[LAYAYETTE] (WLFI) — When tryouts began for the Special Olympics youth basketball team in Tippecanoe County, Coach David Henry anticipated challenges and opportunities ahead. He was confident the team was ready to work hard.

“We did a lot of things, trying to get the ball out of the basket, back outside the 3-point arc,” Henry said. “You had to get the ball outside the 3-point arc before you could play. We also had a 12-second shot clock, so we had to get organized and not waste time.”

The game of 3×3 basketball is fast-paced, played on a half-court with two athletes and one unified partner. The game lasts for 16 minutes or until one team scores 20 points. Partner Brooke Sullivan emphasized the importance of communication.

“To be able to see athletes thrive on the court and to be able to get the experience to compete in ways that they never thought they would be able to compete in is just so fulfilling,” Sullivan said.

Coach Henry recalled the moment the team learned they would travel to Puerto Rico for the 3×3 Unified Basketball World Cup.

“I can remember when Jen Kessler was in practice and she told the girls, ‘Yep, you’re going to go and represent Indiana and guess what, we are the only team going from the USA so you are also representing the USA.’ The girls, it was a shock to them,” Henry said.

Athletes Abbigale Richardson and Alex Kelly were thrilled by their unexpected gold medal win.

“I was hoping we would get to the top three,” Kelly said.

“I wasn’t set on winning but I’m really glad we did,” Richardson said. “It shows that we can do really cool things.”

Their favorite matchup was the final game against Jamaica, which resulted in a gold medal and lasting friendships.

“In the beginning, we weren’t that close, we were practicing but just kept to ourselves,” Richardson said. “But then throughout the season, we became more close.”

“It felt really amazing,” Kelly said. “It felt like a wonderful experience for me.”

Norman Powell speaks to kids at a clinic for his Understand the Grind Foundation.

Norman Powell is a busy man. If he’s not sweating in the gym and pouring out jump shots by the dozen, there’s a good chance he’s making phone calls to brighten someone’s holiday.

Powell, averaging a career-high 24.6 points per game for the Miami Heat this season, also finds himself occupied as the point person for his Understand the Grind Foundation, which is active in his hometown of San Diego.

The foundation — with the help of charitable donations and support from local food providers — distributed 500 turkeys to families this Thanksgiving, and it’s gearing up for a Christmas gift drive on Dec. 18.

Powell will be otherwise occupied as the Heat will play the Nets in Brooklyn that day. But his foundation is left in the hands of his mother, Sharon Powell, sisters Margaret Powell-Smart and Joniece Benjamin, and a handful of lifelong friends from his hometown.

That’s fitting, he says, because his foundation is very family-oriented, and his mother is his inspiration in all of his charitable endeavors.

“She was a big advocate in giving back to the community, helping the next family, somebody else in need,” Powell said. “Watching her as a kid rubbed off on me. And I always thought that if I made it to the NBA, I’d never forgot where I came from and I’d always try to give back and help the next generation go after their own dreams.”

Next week’s Christmas event, Powell says, has been an annual event for about eight years. He says his mom receives referrals from the community, coaches and teachers about families in need, and then Understand the Grind gets them a gift card or a shopping experience where they can choose gifts for their family.

Norman Powell’s foundation provided turkeys to 500 San Diego families for Thanksgiving.

Powell, the No. 46 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, broke into the league with the Toronto Raptors and won an NBA championship in the 2018-19 season. He’s been a vital member of playoff teams with the Portland Trail Blazers and the LA Clippers in his career as well.

The Clippers dealt Powell to the Heat in the offseason. He hit his stride in Miami, leading it in scoring and 3-point shots made (3.1) per game.

He says his personal motivational mantra and motto — “Understand the Grind” — originated in a conversation with his childhood friends about why so few players from southeast San Diego make it to the NBA.

“One of my friends said, ‘A lot of the people don’t understand the grind and what it takes to be successful and the choices you have to make.’ ” Powell said. “That kind of stuck with us, and we used it as a tool whenever we were going through something tough, some obstacles or challenges.

“We leaned on it like it was all part of the process, all part of the grind of what we’re going through to get where we wanted to be.”

Over the years, “Understand the Grind” became more than just a philosophy. It is also a lifestyle brand.

Powell started making shirts during his rookie season in Toronto, and soon thereafter, it developed into a clothing line. Later, it blossomed into his charitable foundation, which now offers year-round mentorship, educational support and an annual youth basketball camp. Additionally, Powell also launched the Grind Media Group this year.

There’s a message, he says, encoded in it all that transcends sports, and it applies to people in just about every stage of their lives and careers.

“Everybody has their own grind. Everybody’s trying to be successful in some type of field, and everybody has to put the work in,” Powell said. “Obviously, there are some people more fortunate than others, but for the majority of people, you’ve got to work from the bottom up in whatever field you’ve chosen.

“You have to sacrifice and out-work the next person, and you have to be ready for your opportunity and step into it with confidence knowing you’ve put the work in to get where you are.”

Powell’s UTG Scholars Program starts with student athletes at a young age, and it introduces them to successful people in the community in a number of careers. It allows them to job-shadow, and when they get closer to college, Powell says his student-athletes have an opportunity to earn scholarships, sponsorships and other forms of assistance.

“That could be helping with supplies for their dorms, putting money on their books or even helping them move in,” he says. “My mom has driven up to different colleges that kids have gotten scholarships to and helped them set up. We help them see outside of the community they’re in that they can be successful and go out of their normal way of life.”

Sharon Powell (seated), Norman Powell’s mom, is his inspiration for philanthropy.

Powell’s philanthropy has also extended outside the country.

Last summer, the veteran began to get in touch with his roots on his dad’s side (Norman Powell Sr.), and he wanted to play for the Jamaican National Team as it attempts to qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The island nation was struck by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa back in October, and  Powell found himself the captain of Jamaica’s National Team as the island faced a dire need for reconstruction. Powell made a $100,000 donation to Jamaica from his own foundation, and he also led a clothing and canned goods drive through UTG.

Powell’s foundation is currently readying another relief shipment for the people of Jamaica, and people who want to contribute can reach out to the Understand the Grind Foundation at its official website.

“I’m not a person who just talks about helping and being a part. I’m somebody who really commits,” he said. “Not only is the country of Jamaica going through a tough time with the hurricane, but I’m checking in on the families of my teammates and making sure they’re all good. I’m doing whatever I can to help provide some type of relief.”

Across California, staff and the incarcerated population are getting into the holiday spirit through toy drives, food-sale fundraisers, building parade floats, and special events. This round-up will be updated throughout the month, published in alphabetical order.

Submit stories and photos for the holiday round-up to Don Chaddock and Emily Idleman (emails found in Global). The cut-off to be included in the round-up is Dec. 30.

CHCF spreads holiday cheer

On the first day of December, California Health Care Facility (CHCF) in Stockton began its first 25 Days of Holiday Cheer and Staff Appreciation countdown to Christmas.

Wanting to spread holiday cheer to CHCF staff, as well as acknowledge their hard work throughout the year, acting Warden Dao Vang and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Anu Banerjee put their heads together to come up with a plan. Through collaboration, executive management team members donated gifts for staff. These gifts were then brought to the Warden’s Office.

Each day, a CHCF staff member’s name is randomly selected. The chosen person’s name is then announced over the institutional public address system, institutional radio, and emails. The staff member may then select a gift stashed in the Warden’s Office. Like a holiday countdown calendar, names will be drawn until Dec. 25.

Submitted by Lt. L. Davis

CSP-Los Angeles County transforms into North Pole for staff

California State Prison-Los Angeles County in Lancaster was transformed into a festive winter wonderland for staff and their families Dec. 9. This event was a first for the institution.

The sweet aroma of fresh-baked cookies and hot cocoa instantly transported staff from their daily grind to a place of holiday magic.

Santa Claus himself made a special trip from the North Pole. His jolly “Ho, ho, ho!” echoed through the hall as he settled in to take pictures with children and adults alike.

Staff members, both on and off duty, seized the rare opportunity to sit with jolly St. Nick. Many brought their loved ones to take part in an array of activities, from vibrant craft stations to delicious treats.

Submitted by Lt. C. Coupland

DAPO parole agents shop with kids

The Division of Adult Parole Operations in San Diego County participated in the 30th annual Shop with a Cop event. This Dec. 6 event paired the parole agents with third-grade students from Sherman Elementary School. At Sea World San Diego, students were treated to a Christmas-themed sea lion show, hot chocolate and breakfast sandwiches.

Following the show, each student received a $200 gift card to shop at Target for presents. After shopping, the students then took pictures with Santa.

This annual event is organized by the San Diego Sports, Training, Academics, Recreation / Police Athletic League (known locally as STAR/PAL). In all, 300 third-grade students were paired with law enforcement officers from local agencies during the event.

“Our parole agents look forward to participating in this event every year. Events like these foster positive relationships with youth in our community,” said parole organizers. “Seeing all the officers and kids connect, laugh, and pick out gifts for the season is what the event is all about. Thank you, STAR/PAL, for another great event.”

Submitted by the Division of Adult Parole Operations

Folsom State Prison donates 150 refurbished bikes

On Dec. 11, Folsom State Prison took part in the prison’s annual Christmas bicycle donation event. This tradition, established in 1986, involves the Cameron Park Rotary Club and Sacramento area Lions Clubs delivering donated children’s and adults’ bicycles to the prison to be refurbished by incarcerated individuals. Once restored, the bicycles are returned to the partner organizations for distribution to community members in need during the holiday season. This year, incarcerated individuals Robert Farmer, Kurt Breiten, Antonio Sandoval, Arthur Torres, and Guillermo Villegas refurbished a total of 150 bicycles to be distributed in the community.

Submitted by Lt. J. Pagan

Folsom State Prison staff offer Gifts from the Heart donations

On Dec. 9, Folsom State Prison staff participated in the annual Sacramento County Gifts from the Heart holiday donation program. This initiative provides holiday gifts to children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities served by the Department of Child, Family and Adult Services.

Folsom State Prison has been a supporter of this program for 17 years. This year, the facility sponsored 75 children and 25 seniors and individuals with disabilities.

To contribute to this effort, Folsom State Prison donated 21 bicycles (including helmets and locks), scooters, walkers, televisions, microwaves, and a variety of toys for those in need.

The staff at Folsom State Prison are proud to have supported this meaningful and community-oriented initiative.

Submitted by Lt. J. Pagan

HDSP Honor Guard leads Christmas parade

Each year in December, Lassen County hosts an annual tree-lighting ceremony which includes a Christmas parade and fireworks all before lighting the big tree.

The High Desert State Prison (HDSP) Honor Guard led the parade during the trip up Main Street, for everyone to see.

Honor Guard members Robert Roblek, Andrew Lane, Andrew Perez, and Garcia-Valdez walked in unison and full stride with a two-flag and rifle carry.

HDSP staff are heavily involved in the Lassen County community. The institution and staff participate in many events, donating thousands of dollars each year to local non-profit organizations.

Staff also play vital roles helping with youth sports in the community.

Submitted by Lt. J. Micone

Ironwood State Prison staff joins others to help Santa

Ironwood State Prison once again hosted the annual Civil Servants for Santa in Blythe. The popular event it 14 years strong. Local law enforcement and fire departments from the surrounding area joined forces to ensure 100 under-privileged children had a fun-filled and memorable holiday shopping experience.

Each child was paired with a civil servant from:

• Ironwood State Prison
• Blythe Police Department
• Blythe Fire Department
• Cal Fire
• Riverside County Probation
• Riverside County Sheriff’s Department
• California Highway Patrol
• US Border Patrol
• Riverside County Department of Animal Services
• Department of Food and Agriculture
• City of Blythe representatives
• and Arizona Department of Transportation.

Santa Claus arrived on a fire truck while multiple Grinches interacted with the kids as they shopped for their toys. Once the children completed their shopping, they were provided a complimentary breakfast by California Correctional Supervisors Organization.

Leaders thanked Ironwood State Prison Civil Servants for Santa coordinator Cecy Arzate, the Blythe Police Activity League, Ace Hardware and others who made this a successful event.

On the same day, the City of Blythe held its annual Christmas Parade. This year’s theme was Whoville. Ironwood State Prison’s float received accolades as a town favorite.

Submitted by Lt. C. Whalen

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See more community involvement stories.

The wave that reshaped college sports is now pressing on the doors of high school athletics, and the pressure is coming from several directions at once. Cultural energy, parental awareness, athlete empowerment, and brand interest have all played a role. But if you strip away the noise, the real driver behind the next phase of NIL adoption is something much simpler: legal reality.

Find out more about NOCAP Sports HERE

States are beginning to approve name, image, and likeness rights for high school athletes because the alternative is becoming legally indefensible. The recent situation in Ohio provides a clear example of how quickly momentum shifts once litigation enters the conversation.

Earlier this month, an Ohio athlete who had been offered an NIL deal filed a lawsuit against the state high school athletic association after being denied the ability to accept it. Within days, the association reversed course. The timing was not accidental. The rule was unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny because it restricted a fundamental economic right. Once the lawsuit exposed that vulnerability, the association understood that maintaining the ban would almost certainly lead to a loss in court.

Across the country, state high school associations operate independently from legislatures. They write their own eligibility rules and they vote on their own policy changes. This structure gives them a great deal of autonomy, but it also means they hold responsibility for ensuring those rules do not violate state or federal law. NIL restrictions have increasingly crossed that line.

At its core, NIL is not a competitive issue. It is an economic one. Preventing a teenager from monetizing their own name is not meaningfully different from preventing them from earning money through music, social media, or part-time work. The athlete in Ohio did not challenge a competitive imbalance. They challenged the idea that a governing body could unilaterally block a young person from participating in the broader economy. That is why lawsuits are becoming the most powerful forcing mechanism in the high school NIL debate.

Every state association is watching the same trend unfold. Courts have been overwhelmingly clear that athletes, whether college or high school aged, have enforceable publicity rights and economic rights. Associations can try to maintain legacy guardrails, but they cannot deny fundamental liberties indefinitely. The result is a slow but inevitable policy migration toward NIL permissiveness.

This shift is not driven by a desire to commercialize youth sports. In many states, the governing bodies know full well that approving NIL does not mean every high school athlete becomes a brand partner on day one. What it does mean is that associations recognize their own legal exposure. When you add cases like Ohio to the list of earlier developments in California, Illinois, Alaska, New York, and others, the picture becomes clearer. States are not acting because they want to innovate. They are acting because the cost of standing still is too high.

There is also a secondary factor accelerating change. Brands are increasingly cautious about entering environments where the rules are unclear. When a state approves NIL, it sends a signal of stability. It does not promise a gold rush, but it does establish a legitimate framework where athletes can participate safely and brands can operate with confidence. Associations may not be financially motivated to embrace NIL (more on taxation in later issues), but they are motivated to reduce uncertainty. Approving NIL rights eliminates ambiguity and protects the ecosystem.

Critics often argue that NIL at the high school level invites chaos. The fear is that wealthy schools, ambitious collectives, or recruiting-driven communities will leverage NIL to tilt competition. But in practice, that has not been the trend. Most high school NIL deals are modest, often tied to local businesses, community supporters, or digital content. States that have adopted NIL have not seen rapid erosion of competitive balance. They have simply acknowledged that economic participation exists, and that ignoring it does more harm than good.

The more meaningful question is not whether states will approve NIL. It is what the pace of adoption will look like. Some have moved preemptively, understanding the legal and cultural momentum. Others will hold their ground until a lawsuit forces their hand. But the destination is already clear. High school associations cannot justify denying athletes rights that every other teenager in their state enjoys.

The Ohio situation did not create a new standard. It revealed the one that already existed. When an athlete challenges a rule that restricts their ability to earn income from their identity, the courts will side with the athlete. Associations can wait for that ruling, or they can write policy that respects economic freedom and protects the integrity of their governance structures.

The smart states are choosing the latter. The rest will follow. The only remaining variable is time.

About Youth Sports Business Report

Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.

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Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

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Almost 20 years after the birth of the idea, only the fourth edition of the African Youth Games are underway in Angola this month. With the 2022 edition cancelled due to scheduling issues, it took until this past summer in Algeria before the continent’s youth aged 14-17 were finally able to compete against each other again. The inaugural African School Games (ASG) were a success, and a reminder of how important these events are for young people.

The African Youth Games (December 10-20), with 14-17 year olds from across the continent are competing across 33 sports. The inclusion of two traditional board games, Kiela and Wela, are a nod to African heritage and allow for cultural learning.

“It’s a good idea to do sport development to host events to give opportunity to the youth,” Bella Bello Bitugu told DW.

“The question you ask yourself is, what happens from now? For example, this is the third one Ghana has participated in and we have the biggest contingent, 70 people are coming. So what happens after that? Where is the monitoring, where are the facilities, where are the programs at home?”

Bitugu is a senior lecturer at the Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies at the University of Ghana. He has studied in Ghana and Austria, and specializes in development through sport. He is also a former a technical advisor to Ghana’s minister of youth and sport.

A case of sportswashing?

Bitugu is also curious about the motives behind a country facing ongoing criticism over its human rights record investing so heavily in sports recently. This past summer, the men’s basketballers hosted and won Afrobasket. It was the 12th time they have won the continental basketball championship. In mid-November, Lionel Messi’s Argentinadrew a huge crowd for a friendly in Luanda as part of the country’s celebration of its 50th independence anniversary. Messi scored as Argentina won 2-0. The event drew a huge, enthusiastic crowd.

“I will say this [sportswashing] is something that maybe you can also attribute to Angola,” Bitugu said.

“Finally let us give them some good news about us, let us open up the system, let us do some gimmicks, let us do some demonstration of peace, of we having everything… Principally a great idea, but we want to question why Angola, why now?”

The country has also invested in infrastructure. Mitrelli, a Swiss-based international company focused on infrastructure projects across Africa, developed the Bengo Paralympic Sports Complex in Angola’s Bengo province. This state-of-the-art facility covers more than 20 Olympic and Paralympic disciplines, and can house 250 athletes. The complex opened in time for the Youth Games, and while clearly a step in the right direction in terms of development there, Bitugu wonders whether it will be sustainable.

“Are they going to turn into the white elephants?” he asked. “Because you know sporting facilities are very, very expensive and are in themselves not profitable. You need to combine it with non-sporting activities if you don’t get a constant flow of money from government. But you cannot always rely and depend on the government for money.”

Is sport a case of mind over matter?

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Sports a universal language for youth in Africa

The sustainability of these events looms large, which feels especially relevant given this event also serving as a qualifier for the Youth Olympic Games in Senegal next year. Ultimately, the main purpose of these events is to provide the young people of Africa with the opportunity to gain their first taste of international competition and take the next step in their development.

“Active Africa, winning Africa, peaceful Africa, united Africa – all of these things are things sports provide,” Bitugu explained.

“These are the strengths of sports. Unfortunately in certain instances they are abused and misused but these are potential things when you bring the young people together, they understand each other, they have a collectivity.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for peace, unity, tolerance, fairness and understanding, especially at this time in our world where we look more at our differences, at money.”

Bitugu hopes that both these Games in Angola and the ones next year in Senegal can find a way to return to a more human-focused approach.

“There is too much monetization of sports, too much commercialization and the human element is losing such that people who go into sports don’t even think of anything other than winning and money.”

The hope is that the legacy of the Youth Games in Angola, and indeed the Youth Olympics in Dakar next year, is of sustainable investment in young people. Competition matters, but regular opportunities to develop the values that sports provide matter even more.

Edited by: Chuck Penfold