It was a simple, short-sleeve T-shirt. One color. Three words on it — Algona Little League.

It was what I and all the other kids wore to each of our Little League games. Each team had a different color, of course, but the uniform didn’t get any more complicated than that. Yes, we each had a baseball mitt, too, but no cleats. No pants. No jerseys. No hats. No batting gloves. Just a T-shirt. And the cost of it was included in the modest participation fee.

Today, the cost to play in organized youth sports is out of the park. And, maybe as a result, fewer American kids are playing sports. This is detailed in a recent column by Hanna Skandera entitled, “No kid should be priced out of playing sports.” She wrote how the importance of reversing this trend cannot be overstated.

“Youth sports are not just games; they are a critical component of childhood development. Simply put, the well-being of our nation hinges, in part, on our investments in youth sports today.”

She noted how youth sports are becoming steadily more privatized, quoting how “pay-to-play” youth sports is a $30- to $40-billion dollar industry and that American families spend an average of almost $900 annually per child to participate in organized sports.

She also points out the growing socio-economic gap in sports participation, stating, while more than two in three kids from wealthier families are playing sports, only about one in three from the poorest families get the same opportunity.

“Sports teach teamwork, discipline, perseverance and resilience — traits that are essential both on and off the field,” she wrote. “For many kids from challenging family situations, sports offer a sense of belonging and purpose and put them on the path to a more stable future.”

But, in the big picture, do sports really matter?

“Participation in sports has been linked to better academic performance, higher self-esteem, and a greater likelihood of college attendance,” she wrote. “Studies show that 66% of students who earn all A’s play organized sports compared to just 24% of students with mostly D's and F's.

Skandera stated how kids who play sports have higher lifetime earnings and have vastly lower rates of depression, obesity and other serious health conditions. She says investing in youth sports is a matter of public health and national pride. She may be right, and it may start by getting back to the simpleness of sports. Parents should not have to spend hundreds of dollars to equip their child to play in a sport. A simple T-shirt will do just fine.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
President and Publisher
Big Green Umbrella Media
shane@dmcityview.com
515-953-4822, ext. 305
www.thedailyumbrella.com

See more of Shane Goodman's columns here.

• We are loving our new Excalibur dehydrator. It comes with eight trays, 7.2 cubic space, two doors and an information manual that has given us spot on instructions for most fruits and vegetables. Restaurateur George Formaro told us that the key to really good fries is dehydration. That got us interested, and this model's $160 price sold us.

• The Iowa Demon Hawks pro soccer teams have an interesting offer for Valentine's Day: Two people, two games (men's and women's) for one price, $30. That's for a Feb. 15 doubleheader vs. National Arena Soccer League rival St. Louis. Des Moines' Brazilian-laced team plays "the beautiful game."

CIVIC SKINNY
More than 100 university sabbaticals. Sand for governor? Concerns over restraint chairs in jails.

By CITYVIEW staff

For the average worker, a sabbatical may be joked about as taking a long weekend, or perhaps even a week off of work, to rest, relax and recharge. For university professors, however, they are more. Much more. Each year, we review the “professional development assignments,” AKA sabbaticals, requested by state university professors to the Iowa Board of Regents. These sabbaticals are typically granted for research, books, articles, works of art, new systems, coursework, software and other related efforts.

For fiscal year 2026, a total of 104 professional development assignments were requested: 56 from the University of Iowa, 43 from Iowa State University and five from the University of Northern Iowa.

Covered Bridge Quilters do ‘sew much’
Thousands of quilts made over the years for NICUs.

By Rich Wicks

A group of quilters in Winterset is living proof that, little by little, big things can be accomplished.

“Our guild makes baby quilts for the NICUs (neonatal intensive care units) in Des Moines. The family gets to choose a baby quilt, which is then used to cover the isolettes to shield the sensitive eyes of the premature babies,” Sandy Lane, president of the Covered Bridge Quilters, explains. “And when they go home, they get to take the quilt home with them.”

Lane herself has been part of the effort for years, and she recalls the first time that she realized how much the quilts are appreciated.

These celebrities were born on this date:  Jennifer Aniston, Taylor Lautner, Kelly Rowland, Brandy, Khalid, Sway Bentley, Mike Shinoda, Sheryl Crow, Natalie Dormer, Liam Lawson, Matthew Lawrence, Taj Cross, Varg Vikernes

SUBMIT: Send your birthday greetings and congratulatory notes to: tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

The answer to the last riddle: What is the difference between a thief and a church bell? ONE STEALS FROM THE PEOPLE. THE OTHER PEELS FROM THE STEEPLE! - Judy Anderson. Close enough, William Snyder, Carolyn Rogers.

Today's riddle:  Why do penguins qualify for low bail bonds?

Have a guess? Email tammy@iowalivingmagazines.com

To advertise in the Daily Umbrella or the Winterset Living magazines, contact:

Kristine McDonald
Account Executive
Office: 515-953-4822 ext. 321
Mobile: C: 515-975-3543
kristine@iowalivingmagazines.com
Winterset

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