Megan Rapinoe and Other Star Athletes Take On Money Mistakes
A new Athlete Council is taking aim at one of sports’ most persistent off‑field problems: even the world’s best-paid athletes often struggle to make their money last. While the council is designed for current and former pros, its core message about financial literacy lands squarely with the parents guiding today’s youth athletes. A powerhouse council […]
Girls Who Play Sports Become Women Who Lead
When parents drive their daughters to yet another training session or weekend tournament, it can feel like a big investment of time, money, and energy. But global research from EY and espnW shows that those years on the field are doing more than teaching kids how to pass and press — they’re building a leadership […]
New Youth Soccer Concussion Data has Good News for Players and Parents
Youth soccer’s landmark limits on heading appear to be paying off, with new data showing a significant drop in concussions treated in U.S. emergency rooms since the rules took effect in 2016. Researchers analyzing national emergency department data found a roughly 26% relative reduction in soccer‑related concussions as a share of all youth soccer injuries […]
US Club Soccer/USYS Joint Competition Platform Details Announced
US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer have finalized the first nationwide slate of league operators for their new joint competition platform, marking a major structural shift in the U.S. youth game beginning with the 2026–27 season. The new league, temporarily referred to as “NewComp,” will serve as the top team‑based competition for both US […]
White House “Saving College Sports” Roundtable
The White House’s “Saving College Sports” roundtable has pushed the debate over federal intervention in college athletics into a new phase, with ripple effects that could reach all the way down to youth and high school sports. What Happened at the White House President Trump hosted more than 50 conference commissioners, university leaders, former coaches, […]
ECNL BOYS PROMOTIONS BEGIN WITH TWO ECNL REGIONAL LEAGUE CLUBS
Coastal Rush, Tennessee United SC showcase club pathway Graphic Credit: ECNL PRESS RELEASE RICHMOND, Va. (March 11, 2026) – The ECNL Boys is proud to announce a pair of clubs have been promoted from the ECNL Regional League Boys to ECNL Boys for the 2026-27 season in the initial round of membership promotions. Coastal Rush and […]
MLS NEXT adds new clubs and conferences
MLS NEXT has announced a major expansion of its competition structure ahead of the 2026–27 season, including new clubs and a realigned conference setup. The league is introducing four new conferences across its Academy Division to optimize scheduling, add regular-season matches, and cut travel costs for participating clubs. This expansion will bring dozens of new […]
Teenagers Are Already Deciding MLS Games in 2026
Teenagers are not just earning token minutes in MLS this year—they’re already helping decide games in the opening weeks of the 2026 season. Across one recent weekend, 29 teenagers appeared in league play, tying the record for the most teenage appearances in a single MLS matchday. In New York, three teenage players combined on the […]
Three ECNL RL Clubs Promoted to Full ECNL Membership for 2026/27
The ECNL Girls has promoted three clubs from the ECNL Regional League Girls into full ECNL membership for the 2026–27 season, a visible sign that the league’s performance-based pathway is taking hold. Team Boca will join the Southeast Conference, Lonestar SC will compete in the Texas Conference, and South Carolina Surf will enter the Mid-Atlantic […]
No Travel Team Required: World Cup 2026 Grants Boost School‑Based Soccer
As World Cup 2026 approaches, U.S. Soccer’s Innovate to Grow (ITG) funding is quietly turning schools and after‑school programs into the front line of soccer growth—giving kids, especially in underserved communities, new chances to play without the usual travel‑team price tag. Many of the newest ITG‑backed projects are built around school‑day or after‑school access, local […]