alongside its $37 million price tag. Blue Heron Farm in Chilmark, better known as the former Summer White House for the Obama family, officially claimed the year’s top spot. Spanning nearly 30 acres on Tisbury Great Pond, this compound is a self-contained ecosystem of luxury, featuring a 150-year-old barn relocated from Pennsylvania.

Beyond eight bedrooms and a private beach, the ultimate flex is the Norman Foster-designed pool house — why shouldn’t your swim break come with ties to a Pritzker Prize-winning architect? Listed by Maggie Gold Seelig of MGS Group Real Estate, this sale confirms that privacy isn’t priceless — it can be acquired on the Vineyard for tens of millions of dollars.

Price: $21,000,000

Sold: Nov. 24, 2025

If you’ve ever walked down the French boulevard-inspired stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in the Back Bay and wondered who owns those entire townhouses, the most up-to-date answer is the new owner of Number 59. Fetching a cool $21 million in November, this “sunny side” (aka the southern-facing stretch) stunner on the “Gold Coast” between Berkeley and Clarendon Streets defies the Back Bay trend of chopping grand estates into condos — remaining a glorious, 11,300-square-foot single-family monolith.

With 8 bedrooms, 10 bathrooms (8 full and two half baths), elevator access to all floors, and an attached garage (a Back Bay rarity), it is the architectural equivalent of a unicorn. Also listed by Maggie Gold Seelig, who had a firm hand on eight-figure deals this year, this 1910 masterpiece includes a separate staff or guest apartment.

Price: $21,000,000

Sold: Jan. 7, 2025

Tying with our Back Bay entry for the silver medal at $21 million, this Nantucket compound proves that “The Cliff” is just as much its own tax bracket as it is a neighborhood. This restored 6-bedroom, 10-bathroom grand dame dating to 1908 was listed by Gary Winn of Maury People Sotheby’s and includes a separate guest house. The real showstopper, however, is the more-than-900-square-foot rooftop deck — allegedly the largest of any residential property on the island — offering 360-degree views that practically demand a champagne toast at sunset. Inside, the home features a secret study hidden behind a foyer panel, which is frankly the only rational place to hide when you have a full house of summer guests.

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (ABC22/FOX44) – The Plattsburgh YMCA on Monday said they were proud that City of Plattsburgh officials approved $50,000 in funding to continue its free youth sports program for another year.

“Every time a child steps onto the court or the field, they learn the value of teamwork while building confidence, resilience, and determination,” said Kris Tate, COO for the Plattsburgh YMCA. “When communities invest in youth sports, we see healthier, stronger young people.”

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According to the YMCA, more than 700 kids participated in its sports programs in 2025, and more than half of those, over 400, were City of Plattsburgh residents.

Busy Plattsburgh intersection poised for overhaul

Under the terms of the funding, which was approved earlier this month, sports are free for City of Plattsburgh kids ages 12 and under.

The association offers sports including basketball and tee ball – the next program is indoor soccer, which will be held in the spring, with registration open to the community on January 9.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC22 & FOX44.

Most of what shapes a kid doesn’t happen during the game.

It happens before the first pitch — when they’re putting on a jersey that fits, tightening their cleats, and slipping a glove onto their hand that feels like it belongs there. Those details seem small to adults. To a child, they’re everything.

In Carson City, as in every town, there are kids who want to play and families who do everything they can to make that happen. Registration gets paid. Schedules get rearranged. Rides get worked out. What doesn’t always fall into place is equipment — especially something as personal and essential as a glove.

That gap usually stays invisible. Quiet. Unspoken.

And that’s exactly why it matters.

A Simple Idea, Done the Right Way

The idea is not complicated: an annual glove drive for Carson City Little League.

Not a spectacle. Not a fundraiser built on attention. Just a dependable, once-a-year effort to make sure that kids who need a glove have one — without ever being asked to explain why.

No announcements. No labels. No moments a child carries with them longer than they should.

Handled discreetly by the league, supported by the community, and grounded in respect.

Why This Matters More Than It Sounds

A glove is more than leather and laces.

It’s confidence. It’s safety. It’s the difference between playing free and playing guarded. Between reaching for the ball and hoping it doesn’t come your way.

Kids feel those differences immediately. They also remember who noticed — and who didn’t.

Youth sports are supposed to be where kids learn how to belong. That lesson starts before a coach ever speaks.

This Isn’t Charity. It’s Stewardship.

This wouldn’t be about rescuing anyone. It would be about maintaining the field, in the broadest sense of the phrase.

Communities take care of their parks, their schools, their traditions. Youth sports deserve the same quiet upkeep. When we remove small barriers early, we prevent bigger ones later — loss of confidence, loss of interest, loss of belief that a place is meant for you.

That kind of care doesn’t require applause. It requires consistency.

Why Make It Annual

Because needs don’t announce themselves once and disappear.

Kids grow. Gloves wear down. Circumstances shift. An annual glove drive acknowledges that reality without judgment or urgency. It makes support part of the rhythm, not a reaction to crisis.

When something becomes routine, it becomes reliable. And reliability is what kids trust.

The Real Outcome

If this works the way it should, no one will talk about it much.

Kids will show up ready to play. Coaches will coach. Parents will watch. Baseball will happen.

And a few players — ones we’ll never identify, and don’t need to — will step onto the field feeling equal instead of exposed.

Those are the quiet things that let kids play.

And they’re worth doing right.

— Chris Graham is a Carson City native, writer and lifelong baseball fan. A former Western Nevada College play-by-play broadcaster, his work focuses on sports, culture and community. He can be followed on his Substack at https://substack.com/@gamenotes.

Related

RICHMOND, Va. (December 31, 2025) – The ECNL is excited to announce that the ninth annual ECNL Coaching Symposium, powered by US Club Soccer, will take place February 3-4, 2026, at Circa Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, NV. Ten leaders from across the world will be sharing insights and expertise on a wide variety of topics during this incredible educational event.

The ECNL Coaching Symposium will feature experts with presentations addressing technical and tactical development, leadership and personal development, club and organizational development, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity to collaborate with fellow leaders and coaches, share ideas and best practices, and will return to their clubs with ideas to innovate and push the game forward. Get a sense of the size, scope and excitement of the event from last year!

Below is the fantastic lineup of speakers at this year’s event (listed alphabetically). 

Neil Bath – Former Academy Director, Chelsea Football Club

Neil Bath has spent the majority of his professional career at Chelsea FC, where he built a distinguished reputation in youth development and football operations. He began with eight years as an Academy Coach before moving into a 20-year tenure overseeing the club’s Youth Development Programme. In his final two years, he served as Director of Football Development and Training Ground Operations.

During Bath’s leadership, Chelsea’s academy grew into one of the most recognised and productive talent pathways in global football. The youth team secured seven FA Youth Cup titles, reached four UEFA Youth League finals—winning two—and achieved multiple additional honours. The academy also r0ose to No. 1 in England for player productivity, with numerous graduates progressing to Chelsea’s first team or generating significant value through transfers.

In July 2024, Bath chose to step away from the club, taking a year to reflect and learn from a range of clubs, sports, and business environments. He now works as a consultant, supporting organisations with leadership development, coach education, and high-performance talent systems.

Amie Bracken – Director Of Brand Services, ECNL

With more than 20 years of experience, Amie Bracken is an accomplished brand builder and organizational leader who excels at harnessing creative talent to solve complex business challenges. After consulting the ECNL from its inception in 2008 to the rebrand in 2018, she recently joined the organization to help steer the brand through its continued growth and expansion. 

As a brand and marketing strategist, she uses positioning, architecture and visual identity to build brands worth fighting for. She spent her career leading major initiatives across a wide variety of categories with companies like Cincinnati Children’s, Allergan, Smuckers, P&G, Bayer, and the Cincinnati Reds. 

Bracken is driven by a commitment to cultivating a culture of connection and co-creation. A dedicated advocate, she champions both the work and the people behind it, defining success through the growth of her teams and the measurable progress of the brands she nurtures. 

She holds a degree in Marketing and Communications from Georgetown College, is a three-time Boston Marathon qualifier, and a mediocre downhill skier. 

Ceri Bowley – Chief Soccer Officer, NC Courage (NWSL)

Ceri Bowley is the Chief Soccer Officer for the North Carolina Courage where he oversees all player and staff development.  Bowley worked as a first team assistant for Rangers FC in the Scottish Premier League and UEFA Champions League in 2023. Prior to that, he worked for many years for City Football Group (CFG) where he led the creation and implementation of the City Football Methodology, which remains in place at CFG clubs across the globe. Bowley holds a PhD in Sports Psychology and Coaching Science, and has worked with Barry Town, the English FA, Swansea City and Merthyr Town in various roles.

Thomas Christiansen – Men’s National Team Coach, Panama

Thomas Christiansen is the head coach of the Panama Men’s National Team. Since he took the reins of the Panama team in 2020, he has led the team to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and to two CONCACAF Gold Cups, finished as finalists in both the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2025 CONCACAF Nations League, and finished as quarterfinalists in the 2024 Copa America. Prior to coaching Panama, Christiansen was the manager at Belgium’s Union SG (2019-2020), England’s Leeds United (2017-2018), and Cypress clubs APOEL (2016-2017) and AEK Larnaca (2014-2016). He led AEK Larnaca to their best ever league finish in both seasons (2nd place), and led APOEL to the league title and Round of 16 of the Europa League. As a player, Christiansen had a 15-year career with clubs in Denmark, Spain and Germany, leading the Bundesliga in scoring for Bochum in 2002-2003, and earned two caps for the Spanish National Team.

Andrea Cortez – Director Of Creative Services, ECNL

Andrea Cortez is a seasoned creative strategist and communications professional with a 10+ year track record of driving digital engagement and brand development in competitive sports environments. She currently serves as Director of Creative Services for the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL), where she leads creative direction, social strategy, and digital content for one of the most visible and respected youth sports platforms in the country.

Her creative work and digital strategies have been featured by major national media outlets, including ESPN, ABC, and USA Today, and earned national honors from CoSIDA, SkullSparks, and others, underscoring her innovation, impact, and excellence in digital strategy and sports communications.

Before transforming youth sports marketing, Cortez spent over eight years in Division I athletics. She rebranded and elevated four university athletic departments, building creative infrastructure from the ground up and pioneering the long-form, athlete-driven content strategies now standard across collegiate and youth athletics.

A former Division I collegiate athlete, Cortez uniquely blends creative leadership, brand development, cross-platform storytelling, and media strategy. She holds a B.S. in Sports Management from North Carolina Central University and an M.S. in Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness from Troy University.

Russel Earnshaw – Former Premiership Rugby Player; Coach Educator

Since graduating from Cambridge in 1997 with a Masters in Economics and Mathematics, Russel Earnshaw has been involved in sport as a player and a coach. He played and coached in the World 7’s Series and in the Commonwealth Games, winning multiple events and finishing in 2013 with a silver medal in the 2013 7’s World Cup. He also coached the England U18’s and U20’s Men, U18’s Women and GB Students. 

In 2013, Earnshaw took a two-year sabbatical to teach Economics (the best CPD he ever did!) and now works cross-sport (with organizations including NZ Rugby, GB Hockey and the Premier League) and in business (including Google and Abbott) with a focus on developing people, leadership, coaching, working as effective teams and creative thinking. He currently works with coaches from International to Champions League to grass roots. There is nothing earnshaw loves more than being on the pitch with coaches. 

Brent Gleeson – CEO Exceler8; Former Navy SEAL

A Navy SEAL combat veteran, award-winning tech entrepreneur, three-time bestselling author, and Forbes leadership columnist, Brent Gleeson is a globally recognized expert and acclaimed speaker on topics ranging from resilience, mental toughness, leadership, and building high-performance teams to culture and organizational transformation.

Gleeson is the Founder and CEO of EXCELR8, an enterprise software and management consulting firm whose mission is to equip committed teams with the leadership tools and professional development necessary to navigate change and growth with accuracy and precision.

Gleeson holds degrees in finance and economics from Southern Methodist University, degrees in English Literature and Criminal Justice from Oxford University, and an MBA from the University of San Diego. He is the #1 bestselling author of Embrace the Suck: The Navy SEAL Way to an Extraordinary Life and TakingPoint: A Navy SEAL’s 10 Fail-Safe Principles for Leading Through Change. His third book, All In: The Pathway to Personal Growth and Professional Excellence, was released on December 2, 2025 and became an instant USA Today bestseller. Gleeson is married with four amazing children.

Doug Lemov – ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor

Doug Lemov is the ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor and an impactful educator of both teachers and coaches. He is the international best-selling author of the best-seller Teach Like a Champion and of the highly acclaimed The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. He is also the co-author of Practice Perfect, Reading Reconsidered, Teaching in the Online Classroom, and Reconnect. Lemov has been an instructor with the US Soccer Federation in their Pro License and other courses, and has consulted with coaches and sporting organizations around the world, including in MLB, the NBA, MLS, and more.

Stephen Torpey – Academy Director at Manchester United 

Stephen Torpey, appointed Academy Director of Manchester United in September, is widely regarded as one of the most influential and forward-thinking leaders in youth development in English football. His career spans elite roles at Liverpool FC, Manchester City, and Brentford, where he has consistently transformed coaching environments and accelerated player pathways.

At Manchester City, Torpey played a central role in creating one of Europe’s most successful academy models — delivering three consecutive PL2 titles, multiple U18 national titles, and helping produce a generation of players who progressed into top European leagues. At Brentford, he led the academy’s full strategic rebuild and delivered the unprecedented jump from Category 4 to Category 2, redefining the club’s long-term development structure.

A former FA National School scholar and Liverpool FC professional, Torpey is also a highly respected keynote speaker and coach educator, contributing to the FA’s highest-level coaching awards. His leadership is recognised for combining innovation, clarity of vision, and a relentless commitment to developing world-class talent.

Drew Watson – ECNL Medical Advisor

Drew Watson, MD, MS, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine Public Health and board certified in pediatrics and sports medicine. He is a team physician for the University of Wisconsin and Forward Madison FC in USL League One and serves as the ECNL Chief Medical Advisor. He is the Director of both the ECNL Center for Athlete Health and Performance and the University of Wisconsin Human Performance Laboratory, conducting research in pediatric exercise physiology, injury prevention and the impacts of injuries on well-being and mental

The 2026 ECNL Coaching Symposium is part of the league’s club and coach development platform, a key component in the league’s mission to Raise The Game by providing unique coach and club development opportunities to youth soccer coaches and organizations. The event is open to coaches regardless of league affiliation.

###

About the ECNL:

The ECNL is the nation’s leading youth soccer development platform for America’s top soccer players. The ECNL mission to provide the best youth sports experience in the world drives constant innovations in competitions and experiences for players, parents, families, coaches, referees, and partners. The ECNL has questioned convention and challenged the status quo of youth sport since 2009, pushing boundaries and striving for unmatched excellence. Together with its clubs and club leaders, the ECNL creates unforgettable memories and supports the development of youth players into college stars, professionals, world champions, and leaders.

www.TheECNL.com 

ECNL FB: @TheECNL  |  ECNL IG: @TheECNL  | ECNL X: @TheECNL 

BIG BEND — A large, multiple-sport youth athletic complex is being proposed for farmland near the intersection of Big Bend Road, Town Line Road and Skyline Drive, a development that backers say would become one of the largest youth sports facilities in the region.

The project would transform agricultural land into a regional destination for youth baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse tournaments. Eric Weishaar, owner, presented the proposal for Breck Athletic Complex during the Nov. 20 Big Bend Plan Commission meeting.

The Big Bend Village Board and Plan Commission will hold a joint public hearing at 6 p.m. on Jan. 29 at the Village Hall to hear comments on a request by Claire Roth, agent, and Weishaar to amend the Village of Big Bend Comprehensive Plan — Future Land Use Map. The proposed amendment would change approximately 42 acres from the Medium Density Residential to Commercial land use plan designation. The amendment is associated with related rezoning and conditional use requests for a proposed indoor/outdoor sports complex.

“This is going to be the first, really of its kind in the area. It’s going to be the biggest in the area, probably almost in the state,” said Weishaar.

“The development will include six turf baseball fields, a championship baseball field with plaza and seating, seven fullsize soccer fields, three futsal fields, four lacrosse fields, and an indoor turf facility totaling 155,000 square feet for year-round baseball, soccer, and lacrosse training. Supporting amenities include concessions, restrooms, playgrounds, fitness trails, and plazas. Complementary uses such as a craft bar/restaurant, banquet hall, hotel, gas station, and future retail spaces will provide services for visitors and residents,” according to project documents.

The project will be developed in a series of eight stages.

Weishaar said national tournament operators are already committed to long-term leases of 25 to 30 years.

“These are going to be long-term leases that they’re going to enter into. … So they are going to be here for a long time,” he said.

One of those partners would be SC Wave, a huge Milwaukee Wave–affiliated soccer club. According to the developers, the club is seeking a permanent home for its growing programs.

“They rent places, spaces from all over the place, and they really want to consolidate. They’re actually pretty anxious to announce in their club, hey everybody, we’re going to have a permanent home,” Weishaar said.

Project designers emphasized that the complex is intended to be visually appealing and compatible with surrounding areas.

He said he doesn’t want it to look cheap or industrial. He said they want something families can come to, not a concert venue or nightlife type of option. Tournaments are typically over by 10 p.m. or 11 p.m.

“This is not something that is going on all night,” he said.

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Lighting was also discussed as a key concern, particularly given nearby residential areas. The developers said modern LED field lighting would be used to reduce light spill.

“The lighting design will respect adjacent land uses, including nearby residential areas. Where appropriate fixtures will utilize dark sky-compliant standards, directional optics, and shielding as needed to limit glare, light spill, and sky glow onto adjacent properties. Lighting placement, orientation, and performance will be evaluated to ensure compatibility with surrounding uses and compliance with applicable regulations,” documents said.

Weishaar said these aren’t the old-style lights you see at some facilities. The lights would be very focused, very controlled.

Construction would be completed in phases, beginning with the soccer fields, which developers said could be operational relatively quickly.

“If we can break ground, you know, this coming spring,” Weishaar said, “I’m anticipating that we can have those working for them, even if it’s just the fields and the parking lot.”

Baseball and softball fields would follow, with a targeted opening in spring 2027 to allow tournament operators time to schedule events.

“They start advertising their tournaments usually six months or more,” Weishaar said.

Developers said the complex would draw families who stay locally for entire weekends, creating demand for hotels, restaurants and retail.

“We’re going to be attracting not only the local clubs and teams, but we’re going to be bringing in a lot of out-of-state clubs and teams that are going to be coming here all summer long, every weekend for the next couple of decades,” Weishaar said.

Plans also include potential outlot development along Highway 164 for food, lodging and other services tied to the complex.

The project will require zoning and site plan approvals before construction can begin. Developers have asked local officials whether the review process can be expedited to meet club timelines.

Weishaar added they want to work with the community and do this the right way.