For many young athletes and community volunteers, the FIFA World Cup represents the highest level of international soccer. While millions of fans focus on the action taking place on the field, another memorable experience unfolds moments before kickoff. Selected young … Read the rest
Category: Program Models
Congress Examines Rising Costs of Youth Sports and Their Impact on American Families
Youth sports have long been viewed as one of the strongest environments for developing leadership, teamwork, discipline, and confidence. Across the United States, millions of children participate in organized athletics each year, gaining experiences that extend far beyond the playing … Read the rest
Character Before Championships: What the Ripken National Championships Teach Young Athletes
The rise of large-scale youth baseball tournaments in the United States has created a parallel conversation alongside competition: what kind of athlete development actually lasts beyond the scoreboard. The inaugural Ripken National Championships, hosted at Cooperstown All Star Village … Read the rest
Community Investment Is the Cornerstone of Youth Sports Success
Youth sports programs rarely succeed on coaching alone. Behind every functioning league, after-school program, or weekend tournament sits a structure of community investment that determines whether participation grows or fades. Facilities, transportation, volunteer coaching, scholarships, and local sponsorships collectively shape … Read the rest
How Civic Leadership Programs Are Preparing Young People to Strengthen Their Communities
Communities thrive when young people have opportunities to learn how local government works, understand public service, and see themselves as active participants in solving real challenges. Across the United States, nonprofit organizations, schools, and civic institutions continue investing in youth … Read the rest
How Community Sports Camps Are Building the Next Generation of Leaders
Across the United States, community sports camps are becoming much more than seasonal athletic programs. They are creating opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills, build confidence, strengthen relationships, and gain valuable mentorship from coaches, volunteers, and professional athletes.… Read the rest
Using Sports to Address Social Issues
When the cameras stop rolling, something interesting happens. Teens around the world have 8 hours a day for either trouble or change. This 488 minutes of free time can be used for good or bad. It’s a chance for making … Read the rest
Breaking Barriers: How the PeacePlayers Model Uses Sport
Nelson Mandela once called sport “a weapon against ignorance”. What if we used it for peace instead of just winning? The PeacePlayers model is a sports-based youth development program. It turns basketball courts into places for solving conflicts.
Imagine … Read the rest
Funding Opportunities and Grants for SBYD
Let’s talk about the nonprofit Hunger Games. Programs fight for scraps while foundations offer grants like deals from a dystopian world. But some groups are changing the game. Up2Us Sports, for example, used AmeriCorps funding to help 655,000 kids. … Read the rest
Measurement and Evaluation in SBYD
What if we told you the secret to effective youth programs is a mix of basketballs and bar graphs? At Skills Center, where math and basketball diagrams meet, we’ve found a way to measure character. This blend of Moneyball and … Read the rest