From the Bay Area to Boston, the Global Goal 5 League continues to grow as a powerful platform for advancing gender equity through sport. This year marks a major milestone: for the first time ever, every SWB hub across the U.S.—in California, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts—launched and led their own GG5 leagues. This collective effort represents a powerful step forward, expanding access to safe, inclusive spaces where girls can lead, grow, and thrive. Each hub brings this mission to life in unique ways, uplifting girls' voices, fostering community, and building leadership on and off the field.

Parents want a youth sports system that prioritizes childhood development, family balance and accessibility.

Youth sports is a $40 billion a year industry with tens of millions of American kids participating in baseball, basketball, football, golf, soccer and other athletic competitions.

Emphasis on the word “industry.” There is much more to the competitiveness than participation alone. In recent years, youth sports have attracted unprecedented investments from private equity giants, family foundations and other entities, whether it means buying a baseball camp or building a flag football field.

Today, League One Volleyball (LOVB) announced SKIMS as its official loungewear, intimates, and sleepwear partner as momentum around volleyball continues to surge in the United States. The partnership will see LOVB and SKIMS work together to accelerate the future of professional women’s volleyball, as well as empower girls and women both in sports and beyond. 

"Partnering with SKIMS is an incredible milestone for our league and clubs — their dedication to empowering women and celebrating confidence aligns perfectly with our mission to elevate our athletes of every age, and accelerate growth of the sport of volleyball,” said Michelle McGoldrick, LOVB’s Chief Business Officer. “Together, we’re not only supporting our remarkable athletes on their journey to becoming household names, but also helping to inspire the next generation of players and fans.”

Now that the organization has a home base, it hopes to open up to the public and to widen its reach to work with other local organizations focused on youth and senior health and student athletes. 

“The goal isn’t just to say we served more people, the goal is to be a part – a very important part – of impacting a change in these persistently negative community statics, whether it be around obesity, asthma, or mental health, or physical activity,” Weekes said. 

A new U.S. analysis spanning more than 800,000 students finds that middle and high school students who participate in sports are significantly less likely to report suicidal thoughts or behaviors — even as youth suicide rates have climbed nationwide. Yet sports participation has declined for a number of reasons, potentially limiting access to this important protective factor.

In partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA), the launch of TakeBackSports.org offers a premier online destination for youth sports parents, caregivers and coaches with tips, resources and actionable strategies on how to improve the youth sports experience for their child and others. The site, which is curated by PCA, includes articles, checklists and additional resources that educate parents with topics such as “Ten Tips for First-Time Sports Parents/Caregivers,” “Am I That Sports Parent Assessment,” and an “Ask PCA” tool for adults to receive feedback on questions they have about youth sports.

Major League Baseball today announced a strategic investment in the AUSL (Athletes Unlimited Softball League), marking a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive partnership with a women’s professional sports league to help establish and grow the AUSL as a sustainable organization.

As a part of MLB’s ongoing commitment to supporting the growth of softball at all levels, MLB will work collaboratively to help raise the visibility of the AUSL and its athletes in a variety of manners across MLB’s marketing, events, distribution, editorial, digital and social platforms, content and more, including select AUSL games airing on MLB Network and MLB.com. In addition, MLB’s financial investment will assist with league operational costs and key growth initiatives.

In partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee, SCORES unveiled its biggest Field of Dreams at MLK Middle School in the Bayview neighborhood in San Francisco. The field is the 30th Field of Dreams realized by SCORES in its drive to transform asphalt playgrounds into safe, green play spaces. The ambitious project was brought to life through SCORES’ partnership with the Bay Area Host Committee’s Sports for All initiative and the support of The Herbst Foundation, the Caerus Foundation, and Kaiser Permanente.

In addition to the main field — 35,000 square feet — the space also includes a new smaller field and resurfaced sports courts. The full playground renovation represents 100,000 total square feet and supports a wide range of sports activities at MLK Middle School, including soccer, baseball, volleyball, track, and flag football. When not used by the school, the space will be available for neighborhood residents and community sports organizations throughout the year.

When delivered thoughtfully, nothing heals like sport. But transforming youth sports requires all of us. In collaboration with numerous friends and allies in the sport for good space, we’re initiating a nationwide movement to ensure every young person has access to healing-centered sport experiences.

In January 2025, CHJS helped to initiate the first funding phase of a groundbreaking Fund for Sport Equity – a $30 million campaign to transform youth sports through community-driven change. This five-year investment will support local, collective action efforts that make healing-centered sport accessible to all young people and athletes. The Fund unites committed and potential local and national funders who understand sport’s unique power to promote healing and drive social change.

by Rob Marcus – Chief Community Impact Officer, PCA

We often speak of sports as a unifying force that transcends differences and brings people together. Participating in sports can help young people develop healthy habits that last a lifetime(1). However, beneath the surface of fun and games lies a serious issue that deserves greater attention. To truly celebrate the profound impact of sports, we must first champion equity. This is especially crucial for youth sports, where the youngest athletes are just discovering their passion, unaware of the numerous systemic barriers that threaten their fundamental right to play.

Kids growing up in marginalized areas have disproportionately limited opportunities to engage in sports compared to their peers, which can deprive them of many associated benefits: positive physical and mental health, socio-emotional support, academic success, and future career options. Championing equity means advocating for equal access, and opportunity for all young athletes, so all communities have the capacity to create positive and empowering youth sports experiences. We’re in a moment where youth sports providers, advocates, and community leaders must pay attention to the issue of equity—something we’ve all been reexamining over the last few years of racial uprisings, economic downturns, and a devastating pandemic. It’s our collective responsibility to bridge the equity gap and reshape sports culture for generations to come.