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U. of Toledo Athletics Department to Become First in D-1 to Operate Youth Sports Leagues

The University of Toledo athletics department announced Thursday the launch of Rocket Youth Sports Leagues (RYSL), a new, university-led platform designed to expand access to high-quality, values-based youth sports experiences across Northwest Ohio.

According to the department's announcement, Toledo Athletics will operate RYSL, believed to be the first entity of its kind in NCAA Division I athletics, aligning a comprehensive community youth sports initiative directly with the Toledo's mission, resources and facilities. RYSL activities will begin this spring with boys' and girls' flag football leagues.

Ed Price will serve as executive director of RYSL. Price founded FNA Toledo eight years ago to provide families an alternative to tackle football for youths.

Under Price's leadership, RYSL will organize seasonal leagues, clinics and camps — beginning with flag football and expanding to additional sports — in partnership with Rocket coaches, staff and student-athletes.

Bill to Allow NIL Opportunities for Mississippi HS Student-Athletes Dies in Committee

As state bills that allow high school student-athletes to earn compensation for their name, image and likeness (NIL) proliferate, Mississippi now stands out as the exception after House Bill 1400 did not pass the House of Representatives committee.

According to WLBT, HB1400, known as the “Mississippi High School Student-Athlete NIL Protection Act” would have created a framework for student-athletes to earn NIL and put guidelines in place for managing that process. The bill did not make it out of the House committee, so it was not voted on by the full House of Representatives.

The Mississippi High School Athletics Association as well as coaches and athletic directors from across the state spoke out against the bill that was introduced last month.

“It does not let them take full advantage of their athletic ability because we don’t want it to get into a pay-for-play type situation, like what is going on in the NCAA,” said MHSAA executive director Rickey Neaves. “We need to keep it where it is for as long as we can for the future of high school athletics.”

The price of youth sports can be heavy. Should you pay it?

Kids' sports have a price.

There are likely millions of parents who will pay it, whatever it is.

“I think youth sports have gotten too intense and I think it could lead to coaches’ depression and anxiety, parents’ depression and anxiety and players’ depression and anxiety,” says Carly Ellman, a sports mom in suburban Philadelphia.

She was speaking in “Beyond Stigma,” a new documentary about mental health in women’s and youth sports.

Ellman, a former Division I field hockey player, wasn’t asked specifically how much she spent for her daughter, Gianna, to participate in the portion of the documentary, one of its producers, Linda Flanagan, shared with USA TODAY Sports.

Youth Sports Bill Hits Capitol Hill

Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) has introduced the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act, which aims to expand tax credits for youth sports parents and boost participation.

The PLAY Act is co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY). He and Gottheimer previously proposed the bill in 2023— Lawler proposed legislation creating a youth sports equipment tax credit earlier this year.

The bill would change current tax law and allow parents to apply certain youth sports expenses toward the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.

The bill also creates a youth sports-specific federal grant program.

The maximum dependent tax credit is currently $3K for one kid and $6K for 2+; youth sports expenses are currently not applicable to the credit...

Congress addresses 'crisis' in youth sports. Can we fix it?

The big business of youth sports has reached the U.S. Congress. A House subcommittee says it has created a “crisis” for kids and their parents. “The youth sports industry generates more than $40 billion in annual revenue,” Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), the chair of the subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, said to open a hearing on Tuesday, Dec. 16, entitled “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its cost to Our Future.”

“But this revenue comes at a steep cost to families,” Kiley said. “Parents are told that only year-round travel teams, private coaching and early specialization will keep their child competitive and maybe even earn them a scholarship. That false promise has created a spending surge that prices out the average family while pushing kids as young as eight into high-cost, high-pressure programs that simply aren't necessary for long term development.”

Sprocket Sports Scores Series A Investment

The Chicago-based youth sports management services and software firm announced it has finalized an investment round with Frontier Growth, which specializes in vertical SaaS companies.

The capital will be used to "accelerate investment across its product suite and sales and service teams."

Frontier’s website says the firm typically seeks out companies with $3-$20M in ARR and at least 25% annual growth with a typical initial investment of $5M to $30M.