ESPN JV Launches, LakePoint Changes Hands, Youth Rugby Tops 55K, Dakar YOG Nears: 14 Must-Know Youth Sports Stories (October 18, 2026)youth sports

espn jv launches lakepoint cha 1

ESPN JV Launches, LakePoint Changes Hands, Youth Rugby Tops 55K, Dakar YOG Nears: 14 Must-Know Youth Sports Stories (October 18, 2026)

This week’s youth sports news covers a lot of ground: a big Atlanta-area complex changed owners, ESPN launched a YouTube channel built for kids, and new research raised fresh questions about concussions, mental health and young hearts. Whether you coach, run a club or drive the minivan to Saturday tournaments, this youth sports news roundup … [Read More…]

best sports for small kids

Best Sports for Kids Who Are Small for Their Age

If your child is noticeably shorter or lighter than their classmates, you’ve probably already seen how it plays out on a field or court — getting boxed out under the rim, losing 50-50 balls to bigger kids, or just feeling overlooked for a starting spot. The good news is that height and weight matter a … [Read More…]

team sponsorship agreement

Team Sponsorship Agreement: What to Put in Writing

A handshake and a check feel simple, but sponsorships fall apart when expectations were never written down. The sponsor thought their logo would be on every jersey; the team thought it was just a banner at home games. Both sides are frustrated, and the money’s already spent. This guide walks through exactly what a team … [Read More…]

approaching a business about sponsorship

How to Approach a Business About Sponsorship (With Scripts)

Asking a business for sponsorship money feels awkward the first time you do it, mostly because most coaches and team parents have never been trained on how to ask. The good news is that local sponsorship is a normal, expected part of doing business for a lot of shops, restaurants, and service companies in your … [Read More…]

sports sponsorship benefits

What Sponsors Get: Benefits to Offer Beyond a Jersey Logo

If your sponsorship pitch starts and ends with “your logo on our jersey,” you’re leaving value on the table for both sides. A logo patch is passive — most sponsors want proof that their name reached real people, not just a photo of a uniform hanging in a closet. This guide breaks down the benefit … [Read More…]

boys participation hits 42 gir 1

Boys Participation Hits 42%, Girls Gap Opens at 8, Overtime Lands Eldridge Raise, U.S. Bank Backs NFL FLAG: 15 Must-Know Youth Sports Stories (October 4, 2026)

Youth sports news this week was about who plays and who doesn’t. Two national reports came out within days of each other. One found boys are leaving organized sports, and the other found girls fall behind as early as age 8. Money kept flowing into flag football, youth media and facilities at the same time. … [Read More…]

youth cold weather base layers

Best Base Layers for Youth Athletes in Cold Weather

Standing on a sideline in January, you can tell which kids were dressed well. One is running around comfortably. Another is shivering in a damp cotton T-shirt. The layer against the skin matters more than most parents expect, because it decides whether sweat gets pulled away from the body or stays there and chills your … [Read More…]

youth sports tournament packing list

The Ultimate Youth Sports Tournament Packing List for Weekend Travel

Weekend tournaments reward the families who plan ahead. You are usually playing several games across two or three days, often at fields far from your hotel or car. That means you can’t run home for a forgotten cleat, a dry jersey, or a snack when a game runs late. This guide breaks the packing list … [Read More…]

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Girls Flag Football Booms, Tennessee Heat Halts Practices, Youth Sports Costs Soar, AI Wearables Debated: 14 Must-Know Youth Sports Stories (September 20, 2026)

Youth sports made headlines this week for growth, heat, and money all at once. Record-breaking high school participation numbers, an unprecedented heat crisis disrupting fall practices across the South, and a new cost survey showing families are buckling under the price of play all landed in the same seven days. Below is the roundup of … [Read More…]

best sports for kids with asthma

Best Sports for Kids with Asthma (Plus Ones to Approach with Care)

A childhood asthma diagnosis doesn’t mean sitting out on sports. In fact, pediatric pulmonologists generally encourage kids with asthma to stay active, since regular exercise strengthens the lungs and improves overall symptom control over time. The trick is choosing activities that work with your child’s airways instead of against them, and having an asthma action … [Read More…]

youth sports team parent

How to Become a Youth Sports Team Parent: Full Guide

Every youth sports team runs on more than a coach’s whistle — someone has to organize snacks, chase down uniform sizes, collect fees, and keep forty text messages from turning into chaos. That person is the team parent, and if you just raised your hand (or got volunteered by a coach scanning the sideline), you … [Read More…]

60 minute practice planning

How to Run an Effective 60-Minute Practice for Any Age

An hour on the field or court can either fly by with players sweating, learning, and having fun, or it can drag through standing in lines while attention wanders. The difference almost always comes down to structure: how the coach breaks the 60 minutes into blocks, how long each drill runs before switching, and how … [Read More…]

Soccer sport

Soccer Basics & Fundamentals: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, yet most beginners still have the same questions: What are the actual rules? What position should I play? And what skills do I need before I even show up to practice? This guide answers all of it in one place. Below you’ll find the true basics … [Read More…]

Flag football sport

How to Play Flag Football: Rules, Basics, Facts & Beginner Tips

Flag football has the strategy and excitement of American football without the tackling. It is easy to pick up, and it is played in youth leagues, schools, rec leagues and, soon, at the Olympics. Most beginners just want to know how the game works, so this guide is a plain-English ‘flag football for dummies’ walkthrough … [Read More…]

nordonia wins ohio flag title 3

Best Youth Baseball Batting Gloves: Parent’s Buying Guide

Batting gloves seem simple until you’re standing in an aisle full of brands, sizes, and materials while your kid insists on the $60 pair their favorite pro wears. The truth is that fit matters far more than brand name, and most youth players — even ones with noticeably small hands — do just fine in … [Read More…]

year round youth sports rotation

Best Year-Round Sports for Kids: A Season-by-Season Guide

Once the final whistle blows on your child’s favorite sport, the couch and the screen start calling. But staying active shouldn’t depend on one season or one sport. Rotating through different activities as the calendar turns keeps kids moving, engaged, and physically well-rounded, without the burnout that comes from playing the same sport twelve months … [Read More…]