Latest news with #youthsports
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
National School Sports Week kicks off in style
By Laura Howard Pupils at a primary school in Sunderland showed the impact of an active uniform as the Youth Sport Trust's National School Sports Week kicked off in style in Sunderland on Monday. Dame Dorothy Primary School wore their active uniforms to get involved in a range of activities as they launched the campaign promoting daily physical activity by encouraging schools, families, and communities to engage in 60 minutes of PE, sport, and play. Advertisement The school hosted a Girls Active session where pupils took on leadership roles to coach the younger years in sports including badminton and hockey, while British boxing champion Rachael Mackenzie was also in attendance to deliver a Q&A. 'It's a real joy to be here at Dame Dorothy for the start of National School Sports Week,' she said. 'The opportunities for the children here are absolutely outstanding but what I have loved more than anything is the energy and the enthusiasm of the young people themselves. 'The way that they have taken the model of sport and physical activity and become leaders is brilliant. It's those young people leading themselves that will truly transform the world.' Advertisement In a sport-packed morning pupils also enjoyed PE lessons using National School Sports Week resources and Year Six took a trip off-campus to participate in paddle boarding at the local marina. It represented the perfect start to a week aimed at raising awareness of the importance of activity for children across the country. The demand for such a campaign is greater than ever as research has shown that less than a third of teachers and parents are currently aware that children and young people should be active for 60 minutes a day. It means that fewer than half (47%) of children are meeting the Chief Medical Officers' guidelines of reaching that target goal of activity a day. Advertisement 'It's so important that when children are at school, they're encouraged to be always active, not just in physical education, not just in after school sport, but at break times, in between lessons,' said Youth Sport Trust CEO Ali Oliver MBE. 'One of the things we see here at Dame Dorothy Primary School is that the children come out every day and they do some laps of the playground at a time when the classroom teacher thinks they are getting a bit restless, and they need to refocus. 'That is really important, not just for their health and wellbeing, but for their concentration and their engagement in learning.' The Sunderland primary school presented the perfect setting to launch National School Sports Week having adopted an active uniform in 2024. Advertisement The Youth Sport Trust are calling on all schools to adopt an 'Always Active uniform' for National School Sports Week to enable pupils to feel comfier and get active at school. '[The active uniform] has reduced the number of children who miss out on PE sessions because you can dress for activity and there's no reason why you can't take part,' said Dame Dorothy headteacher Iain Williamson. 'You can see children are more attentive. The fact that we have an active uniform allows teachers to take the children outside for a quick run around the field for five minutes to make them refocus for the next lesson. 'Even during PE lessons, where you might spend 10 to 15 minutes, getting changed for PE and getting changed back at the end of the session. The whole session now is just available to be active. Advertisement 'It also sends out the statement that this is what we are an active school. It is part of our identity and we are immensely proud of it. It has been a real success.' Activities will continue throughout the week, culminating on Friday with Sports Star Friday as schools come dressed as their favourite sports star as a celebration of sport, movement, and the athletes that inspire us. '[The Youth Sport Trust] have a wonderful vision, which is a future where every child enjoys the life-changing benefits of PE and sport,' added Oliver. 'The whole campaign is about shining a light on why it's, so important children are active every day, not just for their health and wellbeing, but for their engagement in their learning and their overall happiness.' National School Sports Week is an annual campaign by the Youth Sport Trust, dedicated to celebrating the power of PE, sport, and play to build brighter futures. This year, powered by Sports Direct x Under Armour, marks the 30th anniversary of the Youth Sport Trust, who is a UK leading children's charity for improving young people's wellbeing through sport and play. Visit
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Draymond Green Doesn't Hold Back on LeBron James' Strong Statement
Draymond Green Doesn't Hold Back on LeBron James' Strong Statement originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In youth sports, a broader conversation is underway, focusing on how sports are taught and organized for children and young adults. Advertisement There are concerns that many young professional athletes are feeling burned out after their youth was consumed by coaches, trainers and a regimented structure surrounding the sport, rather than enjoying the game in a more relaxed or less organized way. LeBron James chimed in on the matter during his podcast, "Mind the Game" with co-host Steve Nash and featured guest Luka Doncic. In summary, James believes young athletes are being forced to specialize by a lack of variety. The 40-year-old NBA superstar noted how he played football, ran track and participated in many sports as a kid. He felt that kids burn out from having such a singular focus, brought about by parents and coaches who steer them through high school, college and into the pros. In response, Draymond Green addressed the conversation with his point of view during his podcast on Monday, making a strong statement that the game is no longer a "poor man's game." Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (right) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James react in the first half at Arena.© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports "Where the game has gone, you need those resources in order to be successful (like a personal coach or trainer). I feel like basketball used to be a poor man's game. ... We had nothing and it was our way out. Basketball is not a poor kid's game no more. Basketball is a rich kid's game. The days of seeing LeBron James from Akron, Ohio, from a single mom. Those days are numbered. Because if you don't have the resources these days, you can't make didn't use to be that." Advertisement Green would continue to discuss how his upbringing in the sport differed significantly from that of today's youth. "I didn't learn how to do a proper individual workout until I got to college," said Green, noting how his unstructured play influenced his approach to basketball. "Growing up, I'm going to what we did, we hooped all day. I think there's a huge benefit to that because you learn to see the game. "It's different when someone (like a coach) tells you to play one position and to do this move," Green said, comparing participating in the game versus being coached as an individual. "How do you use your creativity?...How do you know what you're about? How do you know what your game is if you never tap into it and figure it out?" What spurred this conversation in the first place was that Doncic funded a study titled "Inside Youth Basketball 2025" which analyzed how young athletes find joy and learn the game in Europe and the United States. Advertisement Per Doncic's foundation's mission statement, they aim to "innovate new ways to help young people level up through play, creativity and wellness." Related: Draymond Green's Penalty History Nears $1M With NBA's Latest Action Related: LeBron James' Son Meets Former Lakers Coach Before Life-Changing Move This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Cost of children's sport rises in Australia as voucher programs fail to budge participation
Parents of young cricketers, footballers and basketball players are now paying more than $500 a year on average for their children to play, plus more on equipment, according to a national survey highlighting Australia's most expensive codes, as state governments pledge hundreds of millions of dollars to ensure sport is not just for the wealthy. But new research from the University of Sydney has found subsidising families' sporting costs through the use of government vouchers alone is not enough, after two prominent recent examples – including a high profile New South Wales scheme – failed to increase sport participation at scale. This evidence comes as the Queensland government expands its voucher scheme, now costing taxpayers $62.5m a year, and similar programs have been in place in every state. At the same time, the increasing price of children's sport has been highlighted by cost breakdowns in the government's AusPlay survey, released again in 2025 after a year's break due to a change in methodology. It shows several popular sports including gymnastics, tennis, swimming, cricket, athletics, basketball and football cost parents more than $500 a year on average in registration, membership and venue access, and excluding outlays required for uniforms, bats, rackets, boots and balls. Only gymnastics showed any decrease from the last time AusPlay data was released in 2023, highlighting a trend of escalating costs going back years. Rochelle Eime, professor in sports science at Federation University, said there has been a longstanding association between participation and socioeconomic status, and a voucher worth $100 or $200 a year is insufficient for many families. '$150, $200, it doesn't really cut through does it, when you're trying to pay the rent and keep the lights on, put food on the table – something's got to give,' she said. Eime said sports need to try to offer alternatives, and move from formal, organised and often expensive settings to a more 'person-centred' approach focused on enjoyment and retention. 'We get very busy organising things, and sport prioritises grading and talent development and trying to fit into structures and stuff like that,' she said. 'The majority of kids just want to have fun and play with their friends, and if they're enjoying themselves, they'll come back.' Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion The average cost for a football player was $334 in 2016, rising to $459 in 2022 before the latest figure of $513 covering the survey period across 2023 and 2024. Basketball's average outlay rose from $414 to $551 between the latest two reports. The University of Sydney research revealed the Active Kids voucher program in NSW failed to deliver the kind of broad society-level increases in physical activity and weekly sport participation had aimed for. Between 2018 and 2022, when the program offered $100 vouchers, physical activity fell and weekly sport participation was found to have dropped significantly, from 70.3% to 53.6%. Dr Lindsey Reece, who is one of the study's authors and also the Australian Sport Commission's sport programs director, posted on LinkedIn this month saying: 'Covid-19 certainly played a role – but even outside of pandemic years, the expected boost in activity did not materialise across the population.' The key takeaway she posited was that while financial support matters, vouchers alone 'are not enough to shift the dial on children's physical activity at scale' and future programs 'must incorporate targeted, evidence-based behaviour change strategies and address inequities in access and participation'. The report suggests media campaigns and partnerships with community leaders and organisations should be considered in future to encourage further uptake in targeted children and adolescents. The government's decision to make the Active Kids program means-tested in 2024, 'may contribute to closing the socioeconomic gap in physical activity and this adapted program should be evaluated,' the report said. Those who spoke a primary language other than English at home, were aged 15 to 18 years old, lived in the most disadvantaged areas, and were girls were less likely to sign up for sport. Rising costs are a major concern for officials within the Australian Sports Commission who have commissioned a separate report into the impacts of the high cost of participating in sport, due to be released in coming months.
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
The Deal: David Blitzer
In this episode of The Deal, Alex Rodriguez and Jason Kelly talk with David Blitzer, Blackstone's chairman and the co-founder of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, about how his teams use data and analytics to improve fan experience. In this conversation, which was taped in front of an audience at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, Blitzer tells the hosts how a 'failed athlete' came to be the first person to own teams in all five major American sports leagues, what he's doing to invest in the 'massively fragmented' world of youth sports and why having a favorite sports team is like having a favorite child.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Trying to win Gold!': London youth in Austria competing at United World Games
A 12-year-old ball hockey player is going to Austria to compete in the United World Games. CTV London's Brent Lale has the details. Aydan Hagerty is getting set to suit up as a goalie for Team Canada at the United World Games (UWG) in Austria, but he's equally excited about the journey as the competition. 'I'm pretty excited for the plane ride because I've never been on a plane,' said the 12-year-old Londoner. The UWG is an international multi-sport event that brings together young athletes from various countries to compete in a range of sports. It typically features about 800 athletes in sports like ball hockey, basketball, soccer, volleyball. 'It's the Junior Olympics,' said Josh Hagerty, Aydan's dad. 'Basically, anyone under the age of 18. They have an opening ceremony just like normal Olympics, which he was actually selected to partake in.' Aydan was selected to the U13 roster in the 3-on-3 Ball Hockey Division. Aydan Hagerty Aydan Hagerty, 12, of London, Ont. stops a ball during road hockey with his dad before heading to the United World Games in Austria (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'Tryouts were in Brantford, London, and Quebec, and Niagara Falls. I went to three of the four practices and was chosen based on my on my skill level,' said Ayden. His father was excited about his perseverance. 'I was over the moon when he got selected,' said Josh. 'He tried out last year and unfortunately did not make the cut. He told me as soon as he got cut, that he's like, 'It's okay, I'm not worried about it, I'll be on the team next year.' He worked hard, and that's exactly what happened. 'He prepared,' said his dad. 'He played U15 as an 11-year-old in ice hockey to get ready and he came back and made the team' His parents customized his pads and gloves with a Canadian theme, with a touch of home. Aydan Hagerty Aydan Hagerty's parents customized his ball hockey gear for Team Canada. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'He's got all these dreams of going to the NHL and obviously now going to Europe,' said Josh. 'We wanted to keep it personal, so the bottom of his pads is the City of London skyline, so he can remember where he came from.' Aydan said he loves playing net because of the taps on the head when he makes a big save, and the friendships he forms with fellow and opposing net minders. They left Sunday morning for a team bonding trip in Italy. Along with his family, he's in Austria now ready for competition to begin Friday. Team Canada will be competing against two teams from Quebec, Team USA, a team from the Czech Republic, and one from Slovakia. 'I'm trying to win gold!' Ayden exclaimed.
