The NFL’s concussion reduction measures have continued to pay off, although in the last season, 169 concussions were recorded. That is 169 too many for the NFL, though, where focus has now turned to helmet facemasks as the next place to absorb and reduce impact. What are the latest developments and how might they filter down to the youth game?

Much has been written about the American esports event market, but a new report shows the sector has expanded into Europe, Latin America, Africa, India and, more recently, the Middle East. The global audience is expected to exceed 640 million viewers by 2026. In France alone, 11.8 million people identify as esports consumers or players.

Forget about steps. More people are getting in their swings. According to the USGA, more than 3.68 million golfers with a Handicap Index® posted a record 82 million scores last year. That’s great news because it means golf has joined tennis, pickleball, running and fishing as sports that exploded during the pandemic and then kept right on growing.

Read between the lines of the newest research from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and you’ll see where the sports economy is booming — and by extension, the places where event owners are likely to see growth. That’s the takeaway from the Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report. Bottom line: Americans are actively buying sports equipment.

With only months remaining until the World Cup takes the field, interest is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, scammers are just as active, and more than 10 percent of all U.S. internet users having fallen prey to their schemes. Here are some of the most common setups being used in the marketplace — and why it is they keep right on working.

Pickleball, padel and other court sports are driving one of the most significant waves of investment in outdoor recreation in decades, prompting sports destinations to rethink how courts are designed, built and operated. Well-appointed facilities attract tournaments, and these days, one of the items on event owners’ wish lists is shade for courts.