Mudsock Youth Athletics Wins ESPN Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge Grant
In an attempt to shift the culture of youth sports, Mudsock Youth Athletics has been named one of the 2025 recipients of the ESPN Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge Grant. The organization’s Youth Action Board is receiving national recognition for its impactful work. This student-led initiative aims to reclaim joy, fun and mental well-being in youth athletics.
The Youth Action Board, formed in 2023, was created to address a notable absence in the organization’s decision-making processes — the voice of the student-athlete. While Mudsock had a variety of advisory boards in place, none were comprised of young people at the center of the youth sports experience.
“The student-athlete voice is probably the most important one, and it was missing,” says Tori Schuh, a Fishers High School teacher and the YAB’s volunteer facilitator. Schuh, who teaches the school’s freshman seminar course, joined the initiative after seeing a call for facilitators on Mudsock’s social media channels.
“I’ve always been passionate about supporting youth athletes in our community,” she says. “This was an exciting opportunity to do just that.”
After conducting a citywide application and interview process that involved local coaches, school personnel and athletic directors, the selection committee chose 10 students to form the board. Ranging from freshmen to seniors and representing public, private and homeschool communities, the members of YAB have taken their mission seriously from the outset. The board’s diversity ensures that decision-makers consider a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
Last year, the group’s primary focus was to reimagine what youth sports could be. Their goal was to deliver a clear message to coaches, parents and peers that emphasized teamwork, fundamentals and, most importantly, fun. The result was a compelling video that resonated widely, capturing the attention of not just local collaborators but national organizations as well. That video became the catalyst for Mudsock Youth Athletics’ ESPN Innovation Challenge application.
“We’re proud that Mudsock Youth Athletics has been selected as a 2025 winner of the ESPN Take Back Sports Innovation Challenge,” says Scott Spillman, Executive Director of Mudsock Youth Athletics. “Our Youth Action Board is taking bold steps to reshape the culture of youth sports by reducing outside pressures, prioritizing athlete well-being and putting fun back at the center of the experience. We can’t wait to see what this group of students can achieve this year, bolstered by the support from ESPN.”
That support couldn’t come at a better time. For the 2025-26 school year, the board has set its sights on athlete mental health. Their next project will be a large-scale seminar focused on the unique mental and emotional challenges student-athletes face. Thanks to the ESPN grant funding, the board will now have the resources to bring its vision to life in a bigger and more impactful way. This grant will enable the board to expand its reach, develop more comprehensive programs and make a significant difference in the lives of student-athletes.
Schuh says watching the students receive news of the grant was a rewarding moment.
“They were over the moon,” she says. “This grant really validates their work, and more importantly, it empowers them to do even more.”
As the Youth Action Board prepares for its second year, Schuh believes the momentum will only continue to build.
“We have some incredible students doing incredible things,” she says. “The board has the potential to reshape how our community sees youth leadership and youth sports. And that’s something worth celebrating.”
For more information, visit myathletics.com.
