Unrivaled Sports has acquired Football ‘N’ America, the youth flag football league co-founded by Drew Brees and Chris Stuart in 2017, bringing 24 leagues nationwide into its Unrivaled Flag portfolio
The partnership creates direct pathways from local FNA leagues to marquee national events including High School Girls Nationals, The Gold Jacket Classic, and Youth Flag World Championships
Drew Brees will serve as a long-term partner to co-develop future programming across Unrivaled Flag and potentially other sports in the Unrivaled portfolio
Flag football’s addition to the 2028 Olympics is driving increased participation and investment across the youth sports sector
The acquisition consolidates brand presence in a sport seeing rising demand from both boys and girls at the grassroots level
Connecting Local Leagues to National Competition
Unrivaled Sports announced the acquisition of Football ‘N’ America (FNA) on October 21, integrating the 24-league network into its Unrivaled Flag division. The deal creates a clear competitive pathway for young athletes, connecting hometown flag football leagues directly to national championship events.
FNA participants will now have access to Unrivaled Flag’s three signature tournaments: the High School Girls Nationals, The Gold Jacket Classic, and the Youth Flag World Championships. This structure mirrors successful models in youth baseball and hockey, where local league participation feeds into regional and national tournament play.
“We’re proud to work with Drew and the FNA team to create amazing athlete experiences and define the standard for the sport as flag continues to grow and gain popularity with girls and boys across the country,” said Jim Reynolds, CEO of Unrivaled Flag.
The acquisition gives Unrivaled Sports operational control over an established league infrastructure while maintaining the FNA brand that Brees and co-founder Chris Stuart built over eight years.
Expansion Through Operator Model
The partnership announcement emphasizes plans to expand leagues nationwide through new operators and communities. This suggests Unrivaled Sports will leverage its existing infrastructure and relationships to accelerate FNA’s geographic footprint beyond its current 24 markets.
Youth sports operators typically expand through franchise-style models, license agreements, or direct ownership of league operations. The press release indicates FNA will pursue growth through new operator partnerships, allowing local entrepreneurs or organizations to run leagues under the FNA brand while connecting to Unrivaled’s programming.
This approach reduces capital requirements for expansion while maintaining brand consistency and access to centralized resources like insurance, curriculum, and event registration systems.
Drew Brees’ Role Beyond Flag Football
The partnership establishes Drew Brees as a strategic advisor beyond the FNA acquisition. Unrivaled Sports specifically noted the relationship will include “co-development of future events and programming for Unrivaled Flag, and creating opportunities to bring Brees’ leadership and vision to other sports across the Unrivaled portfolio.”
Brees brings experience as both an elite athlete and youth sports operator. Beyond football, he has been involved in youth soccer initiatives. Andy Campion, Chairman and CEO of Unrivaled Sports, cited “Drew’s personal experiences as an elite multi-sport athlete and as a longstanding leader in youth football and soccer” as assets for shaping programming across the company’s portfolio.
“Football ‘N’ America was built to give kids the same energy, teamwork, and joy that made me fall in love with the game in the first place,” Brees said. “Unrivaled Sports shares that same vision—creating environments where young athletes can compete, develop, and dream big.”
The structure positions Brees as more than a brand ambassador, giving him input on event design and programming decisions across multiple sports properties.
Flag Football’s Growth Trajectory
The acquisition comes as flag football gains momentum in youth sports, driven partly by its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The International Olympic Committee approved flag football for the Games in October 2023, creating new incentives for participation at all levels.
Reynolds referenced this timeline in the announcement: “We’re inspired by the momentum surrounding flag football as it heads to the global stage in 2028, and proud to help lead the charge in the youth space.”
Flag football appeals to parents seeking lower-impact alternatives to tackle football while maintaining skill development and team dynamics. The sport has seen particularly strong growth in girls’ participation, leading organizations like Unrivaled Flag to create dedicated girls’ championships.
The sport’s Olympic designation also creates potential pathway opportunities for elite youth athletes, similar to how Olympic inclusion has shaped participation in sports like skateboarding and surfing in recent years.
Unrivaled Sports’ Portfolio Strategy
The FNA acquisition fits within Unrivaled Sports’ broader strategy of consolidating leading brands across youth sports verticals. The company’s portfolio includes Cooperstown All Star Village, Ripken Baseball Experiences, Diamond Nation, and We Are Camp action sports, among others.
This approach combines venue ownership, event production, and league operations under one corporate structure. The model allows cross-promotion between properties and creates economies of scale in areas like marketing, technology, and athlete registration systems.
By acquiring FNA rather than building flag football operations from scratch, Unrivaled Sports gains immediate access to established leagues, operational knowledge, and the Drew Brees brand association. The deal accelerates market entry in a growing segment while maintaining an authentic grassroots connection through the FNA community.
Looking Ahead
The partnership positions Unrivaled Flag as a vertically integrated player in youth flag football, controlling league operations, event production, and now celebrity brand alignment through Drew Brees. The next 12 to 18 months will reveal whether the operator expansion model can significantly grow FNA’s geographic reach beyond its current 24 markets.
Key metrics to watch include new league launches, participation numbers at national championship events, and potential programming developments across Unrivaled’s other sports properties. The 2028 Olympic timeline creates a natural milestone for measuring growth in youth flag football participation and competitive infrastructure.
For youth sports operators and investors, the deal illustrates continued consolidation in the sector and the premium placed on authentic brand partnerships with recognizable athlete founders.
via: Unrivaled
photo: Fox Business
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On January 13, 2026 the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases—West Virginia v. B.P.J. and Little v. Hecox—about the freedom of transgender youth to participate in school sports and to learn the life lessons those sports teach. We know this topic can fuel heated debates and spark strong opinions.
That’s why talking about this can feel tricky—but the Lambda Legal Trans Youth in Sports Conversation Guide is here to help. Whether that’s with loved ones or coworkers, this guide gives ideas for how to answer hard questions, ask thoughtful questions in return, and use these moments to build connection rather than division.
Our advice: it’s not about finding the “perfect” thing to say. It’s about saying something that helps people see and celebrate trans youth for exactly who they are. These policies aren’t just about who gets to play soccer or run track—they’re about who belongs, and who gets left out. We won’t stop fighting until every transgender kid feels seen, celebrated, and loved for exactly who they are.
The City of Arkadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department has adjusted the start of its winter youth basketball season by one week.
The season will now begin on January 17 instead of January 10 and will conclude on March 7.
This adjustment is due to team jerseys not yet arriving because of shipping delays related to the holiday season.
Parks and Recreation expects the season to begin as scheduled on Saturday, January 17. Any changes will be communicated through the City’s social media channels at @arkadelphiaar.
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Golden State Sports Academy, powered by Rakuten, has announced its 2026 Golden State Basketball Camp spring camp schedule, which includes camp sessions at 13 Bay Area locations for youth ages seven and up. Registration is now open for all spring camp sessions at gssportsacademy.com.
The spring schedule will run from March 7 through April 19, highlighted by clinics at Chase Center in San Francisco and the Sephora Performance Center in Oakland. The spring schedule will include various skills clinics focusing on specific elements of the game.
Early Registration and sibling discounts are available. All sessions are for youth, ages seven and up, unless noted otherwise. For complete details on Golden State Basketball Camp and to register online, visit gssportsacademy.com or call (510) 986-5310.
The 2026 Golden State Basketball Camp spring schedule includes:
About Golden State Sports Academy Golden State Sports Academy, formerly known as Warriors Basketball Academy, which encompasses the organization’s youth basketball efforts across the Bay Area, has hosted over 90,000 participants since its inception in 2000. A member of the Jr. NBA’s Flagship Network, Golden State Sports Academy has been deemed one of 18 best-in-class youth basketball organizations that share the Jr. NBA’s vision for how the game should be taught. For more information, follow Golden State Sports Academy on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and X at @gssportsacademy.
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown field hockey is set to host a youth and middle school camp this summer from June 8th through the 10th at Andre Reed Stadium.
The camp is designed for grades K-8th. Each day the session will run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The cost to attend is $150 pre-registration, which can be done prior to June 1.
Athletes should bring a stick, mouth guard, shin guards, turf shoes or sneakers and a water bottle. Goalies must bring their own equipment.
For additional information, contact camp director and KU head coach Marci Scheuing at scheuing@kutztown.edu, or by phone at 610-683-4378.
The Youth and Middle School Field Hockey Camp is designed to give athletes an opportunity to train with the National Champion Kutztown coaching staff and KU players. Our camp is open to any and all entrants, and will include learning both technical and tactical skills during multiple stations. We will separate groups by age and level of experience. You will also have the opportunity to compete in a series of games and fun competitions.
Don Charles “Charlie” Lechliter was an electrician by trade, but was best remembered for his involvement in the Arctic League and West Elmira youth sports.
Mr. Lechliter, who passed away Dec. 31, was remembered as a devoted family man with a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of area children.
Several years ago, the Town of Elmira honored Mr. Lechliter’s contributions by naming one of the ballfields at Pirozzolo Park in his honor.
Don Charles Lechliter was an electrician by trade, and built a successful Elmira business, but that’s not how most people saw him.
Mr. Lechliter was also a devoted family man, and that attribute extended beyond his immediate family to youth in general, according to his wife Lisa.
He was active in coaching youth sports in West Elmira for many years and was also a longtime volunteer and board member of the Arctic League.
Anyone who met Mr. Lechliter couldn’t help but like him, Lisa Lechliter said.
“He was a very charismatic guy, very easy to like,” she said. “He always left a lasting impression on people. He would do anything for anybody to help them out. Most people looked at him as a friend, not an electrician.”
Mr. Lechliter, who everyone knew as Charlie, died Dec. 31. He was 74.
A passion for sports, and youth
While Lechliter Electric was his business, Mr. Lechliter was probably busier in his personal life.
He loved sports, especially baseball, and was a diehard New York Mets fan, Lisa Lechliter said.
So it was natural that someone who loved sports and cared about kids would find a way to combine them.
“He started coaching Little League in his early 20s. He started out coaching his nephews and has been with the program ever since,” Lisa Lechliter said. “He also coached girls Cinderella Softball. That’s how I met him. It wasn’t all about winning. He just loved to spend time with those kids.”
Mr. Lechliter made an enormous contribution to recreational programming in the Town of Elmira for decades, said Town Supervisor Ann Gerould.
From the start, he brought a strong work ethic and a knack for efficiency and organization to his volunteer efforts, Gerould said.
“Charlie was part of the baseball/softball league’s board at that time as well. Charlie served as the treasurer of the board and dealt with ordering all the equipment, uniforms and field supplies,” she said. “He always did this with cost control in mind and continued to do so up until this year. I know that he had planned to continue in the upcoming season.
“During the early years, I am told there were about 500 kids involved every season, so his job was very time-consuming,” Gerould added.
Mr. Lechliter also later served as treasurer of the West Elmira Recreation Board, where he handled coordination and execution of events such as the baseball/softball league seasons, Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween events and Music in the Park throughout the summer.
He also lent his professional expertise to assist with electrical work needed for scoreboards and throughout Pirozzolo Park, Gerould said.
“We are virtually lost at the moment without him but are dedicated to continuing the programs where he committed countless hours, to continue for years to come,” she said. “Some years ago, Charlie’s efforts were honored by the dedication of Field No. 5 with his name. This was a source of great pride for him, and it was well deserved.”
Helping children as Arctic League’s ‘go-to guy’
Mr. Lechliter joined the Arctic League board of directors in 1993, and at the time of his death was the second-longest currently serving board member, according to league Treasurer and former board president Michael Wayne.
He was the consummate “behind the scenes” guy and had great insight on how to efficiently run the Arctic League’s warehouse operation, Wayne said.
More importantly, Mr. Lechliter made sure the board remained focused on the agency’s mission — that no child in Chemung County would go without presents on Christmas Day.
“During my year as President (2021) he was my ‘go-to guy,'” Wayne said.
“We were only one year out of the COVID pandemic, and Charlie was ever creative in making suggestions on how we could tweak our long-serving process to assure safety for all our volunteers,” he said. “While always avoiding the limelight, he was every Arctic League presidents’ biggest cheerleader and spent hours helping maintain our building and its mechanicals.”
Mr. Lechliter also championed a new way volunteers could help the Arctic League, and the “make a hat” campaign started, Wayne said.
He helped recruit knitters and crocheters to make hats for league recipients, which helped the organization save money — which could be funneled into other gifts — while creating a new opportunity for volunteers to support the Arctic League mission.
“Charlie was full of energy. He had endless ideas and a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of children in our area,” Wayne said. “His hearty laugh will forever echo through our building, and his passion to help others will survive in perpetuity at the Arctic League.”
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Andrea Odom doesn’t hesitate when asked what sparked the idea she now hopes becomes a movement.
The moment arrived just before the 2023 Major League Baseball draft, as agents began recruiting her son, Dylan Campbell of the University of Texas, and it came with a hard lesson her family didn’t expect to learn.
“We had to fire an agent who didn’t deliver on what he promised,” said Odom, a mother of three, who manages public relations for The Odom Consulting Group in Houston. “But the beautiful part is that my son grew on a business level. He learned how to hold people accountable.”
That moment reshaped how Odom viewed the role of parents in sports, particularly Black mothers, who often find themselves navigating high-stakes decisions without access to the same information, networks, or protection afforded to others.
“And that’s what we want for Black Sports Moms,” Odom said. “Empowering ourselves and our children.”
Founded in March 2025, Black Sports Moms was created to equip Black mothers with the knowledge, resources, and confidence to navigate an often opaque and unforgiving sports industry on behalf of their children.
From youth sports to the professional level, the organization addresses issues ranging from Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) and contract negotiations to mental health, branding, and long-term financial planning — areas where families are increasingly expected to be savvy but are rarely taught how.
Odom sat with the idea until a phone conversation changed everything.
Unbeknown to her, attorney Lachauna Edwards was doing parallel work in Atlanta, educating “momagers” (mothers who serve as the business managers for their children). Edwards had spent years advising families in NIL, contracts, and athlete branding, and during Black History Month, she launched a Momager Series on Instagram, spotlighting Black mothers managing their children’s athletic careers behind the scenes.
“Andrea’s name was brought up as someone to feature,” said Edwards, 40, also a mother of three. “We talked about her background, and she saw what I was doing. She reached out again about doing an event, and she came up with the name Black Sports Moms.”
From left to right: Black Sports Moms members Tammie Parker, Andrea Odom and Kim Stroud (mother of Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud) join CJ Stroud and Houston City Controller Chris Hollins at a volunteer event.
Andrea Odom
What started as a conversation quickly became a partnership. Edwards and Odom formed an LLC in March 2025 and moved fast, organizing their first conference in Houston in July 2025. They expected a local crowd. Instead, the event sold out with 175 attendees, many of whom traveled from across the country.
“In such a short amount of time, we were blown away by the response,” Odom said. “That’s when we realized this was bigger than we thought.”
The momentum continued in November 2025 with another sold-out conference in Atlanta, drawing 170 attendees. Mothers traveled from Florida, Texas, Georgia, and beyond — including a group of University of Florida Gator moms — underscoring a hunger for education and community that Edwards says has long gone unmet.
“Black women birth the greatest athletes in the world,” Edwards said. “For a long time, different entities in sports have been able to profit off our children’s talent while families are left trying to figure out how to support their kids and make informed decisions.”
Edwards, who has a civil rights background, sees Black Sports Moms as both education and protection. In many households, she notes, mothers are already doing the work by researching agents, negotiating schedules, managing finances, and supporting their children emotionally.
“That’s why athletes say, ‘My mom is the real MVP,’ ” Edwards said. “We nurture everything off the field and off the court. It made sense to empower the women who are already doing the work.”
The organization’s flagship offering, The Playbook, is a one-day educational summit designed specifically for mothers managing their child’s athletic journey. The conferences feature expert-led panels and interactive workshops covering NIL, contracts, branding, mental health, and financial literacy. Each attendee leaves with a personalized strategic plan and access to ongoing coaching and consultation.
“We’re intentional about making sure our moms are not only prepared, but confident enough to walk into any room on behalf of their child,” Edwards said.
That confidence will be on display again this month, when Black Sports Moms hosts a smaller, advanced “Mini Camp” in New Orleans. Limited to 50 attendees, the event is designed to go deeper, with mothers encouraged to bring real contracts they are negotiating.
“We’re breaking everything down clause by clause,” Edwards said. “Brand partnerships, tax strategies, investing, forming LLCs and nonprofits — this is advanced, hands-on work.”
The New Orleans gathering marks the next step in a rapidly expanding national footprint. In addition to regional panels tied to major sporting events, including Super Bowl week, the CIAA tournament, and the McDonald’s All-America Games, the organization plans its largest signature conference yet in Houston in July.
Despite its rapid growth, Edwards and Odom say the most powerful outcome hasn’t been business — it’s been community.
“Moms are forming group chats, supporting each other, showing up to games, baby showers,” Edwards said. “One mom helped another mom’s child land a marketing opportunity. That’s real.”
Odom agrees.
“We created this for empowerment and education, but the sisterhood has been the biggest surprise,” she said. “These women are forming lifelong bonds.”
Dylan Campbell’s MLB draft experience reshaped how his mother Andrea Odom viewed the role of parents in sports.
Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire
The stakes, they say, are real. Odom points to moments when parents are intentionally sidelined during recruiting and negotiations — and how education changes those dynamics.
“One mom told us her son had 32 football offers,” Odom said. “After attending our conference, an assistant coach tried to separate her from her son and made a disrespectful comment. The family declined the offer and told the head coach exactly why.”
Another mother, whose son is preparing for the 2026 NBA draft, was told by an agency that starting a nonprofit was “too expensive.” At the upcoming conference, Black Sports Moms will walk families through how to set one up themselves — a process that costs less than $150.
“We’re teaching families who need to be in their ecosystem and how to protect their kids,” Odom said.
For Edwards, the urgency is only increasing as athletes are getting paid younger and younger, often before families are prepared for the attention and financial complexity that comes with it.
“If Black mothers don’t step into these roles,” Edwards said, “everybody else is making money off the success of these athletes. Universities, agencies, financial advisors. We want families to have a unified front so they aren’t taken advantage of.”
Chicago Bulls guard Coby White said his mother, Bonita, played a central role in guiding him through the recruiting process before he chose to attend North Carolina. He added that navigating today’s NIL landscape without that same level of parental support, and education, would be almost unthinkable.
“What they’re doing is needed,” White told Andscape about the co-founders of Black Sports Moms. “It can help a lot of families and a lot of mothers guide their kids through this, especially with the amount of money and attention involved now. It sounds like a dope organization.”
Odom said success will be measured not just by conferences, but by long-term impact – from chapters in cities across the country to a voice in conversations around NIL legislation and athlete rights.
“This is called Black Sports Moms,” she said. “But it’s a movement that’s touching families and communities.”
Branson Wright is a filmmaker and freelance multimedia sports reporter.