The Sideline Effect: Youth sports boost community

GUEST OPINION

As a father of five, nothing beats the end of the summer; school starts and so do fall sports. Whether your children are college athletes, high school athletes, or even young athletes, few things bring a parent—or a grandparent—more joy than watching their children—or grandchildren—compete in their favorite sport. It is also a time where we’re reminded that youth sports aren’t just games on a schedule—they’re one of our region’s best classrooms for life.

Ask anyone who’s pulled on a jersey: teams teach what textbooks can’t. On a soccer field, a freshman learns how to take feedback and tries again. In a cross-country pack, a senior learns to set pace for others. In a huddle, football players learn to listen more than talk.

These moments build habits that last. Showing up on time, doing the hard thing when it’s not convenient, celebrating a teammate’s big day, and owning our mistakes. That’s leadership development in real time. It’s also sportsmanship, excellence, and discipline delivered one practice at a time.

The ripple effects go beyond the scoreboard. Youth sports knit together a civic culture— parents on the sideline, small businesses sponsoring teams, neighbors volunteering at concession stands. We meet people we wouldn’t otherwise meet; we cheer for kids whose last names we might never have known. In a year when it’s easy to talk past one another, a good game gives us something to share: pride in effort, respect for opponents, and gratitude for the coaches who dedicate their evenings to our kids.

That civic spirit is one reason Spokane and Eastern Washington has become a genuine leader in sports tourism. Our community has invested in facilities, volunteers, and event know-how—turning competition into economic fuel for hotels, restaurants, and shops.

Consider the news out of cross-country: last week, Nike Cross Regionals Northwest announced its relocating to the Spokane area beginning this fall. This year’s championship will be run at the Spokane Polo Fields and starting in 2026 it’s slated for our new dedicated cross-country venue—The Course Spokane Valley. The regional meet draws elite middle- and high-school athletes from seven western states and last year attracted more than 4,000 athletes, 5,000 spectators and over 2,400 hotel room nights. That’s a big win for our economy and a bigger signal that our community can host first-class events while giving young runners a stage worthy of their effort.

I’ve also seen how youth sport bridges divides. As a kid, I traveled to the Soviet Union in 1988 on a basketball exchange organized with the help of Speaker Tom Foley’s office— my first window into sports diplomacy. After college, I volunteered in Mozambique, where I coached a women’s basketball team (we even wore Coug jerseys) and played in the national basketball league. Those experiences are why I believe youth sports don’t just build athletes, they build citizens and global leaders.

The nexus from youth leagues to marquee events to international relations is simple: when a community shows up for kids, kids show up for the community. They learn to be on a team–then they lead. They learn to respect officials–then they respect institutions.

They learn to compete fiercely and shake hands sincerely—skills we could use more of everywhere.

We live in a time when so many forces seem to push Americans apart—politics, screens, even our ZIP codes. But sports still brings us together. On a field or trail, class, race, and geography fade behind shared colors and common goals. A farm kid from Colfax runs stride for stride with a lawyer’s daughter from Spokane’s South Hill; a first-generation American and a fourth-generation Washingtonian high-five at the finish. That’s special.

It’s one of the last public rituals where effort earns applause, opponents are neighbors, not enemies, and we’re reminded of what we owe one another.

So as Fall sports ramp up, let’s lean into it.

Thank a coach, and the referees. Volunteer for a shift. Drive carefully near practice fields. Cheer the right things—hustle, teamwork, resilience. And when Nike Cross Country Regionals Northwest plants its flag here, let’s welcome the region with the hospitality and sportsmanship we want our kids to learn. If we keep showing up for them, they’ll keep showing up for us.

U.S. REP. MICHAEL BAUMGARTNER, R-SPOKANE, REPRESENTS THE 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH INCLUDES PEND OREILLE COUNTY, IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.