Photo © Diego Vito Cervo | Dreamstime.com
With many programs for underserved populations experiencing cuts in recent months throughout the United States, it’s refreshing to see new efforts at multiple levels expanding access to youth sports programming.
Here’s a rundown of five recent developments that will make you feel good.
• The National Police Athletic League (PAL) and NFL FLAG operator RCX have partnered to expand NFL FLAG football opportunities to hundreds of communities nationwide. According to RCX, the partnership will prioritize not only program growth but also character development, safety and long-term impact by building more sustainable and community-driven leagues. PAL has more than 300 local chapters in nearly every state and serves about two million young athletes every year.
“By working together, we can break down barriers to entry, build stronger communities and ensure that every child — regardless of their background — has the opportunity to play, to thrive and to be inspired through sport,” Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports, said in a statement.
Regional outreach will be a cornerstone of the partnership, with National PAL working closely with RCX to identify and connect with local chapters where NFL FLAG programming can make the greatest impact in the communities that need it most. RCX plans to help launch several kickoff events to celebrate the start of PAL leagues and also will provide such operational guidance as tournament blueprints and scheduling support for end-of-season play.
• The 2025 Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day campaign — in collaboration with the Daniels Fund, Project Play Colorado and 244 nonprofit youth sports organizations across the state — raised more than $5.2 million (from 3,610 donations) to help expand youth sports access statewide. For two weeks in September, individuals, businesses and community groups across Colorado generously contributed funds to local youth sports nonprofits as part of the second annual online giving campaign.
“Youth Sports Giving Day again sparked a groundswell of generosity across Colorado to lower barriers that are keeping too many kids on the sidelines,” Hanna Skandera, president and chief executive officer of the private charitable foundation Daniels Fund, said in a statement.
“The support we’ve received during Youth Sports Giving Day means we will be able to open the door to competition, growth and transformation for so many more kids this coming year who have earned a spot, but need financial assistance,” added Vickie Puchi, executive director of Chance Sports, a nonprofit that provides scholarships to competitive young athletes. “The impact of this funding isn’t just about more games played — it’s about more young people gaining confidence, building character and realizing what they’re capable of. That’s the true win.”
• In August, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law the Illinois Youth Sports Commission, creating the first statewide commission in the country focused on quality, access and equity in youth sports.
The milestone was made possible by the grant-making nonprofit organization Laureus Sport for Good USA in partnership with Illinois State Rep. Joyce Mason and Illinois State Sen. Graciela Guzmán, both Democrats who lobbied for bipartisan legislative support.
The Commission will study current conditions, identify barriers to participation and recommend policies and investments that expand safe, high-quality and developmentally appropriate opportunities for every child — regardless of neighborhood or family income.
Illinois also recently made a four-year, $13.75 million investment (channeled through Laureus Sport for Good USA) to provide no-cost sports programming to more than 40,000 young athletes across 77 high-poverty, high-violence ZIP codes, according to the Youth Sports Business Report.
• With the $160 million organizers of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles committed to local youth sports, the cost to access the city’s parks and recreation programs has been reduced, and new sports — like table tennis, fencing and archery — have been introduced.
As LAist.com reports, “the money helps subsidize programs for low-income families and pays for staffing and equipment for sports the city couldn’t afford to offer before, like wetsuits and boards for surfing. … The funding has also helped expand the city’s programs for youth with disabilities. Adaptive youth sports include swimming, volleyball, skateboarding, blind soccer, track and field. There’s also wheelchair tennis and basketball.”
• Ski Utah and the Youth Sports Alliance (YSA) are teaming up to expand and enhance Ski Utah’s long-standing school program, which has introduced thousands of fourth graders to skiing and snowboarding over the past two decades. The initiative comes nine years in advance of Salt Lake City hosting the 2034 Winter Olympics and is designed to reach more children, provide a stronger learning experience and reduce barriers to entry for families.
Previously, the program consisted of a single half-day ski or snowboard lesson during the school day. Now, starting with the 2025–26 season, students will participate in four half-day lessons after school. Transportation will be provided, and the program will be open to children in grades 1 through 6.
To make participation possible for more families, the program also will introduce a tiered pricing structure, with scholarships available for families with annual household incomes of less than $120,000. Scholarship recipients will receive assistance with rental equipment, too.
“This is about expanding access to the slopes for kids throughout Utah,” Ski Utah president Nathan Rafferty said in a statement. “One day on the mountain can spark an interest, but four days gives them the confidence to keep coming back. Teaming up with YSA means we can make that experience possible for more families across the state, while also planting the seeds for the next generation of athletes who may take the world stage when the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games return to Utah in 2034.”
About the Author
