Rec Sports

Webber Bill Aims to Keep Predators Away from Student Athletes

MORRIS COUNTY – He authored landmark legislation known as “pass the trash,” signed into law in 2018, to keep sexual predators out of the classroom. Assemblyman Jay Webber wants to keep student athletes safe from predatory coaches. On Thursday, the Assemblyman introduced a bill requiring anyone working with student athletes to undergo annual background checks. “This […]

Published

3 weeks ago

June 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

MORRIS COUNTY – He authored landmark legislation known as “pass the trash,” signed into law in 2018, to keep sexual predators out of the classroom. Assemblyman Jay Webber wants to keep student athletes safe from predatory coaches.

On Thursday, the Assemblyman introduced a bill requiring anyone working with student athletes to undergo annual background checks.

“This isn’t the Saturday morning Little League of our childhood. This is a multi-billion-dollar industry, with the push to discover the next Shohei Ohtani or Caitlin Clark. The increasing demand for coaches and trainers and the popularity of travel teams has created more opportunities for our athletes while at the same time increasing their chances of being exposed to harm,” Webber (R-Morris) said. “Sadly, men and women who want to harm children find ways to work with children. And the lack of regulation and oversight within many youth sports makes it an attractive opportunity for predators.”

The bill comes on the heels of an explosive NJ.com investigation published this week that found more than 100 coaches, trainers, and sports complex owners have been accused of sex crimes against minors, 57 of those happening since 2020. Many were able to exploit the lack of background checks or inaccurate, out-of-date offender databases to gain access to victims.

A lack of uniform state law has allowed problematic coaches to avoid scrutiny and continue operating in the coaching realm. Despite thousands of youth sports teams across more than 20 sports, requirements for coaches vary drastically from league to league. Some require stringent background checks while others have none at all. The investigation found that some coaches with formal criminal charges are not on these lists. Some are on the list but still actively coaching.

The state sex offender registry, created under Megan’s Law in 1994, does little to deter offenders or prevent sex crimes, according to a 2009 study cited in the investigation. Seventy-two percent of that law’s offenders don’t appear on the registry. Only 14 of the 118 coaches accused of sex crimes since 2015 are registered sex offenders online.

Webber, a father of eight and a volunteer baseball, softball, and basketball coach, said he’s glad the NJ.com investigation has brought this critical issue to light.

“My children have been in every sport imaginable, and overall, sports have provided our kids with tremendous experiences and incredible opportunities. Parents perform their due diligence to keep their kids safe while they enjoy youth sports, but the tools are broken,” Webber said. “My bill will create uniform mandates for criminal background checks and tough penalties to encourage compliance for all youth sports coaches, trainers, and anyone working with our young athletes to keep predators away.”

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Bismarck Youth Basketball Camp 2025: Pee Wee Lions, Lady Lion hoopsters learn fundamentals | Sports

BISMARCK — The Bismarck Lions basketball program hosted its pee wee youth fundamental skills camp Thursday, Friday July 11-12 in Bismarck. Preston Crowder, Bismarck basketball boys head coach assisted by Lion team members and retired coach Garry Crowder instructed campers on proper shooting, ball-handling, passing skills and techniques; as well as perfecting the defensive structure, […]

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1 hour ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

BISMARCK — The Bismarck Lions basketball program hosted its pee wee youth fundamental skills camp Thursday, Friday July 11-12 in Bismarck.

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Register Now for Mesa Parks and Recreation Fall Programs

Text to speech audio articles made possible by CAST11 Talking Glass Media Despite our triple-digit temperatures, fall is around the corner, and so is registration for Mesa Parks and Recreations fall programs. (City of Mesa Photo) Registration is now open for Mesa residents for the 2025 fall season (August, September, October). Mesa offers programs and […]

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2 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Text to speech audio articles made possible by CAST11 Talking Glass Media

Despite our triple-digit temperatures, fall is around the corner, and so is registration for Mesa Parks and Recreations fall programs.

Register Now for Mesa Parks and Recreation Fall Programs

(City of Mesa Photo)

Registration is now open for Mesa residents for the 2025 fall season (August, September, October). Mesa offers programs and activities to people of all ages and abilities:

– Adult Sports: Kickball, cornhole, softball, volleyball, pickleball and Recess for Adults, which offers a new sport or game each week

– Youth Sports and Clinics: Co-ed flag football and all-girls flag football, NFL flag kinder clinic, cheer clinic, lacrosse clinic, soccer clinic and Playball multi-sport

– Teen Recreation: Flag football, junior tennis camps, Super Smash Bros E-Sports Tournament and Teen H.Y.P.E. (Helping Youth Produce Excellence) teen leadership initiative

– Adaptive Recreation: Swimming, bocce, rock climbing, yoga, fashion show

– Hobbies and Special Interests: Youth beginners ice skating (ages 7-12), all-star gymnastics (ages 1-4), Dungeons & Dragons (ages 8-14), judo (ages 10+), belly dance basics (ages 16+) and tai chi for wellness/beginners (ages 16+)

Additional offerings include lap swim at Skyline and Kino Aquatic Centers, Drop-In Pickleball for ages 18+, tennis clinics and leagues, after-school programs and fall break camps.

Mesa Parks and Recreation will also host special events such as the Dive-In Movie Aug. 16, Skate Party @ The Plaza Sept. 27, Celebrate Mesa, Oct. 11, Fall Carnival Oct. 24 and Pumpkin Splash Oct. 25. A full list of programs and activities is available in the fall PLAYBOOK Magazine.

All of these popular activities are the perfect way to keep families active while having fun. Non-residents can begin registering on Monday, July 14 at 8 a.m.

How to Register:

– Online using the Active Net Registration System

– Email: Send a completed registration form to ParksRecInfo@MesaAZ.gov

– Phone: Call 480-644-PLAY (7529)

– In-person: Visit the Mesa Parks and Recreation Office at 708 W. Baseline Road. Office hours are Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Registration forms are available in English and Spanish. For questions, call 480-644-PLAY (7529). Some Mesa residents may qualify for the Mesa Recreation Scholarship MRS Discount, which provides 50% off youth and adaptive programs.

Rec Sports

On the fast track: Carrollton 12-year-old headed to Junior Olympics, 10th grade – Smithfield Times

On the fast track: Carrollton 12-year-old headed to Junior Olympics, 10th grade Published 1:11 pm Friday, July 11, 2025 Akaido “Jig” Mohammed of Carrollton flexes his muscles after placing in the top five in the 200 meter and 400 meter events at the AAU Track & Field Region 5 qualifier. (Photo courtesy of Candace Mohammed) […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

On the fast track: Carrollton 12-year-old headed to Junior Olympics, 10th grade

Published 1:11 pm Friday, July 11, 2025

: Akaido “Jig” Mohammed of Carrollton flexes his muscles after placing in the top five in the 200 meter and 400 meter events at the AAU Track & Field Region 5 qualifier. (Photo courtesy of Candace Mohammed)

Akaido “Jig” Mohammed isn’t your typical 12-year-old.

The budding track and field standout, who recently qualified to compete in the Amateur Athletic Union’s Junior Olympics, begins every morning with a 2-mile run. Then he gets right to his schoolwork without being prompted.

The Carrollton resident is already a rising sophomore in high school. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, his mother, Candace Mohammed, enrolled him in the Acellus Academy of Science and Technology, an online self-paced private K-12 school that prepares students for STEM-related careers.

“He was able to fly through a lot of his elementary and middle school courses pretty quickly,” Candace said.

He’s only in his first full year of participating in track and field competitions.

Last year, Jig joined Smithfield Packers Youth Sports’ track team, but an injury he sustained during his second meet took him out for the remainder of the season. He now trains with Chidi Okezie, a U.S.-born sprinter and Hampton University graduate who competed for Nigeria in the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was Okezie who recommended that Jig join the Technique Track Club in Hampton.

As a member of Technique, Jig earned two silver medals and one gold at the AAU district level. He then completed the 200 meter dash in 25.62 seconds and the 400 meter dash in just over a minute at the AAU Track & Field Region 5 qualifier June 28 in Newport News, qualifying in both events for the Junior Olympics, which will be held July 22 through Aug. 2 in Houston, Texas. Athletes with the five fastest scores qualify.

“The 200 meters, we weren’t expecting that one at all. He snuck in there on that,” Candace said.

According to the Houston Sports Authority, the AAU Junior Olympic Games are the largest youth multi-sport event in the nation. There, 15,000 youth athletes from across the country will compete in more than a dozen sports. This summer marks the 59th anniversary of the event and the fourth time Houston has hosted the games.

“He’s always been athletic,” Candace said of Jig, who has participated in soccer and basketball through Isle of Wight County Parks and Recreation. He also boxes in the off-season and has started training with Jerry Forrest, a professional heavyweight boxer in Newport News, but recently decided to focus on track.

“One thing about Jig, he’s a very shy, quiet, mild kid, so it’s hard because he’s not really going to express what he likes,” Candace said. But then “he smiles, and that’s when you know.”

During the pandemic, “it was hard for him to get excited about anything,” but “track is starting to give me my kid back,” she said. “He’s growing into something that you can see that he’s proud of himself.”

Candace said Jig hopes to one day compete for Isle of Wight County Schools, but his accelerated homeschooling has put him in an unusual situation.

In Virginia, public schools aren’t required to include homeschooled students in athletics or other extracurricular activities, but Isle of Wight County Schools has a policy allowing participation if homeschooled students enroll in at least two classes for the semester their sport or activity is in session, IWCS spokeswoman Lynn Briggs said.

But “I won’t make him repeat courses he’s already taken and I don’t want my 12-year-old among high-schoolers yet,” Candace said.

Candace said Jig’s dedication to his schoolwork and sport has inspired her to return to school. She started her first week at Norfolk State University this month, pursuing a psychology degree in hopes of becoming a licensed counselor.

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A2R Performance Development Brings Elite Youth Basketball Training to Hesperia

HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Local athlete and coach Aaron Alston is set to open his new basketball training facility, A2R Performance Development, in Hesperia with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The facility, located at 10968 I Ave, STE C, Hesperia, 92345, will host the community […]

Published

2 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

HESPERIA, Calif. (VVNG.com) — Local athlete and coach Aaron Alston is set to open his new basketball training facility, A2R Performance Development, in Hesperia with a grand opening celebration on Saturday, July 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The facility, located at 10968 I Ave, STE C, Hesperia, 92345, will host the community event featuring complimentary hot dogs while supplies last, free merchandise for the first 10 children, and additional branded items available for purchase in support of the new small business.

Alston, a 2011 graduate of Hesperia High School and a long-time High Desert resident, said the launch of A2R Performance Development marks a significant milestone in his lifelong commitment to the sport and local youth.

“I’ve been training athletes of all levels since 2016, and for the past three years, I’ve been contracted by the City of Hesperia to run weekly basketball classes,” Alston said. “Opening this facility is a long-time dream that allows me to continue mentoring and inspiring young athletes in the community I love.”

The facility will offer one-on-one, small group, and large group basketball training, along with sport-specific conditioning and plyometric programs designed to boost speed, agility, and vertical performance. A2R is also home to the competitive AAU basketball team, A2R Elite.

Alston’s decorated basketball background includes leading Hesperia High to two Mojave River League championships and earning accolades such as First Team All-League, Mojave River League Athlete of the Year, and Citrus Belt Athlete of the Year. He went on to play collegiate basketball at Lower Columbia College, Southern University A&M, and Cal State Los Angeles, and has competed in elite Pro-Am leagues such as The Drew League and The Mecca.

In 2023, Alston was honored with a mural at the Hesperia Epicentre, recognizing his contributions to local sports and youth development.

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E’town 12U All-Stars compete in state tournament | Youth Sports

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3 hours ago

July 11, 2025

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Martin to Represent Team USA at Panam Bowling Youth Championship – University of Nebraska

Reigning NTCA Player of the Year Jillian Martin was named to the USBC Junior Team USA team which will represent the United States at the 2025 Panam Bowling Youth Championship, August 10-16. Martin was among eight young bowlers selected by the National Selection Committee to represent the states in Guatemala City, Guatemala. The 2025 Panam […]

Published

3 hours ago

July 11, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Reigning NTCA Player of the Year Jillian Martin was named to the USBC Junior Team USA team which will represent the United States at the 2025 Panam Bowling Youth Championship, August 10-16.

Martin was among eight young bowlers selected by the National Selection Committee to represent the states in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

The 2025 Panam Bowling Youth Championship will be held at the Metrobowl Zone 15 in Guatemala City, with the opening ceremony and official practice beginning August 10. Singles competition will begin the next day, with team competition starting on August 14.

The three-time first-team All-American is coming off a season in which she led the NTCA in nine individual categories en route to being named NTCA Bowler of the Year. Martin will join Junior Team USA for the fourth time in her career.

Stay up to date with the action by following the Nebraska Women’s Bowling Twitter (@HuskerBowling), Instagram (@huskerbowling) and Facebook.

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