BBF Hosts Youth Sports & Recreation Gathering
Earlier this month, Ball Brothers Foundation convened local sports and recreation leaders for a conversation focused on youth sports and recreation, access, and coordination across Delaware County. The gathering brought together nearly 40 representatives from local leagues, school athletic directors and administrators, nonprofits that offer sports programming, tourism representatives, and city officials to share perspectives on what is working well—and where challenges and gaps exist—in the local sports and recreation landscape.
Among the themes highlighted by those in attendance was a Muncie-Delaware County youth sports landscape with strong foundational assets—including good school-based opportunities, a wide variety of sports, and a solid base of facilities—but with notable gaps.
At a community-wide level, participants cited a lack of coordination across organizations, limited options for non-elite or non-specialized athletes, and the outsized impact of travel sports. According to participants, these challenges are further compounded by ongoing shortages of volunteers and coaches and limited information-sharing about available sports/recreation programs. At the individual organization level, leaders consistently pointed to funding for core operations (not just programs), volunteer recruitment and retention, and coach training as their most pressing challenges. Improving accessibility and affordability for families was also a major theme.
Looking ahead, participants emphasized interest in a centralized hub for youth sports and recreation opportunities, shared systems for volunteer recruitment and screening, and centralized background checks.
The conversation was grounded by broader context provided by Muncie Sports Commission’s Executive Director Jon Anderson who shared his observations of trends across Indiana and the role coordinated efforts can play locally. Established in 2020, the Muncie Sports Commission works to strengthen Muncie and Delaware County’s sports ecosystem by supporting youth and community sports, coordinating partnerships, and attracting sporting events that bring visitors and economic activity to the area. Anderson emphasized that many of the challenges raised during the convening—including fragmentation, cost barriers, and volunteer strain—are common across communities, underscoring opportunities for collaboration and shared supports.
Participants also heard from Jeff Mitchell, Director of Athletics at Ball State University, who reflected on the university’s role as a community partner and connector within the local sports landscape. Mitchell highlighted opportunities for alignment between collegiate athletics and youth and community sports, emphasizing the importance of access, positive experiences, and strong pathways for young people at all levels.
Ball Brothers Foundation’s interest in youth sports and recreation builds on a long, but intentionally measured, history of support. Historically, the foundation has awarded occasional funding for Ball State University athletics projects. The foundation’s sports-related grantmaking strategically expanded over a decade ago when the foundation began awarding funding to the Ross Community Center for the transformation of former industrial land into new baseball and multi-use fields that expand affordable, neighborhood-based recreation opportunities for youth and families.
In subsequent years, the Foundation dedicated support to the start-up of the ICE League, an academic-focused basketball league for middle school students that operated for several years in Muncie. More recently, the Foundation has awarded targeted funding for extracurricular and athletic opportunities at Burris Laboratory School and Muncie Community Schools, in conjunction with its broader support of these two schools at the heart of Muncie’s core. In addition, the Foundation has provided operating support for the Muncie Sports Commission since its founding, recognizing the importance of a strong backbone organization that can play a coordinating role across the local sports and recreation landscape.
Ball Brothers Foundation views youth sports and recreation as more than extracurricular activities—these formative experiences support physical and mental well-being, build teamwork and resilience, and strengthen school and community pride, among other benefits. The convening reflects the foundation’s interest in better understanding how youth sports and recreation contribute to quality of life across the county and to better understanding where there are opportunities to strengthen the field.