April is Youth Sports Safety Month, a month that is very close to our mission at LeagueApps as we believe every child deserves a safe and positive youth sports experience.

Unfortunately, despite the best intentions of the hard working adults in this industry, we continue to see unsafe situations at youth sports practices, an increase in overuse injuries, and parent behavior that is damaging to youth mental health.

But there’s so much more we can all do to minimize injury, abuse, and all unsafe situations in youth sports. Plus, as Spring rounds the corner, we are beginning to think about action plans to prevent heat exhaustion for the warmer months of play. (If you’re curious, here’s what Singapore is doing as they face record temps).

To learn more about youth sports safety, read LeagueApps’ free guide to protecting your athletes.

Without further ado, this week’s youth sports news roundup:

Youth Sports News This Week

1. Johns Hopkins football players started an organization called Blue Jays for Baltimore to improve the physical and mental health of Baltimore City students through athletic teams coached by JHU athletes.

2. [VIDEO] This Orlando coach has been guiding youth basketball players on and off the court for over 40 years. “As I season and age, I put more emphasis on teaching.”

2. This Trenton, NJ radio station “New Jersey 101.5” is presenting atown hall on youth sports this Thursday at 7pm called “Don’t be a Bad Sport.” It will discuss problems facing youth sports, including parents behaving badly on the sidelines and kids feeling pressured to play through injuries.

3. Nonprofit youth baseball leagues in Salt Lake City are struggling to stay afloat as field rental rates continue to rise. Since 2015, the rates have risen from $2 an hour for each field to $16 an hour.

4. Last Tuesday marked the beginning of a community effort to transform an empty 10-acre lot into a sports complex that will provide more youth sports opportunities in the area.

5. [VIDEO] SURGE, an initiative created by BSN Sports, is designed to empower girls in Northern Texas to stay in sports.

6. Cooper Flagg, a Duke commit, was named the 2024 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the year last Wednesday.

7. The Youth Sports Betting Safety Coalition launched on Thursday in collaboration with the NCAA and the Boston Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, New England Patriots, and New England Revolution to develop an evidence-based education and curriculum to minimize youth sports betting.

8. [VIDEO] Thee Rayen Little Tigers is a new tackle football, flag football, track, and mentorship program for the North Side of Youngstown, Ohio in an attempt to bring youth sports back to the neighborhood.

9. [VIDEO] There wouldn’t be the Caitlin Clark story without women like Helen Smiley, a Davenport woman who started up competitive women’s athletics at the University of Iowa in 1968 with a budget of less than $800 for seven teams.

10. The Silk Hope Warriors, a 12U boys basketball team in Chatham, NC, won their conference championship this year and dedicated it to their late coach Kenny Glover.

11. James Mosher Baseball has been a safe haven for youth in Baltimore for 65 years.

12. [VIDEO] Devon Alexander, a three-time world class boxing and Olympic champion from St. Louis, is bringing boxing to his hometown to help youth who are falling through the cracks.“There are dark holes that we need help out of, and I feel like he’s the light that can bring us up.”

This Weekend’s Wins

1. The CT Junior Rangers storm the court after they win the USPHL National Championship!

2. Congratulations to the Southern Soccer Academy 2012 U12 PreGirls Academy League team on finishing as champions in Arizona!

3. Congrats NJR Cyclones on your National Championship!

4. Congrats Madfrog Volleyball 15 National White on your bid to Nationals!

5. Congratulations Mizuno Long Beach 16 Rockstar and 15 Rockstar on winning the Pacific Northwest Qualifiers in 16 Open and getting bids to Nationals!

6. Congratulations to the 2010 Jahbat Boys on Winning the 2024 Spring Cup in Hoffman Estates!

7. Congrats Texas Legacy Volleyball 16 Elite on your 7–0 weekend in Baton Rouge — first place!

8. High Performance STL 14 Royal are 2024 Windy City Qualifier 14 Open Champions! They went 9–0 this weekend and only dropped two sets — nice work!

9. Congrats San Antonio Juniors 13 Adidas for winning 2nd Place at the Lonestar Warm Up in the 14’s Division!

10. Congratulations Texas Tornadoes 14 National for winning the Silver bracket at NEQ!

11. Way to go All Iowa Attack on your wins at the 2024 JR EYBL Super Regional Chicago — Team 1 Platinum Championship and Team 2 Gold Championship!

12. Nice work Dynasty Volleyball Club 12 Black for stacking their third Qualifier Chip of the season and 14 Black for qualifying Open!

13. Congrats Club Fusion Volleyball on a successful weekend in Chicago!

14. Congratulations Marin FC on all of your recent player college commitments!

15. San Antonio City Soccer Club started off their UPSL Spring season with a bang, securing a solid 3–1 victory!

16. Congrats West Florida Flames U15 girls for winning the Easter International Cup!

17. Gulfside Volleyball 13U Prime are the Windy City National Qualifier Champions and Bid Winners for the USAV Nationals!

18. Top Select Volleyball 13 Top Blue are NEQ Champs!

Youth Sports Resources

1. Our Broken Youth Sports System is Failing Kids

2. Women’s Basketball is Inspiring Young Athletes

3. Free Guide to Keeping Your Athletes Safer

Social

Devin Booker on the importance of playing up, via @skbasketball11: