CityPickle Kids: Youth Academy Launching Winter 2026, CityPickle is debuting NYC’s first leveled, 12-week junior pickleball program for ages 8–13. Pickleball has emerged as a leader in youth sports, with more than 240 collegiate clubs nationwide (and even varsity programs!). Families are increasingly seeking structured, skill-building opportunities for their children.

CityPickle’s Youth Academy meets that demand with a thoughtfully designed curriculum created by Head of Coaching Josh Gartman, mirroring the rigor and progression of elite junior tennis programs. Players advance through three levels — Competitor, Challenger, and Champion — with coach evaluations at the start and end of each season. The invite-only Champion tier includes tweens and teens with serious talent (and yes, they can already beat most adults).

Winter 2026 Season Details (Jan 6 – Apr 2): Competitor (Level I): Tuesdays, 4–5pm Challenger (Level II): Tuesdays, 4–5pm Champion (Level III, Invite Only): Thursdays, 4–6pm

Venue: CityPickle Long Island City

9-03 44th Rd
Map

203-848-8980

BOSTON (WHDH) – Puck drop at TD Garden looked a little different on Sunday as a smaller group of athletes took center ice.

The Boston Bruins and TD Garden hosted the TD Bank Mini One-on-One Tournament with local youth hockey players, which is now in its 53rd year.

Forner USA Hockey President Ronald DeGregorio called it an unforgettable experience.

“They come on the ice and we have a fun time and that’s what it’s all about, a fun learning experience,” he said.

Parents and players agree.

Parent Amy Ditzel said, “I think it’s great to see the girls having the same opportunities.”

And it’s fun for family members and friends, who get to see their favorite players up on the big screen.

“I’m watching my sister and then I’m playing after,” said Caroline. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a lot of people don’t get to do it.”

(Copyright (c) 2025 Sunbeam Television. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

AMARILLO, Texas (KFDA) – A NFL Flag Football youth initiative is coming to Amarillo. This league catered toward youth is bringing new, non-contact sports for kids to get involved and learn the game of football in a different way while still having fun.

The Texas Panhandle is expanding the opportunity for youth to get more involved this summer through the NFL Flag Football program. This league gives boys and girls in Amarillo the chance to play with an NFL name.

Amarillo native, Tascosa High School alum and program owner and operator for this new initiative Mark Jackson explained why he wanted to bring this opportunity to Amarillo to give youth in the Panhandle the chance to be part of a growing sport and put an emphasis on the importance of inclusivity for the sport.

National reach and local opportunity

“When I had the opportunity to bring it up here because they’re playing all across the nation. Over 500,000 youth across the United States are playing right now. So I said, why not Amarillo? Why not, the kids up here have a chance to play like the kids across the United States and have a chance to, you know, maybe be national champions and go to the Pro Bowl and go to other countries and play,” Jackson said. “So, yeah, that’s why I did it.”

Jackson emphasized the NFL’s commitment to inclusivity.

“Well, that’s one of the NFL’s initiative is to have everybody included. Girls, boys, it doesn’t matter. They want everybody who wants to play to play. That’s what we’re gonna, in Amarillo, we’re gonna give. If you’re a girl, it don’t matter. If you think you can play football or you want to tell your dad or mom, look, I want to play, get out there,” he said.

Registration and schedule

Registration will open in January. Games will start at the end of June and beginning of July.

This league is for boys and girls and open to ages 13 through 17. There is still time to get involved as an athlete or a coach as well.

An official website for this initiative and where people can donate to help this grow will be announced at a later time.

Copyright 2025 KFDA. All rights reserved.

LATHAM, N.Y. – Juniors Savannah Owens (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) and Jillian Zukley (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park) of the St. Mary’s College of Maryland women’s indoor track & field team claimed the United East Conference Women’s Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards as released by the league office Tuesday (Dec. 9).

Owens was named the United East Track Athlete of the Week for the first time in her career while Zukley garnered United East Field Athlete of the Week honors for the fifth time during her indoor career.

St. Mary’s College opened the 2025-26 campaign at the Christopher Newport University Holiday Open on Dec. 6.

Owens broke a school record in her return following a year away from the Seahawks indoor and outdoor track & field teams. The 5-5 sprinter took second in the 600m with a program record of 1:44.22, breaking the previous school record of 1:49.93 set by teammate Avery Arizzi ’27 on Dec. 2, 2023. She also placed third in the 800m in 2:35.81 while leading off the fourth-place 4x400m.

Following her performance, Owens leads the conference in the 800m while ranking 18th in the Mid-Atlantic region.

Zukley qualified for the 2026 All-Atlantic Region Track & Field Conference (AARTFC) Championships (Mar. 6-7) in the weight throw in the first indoor meet of the season. The 6-3 thrower opened her junior campaign with a bang as she captured the shot put with 11.67m. She then came in second in the weight throw with a school record 15.11m, knocking off her own record of 13.79m set on Jan. 31, 2025, at the Marlin Invitational.

Zukley currently leads the league in both events while ranking fourth in the Mid-Atlantic region in weight throw and sixth in shot put.

SMCM will be idle until the new year when St. Mary’s College travels to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island, N.Y. to compete in the Spartan Invitational hosted by St. Thomas Aquinas College. Action is slated to begin at 12 pm on Friday, January 9.

Egyptian Swimming Federation Under Scrutiny After Swimmer’s Death

The Egyptian Swimming Federation is facing major changes in the wake the death of a swimmer at the national under-12 championships in December in Cairo.

According to Reuters, the federation has been forced to appoint an interim committee to run the organization after the head of the federation and its board were removed last week. The Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports has reached out to World Aquatics for interim guidance of the federation.

A swimmer named Youssef Mohamed Abdel Malek drowned during a meet on Dec. 2 at Cairo’s International Stadium swimming complex. Per reports from within the country, Malek’s body was not found until the start of the following race.

Yasser Idris, the head of the swimming federation and a member of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, has been ordered by public prosecutors to stand trial. Also referred for prosecution are the executive director of the swimming federation, its board, the director of the meet, its chief referee, other officials from the Al-Zohour Sporting Club and several lifeguards. All are accused of failure to do their duty in keeping Malek and other swimmers safe.

The Ministry of Youth Sports referred the matter to public prosecution following an investigation that included interviews with witnesses present and reviewing video footage of the incident.

In a statement, the swimming federation said it was halting all activities, “out of respect for public opinion and the family of Youssef Mohamed, pledging full compliance with court rulings and accountability for anyone found negligent.”