Hi there! Thanks for reading “Scout Scoop”, our weekly newsletter from The Athletic Scout, where we bring you the straight scoop on youth sports and community athletic happenings in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

For new readers and subscribers: if you want to customize your experience on The Athletic Scout, go to the “Start Here” page.

In this issue of “Scout Scoop”:

• School Sports Spotlight

• One Big Thing

• Let’s Get Social

Let’s get to it!

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SCHOOL SCOUT SPOTLIGHT

Who: Lake Forest High School Boys Track

What: The Scouts’ boys’ track team competes in the postseason portion of the schedule beginning Thursday (May 14) at the North Suburban Conference meet.

Before the conference and state series meets, Lake Forest achieved a milestone in one of the relay events. On May 7, while competing in the Lake County Invitational at Vernon Hills, the Scouts’ 4x400 relay team finished first for the first time in school history.

Details on the event from the boys’ head coach John Brumund-Smith:

After a relatively disappointing meet, the Scouts prepared for the final event. Coming into the meet, one goal was to get better seed times for the Sectional meet in the 4x100m and 4x400m Relays. That did not happen in the 4x100m Relay, where the foursome of senior George Thomas, senior Will Fox, junior Alex Richards, and junior Jack Burger had subpar handoffs and could only manage a 44.24 for ninth place.

But that was the only event heading into the 4x400m Relay for Thomas, Fox, and Burger, while senior Gabe Donnez had waited all meet for the opportunity to run in just the final race.

Thomas was out of the blocks fast and got the Scouts a lead with his 51.9 split on the lead-off leg. Fox took off and extended the lead, his split of 52.0 actually building up nearly a 2.5-second lead at the halfway point. Donnez was all alone but managed to race to a lifetime best of 52.06 seconds. Antioch crept back into the race when their third leg split 49.62, meaning Burger caught the baton less than a half second ahead of Antioch - who anchored the 800m champion Carson Lanners. Racing totally alone but with Lanners’ footsteps behind him, Burger never faltered. He extended the lead, with his 49.47 split giving the Scouts the win in 3:25.60.

It was the first time any foursome from Lake Forest had won the Lake County Invitational in the 4x400m Relay, and their time now ranks at the 10th-best in school history.

Here’s a picture of Jack Burger—a starting wide receiver for the Scouts’ football team—crossing the finish line in the 4x400 (photo courtesy of Lake Forest Boys Track and Field):

Solid lean, Jack!

The Scoop: If they can post fast times at the NSC and sectional meets, the 4x400 relay team is the team’s best shot at getting a group down for the state meet, May 28-30 at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Best of luck to the fellas on Thursday and May 22 at the Grayslake Central sectional meet.

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THE BIG THING

A new shadow economy of “clippers” is quietly taking over your social media feed

Thousands of freelancers are getting paid per view to chop up long-form content — and platforms can’t decide whether to stop them or feed them.

Why it matters: Thousands of clippers are inundating social media platforms with bite-sized clips of podcast interviews, sports games, films, and other long-form content—and whether you’re scrolling TikTok, Instagram, X, or YouTube, it’s hard to avoid the snappy videos churned out by this army of people trying to exploit algorithms.

How it works: A new breed of online marketplaces like Content Rewards and Vyro are fueling demand, offering a space where marketing agencies can advertise clip-for-cash campaigns. Recent examples include an agency offering $1 per 1,000 views of MLB clips and an AI startup paying $25 per 1,000 views for clips about its product.

Who’s doing it: Among one clipper’s network of 40,000 freelancers, the average age falls between 16 and 24. One 19-year-old college freshman in the Chicago suburbs says he earns roughly $4,000 a month clipping for influencers and tech founders.

The business case for brands: The co-founder of AI startup Cluely said he hired more than 700 clippers, generating tens of millions of views, noting that the people running these accounts are “hungry” and almost always respond to outreach.

The shift in how content is consumed: Analyst Ed Elson argues that the measure of success is no longer how many people watched or streamed a given episode of a show but how many people consumed the clips. He experienced this firsthand when strangers recognized him from clips but said they’d never listened to his actual podcast. His conclusion: clips aren’t the promotional content material anymore—clips are the content.

The problem: Marketing consultant Lou Paskalis says arbitrage players repackaging content as clips don’t satisfy consumers, don’t deliver value to advertisers, and strip original creators of their ability to monetize their work—calling it “a perfectly terrible problem.”

The platform dilemma: Social media platforms are on both sides of the clipping rat race—giving clips algorithmic advantages while also cracking down on pages dedicated to clips, where countless duplicates of the same moment can appear spammy or bot-like.

The bottom line: The clipping economy isn’t a fringe hustle anymore. It’s reshaping how content is distributed, who profits from it, and what people actually watch. From a sports-viewing perspective, we’ve evolved from watching full games to SportsCenter highlights to a TikTok “infinite scroll” style feed. Every league, team, athlete, and company… needs distribution. The smartest operators won’t just post clips but incentivize others to do it for them.

FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS

If still looking for camps this summer… Our resident camp expert, Scout Scoop co-editor Emily Ryan, rounds up another curated list of football sports camps.

We organize a few of them here, with write-ups and links for each camp:

Jr. Scouts Gear Up Days

When: June 6 & 13 from 8 am to 12 pm

Where: Deerpath Community Park

Ages: 8-14 (all tackle football sign-ups)

Notre Dame Middle School Football Camp

When: June 18

Where: Notre Dame Football Facilities, South Bend, IN

Ages: grades 6-8

Cost: $150

This camp is designed to introduce the fundamentals of football to developing football players. The camp is a fun, competitive, and informative camp that will teach each camper the skills that are necessary to playing the game of football, including passing, receiving, tackling, coverage, pass rush, ball security, blocking, snapping, punting, and kicking. This camp will allow the camper to learn from the best coaches in the country and allow them to compete in skills and challenges against their peers. It is the goal to help each camper improve their football IQ and help them build the confidence they need to continue successfully on and off the field.

More Info

LET’S GET SOCIAL

TAS is now on Instagram… Be sure to give us a follow:

@theathleticscouthq

Emily gives her Instagram Pick of the Week:

@cstrevy5

From Emily: “When you’re with a team, it’s all about the value you can add. This (clip) is such an important lesson to hear from Chris Streveler (8-year pro QB) and a must-watch.” Steveler is a Chicago-area guy—went to high school at Marian Central Catholic in Woodstock—and a charismatic speaker. Worth a follow!

Jr. Scout Follow: @hunterdixon_10

Keep an eye on Hunter Dixon, an exciting receiver and a Jr. Scouts player who played on our Lightweight team last season as a 7th grader. Hunter plays spring 7v7 for TNT Ignite and is the type of player that will be fun to track the next several years!

Are you a Jr. Scouts parent or have an athletic son or daughter you and want us to feature?

Drop us a note at info@theathleticscout.com!

SCOUT SNACKS

And finally… a few links to “snack” on before the weekend.

We’ll see y’all next time!

• Lord of the Rinks: the Hockey CEO Cashing in on Youth Sports

• 2nd Grade Flag Kids Mic’d Up — Hilarity Ensues

• Let’s Ditch School For Cubs Game

For more youth sports and community athletic news, go to theathleticscout.substack.com.

Share

Hi there! Thanks for reading “Scout Scoop”, our weekly newsletter from The Athletic Scout, where we bring you the straight scoop on youth sports and community athletic happenings in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

Scout Scoop is part of a retooling of the Scouts Football newsletter. We have folded SFN into a larger publication titled The Athletic Scout.

If you are receiving this email, you are already a subscriber to the Scouts Football newsletter. Stay right where you are and enjoy the content.

In this issue of “Scout Scoop”:

• Community and School Sports Spotlight

• More Summer Camp listings

• One Big Thing

Let’s get to it!

COMMUNITY SCOUT SPOTLIGHT

Who: Deerpath Middle School 7th graders & Coach “Dad” Adams

What: Exploration Day

The Scoop: A few of our Jr. Scouts visited Sheridan Elementary as part of their recent Exploration Day event. They taught 3 football sessions, and the kids had a blast. Any opportunity to teach the great game of football to our young people, everybody wins. Thank you to Jr. Scouts Coach Brad Adams, 7th-grade son Duncan Adams, and fellow 7th-grader Luca Bozic for doing this fantastic community presentation!

SCHOOL SCOUT SPOTLIGHT

Who: Lake Forest High School Baseball

What: The Scouts’ baseball team continues their stellar spring as we roll into the month of May.

Lake Forest extended its winning ways with a sweep of Waukegan Monday (May 4) and Tuesday (May 5) by a combined score of 30-0. The Scouts are 9-1 in the North Suburban Conference and 19-4 overall. Against the “Big 5” NSC rivals Libertyville, Stevenson, Lake Zurich, Libertyville and Warren, the Scouts are 4-1, with doubleheaders against the Wildcats and Mustangs later this month.

From head coach Mike Nilles on the Waukegan sweep:

It was a different day and different location, but the Scouts took care of business just the same on Tuesday as they did on Monday. Using a balance of hitting patience, quality pitching, and situational hitting, the Scouts defeated Waukegan 15-0 in 4 innings.

Senior starter Callum Morrison, who tied the all-time career wins record, pitched 2 innings, striking out 5 Bulldog batters. Senior Luka Tupanjac pitched the 3rd inning and struck out 2, and junior Alex Turan closed out the game in the 4th inning and struck out 3 hitters.

Offensively, the Scouts jumped on the Bulldog pitchers in the first inning thanks to a 2-RBI double from Luke Pasquesi that hit the top of the left field fence. Sophomore Josh Kim had 2 hits and 2RBI, senior Charlie Quick knocked in 2 runs, and Morrison added a 2RBI double in the 4th inning. Junior Nate Robbins didn’t record a hit, but that’s because he was walked and was hit by a pitch. Robbins did score 3 times though. Lastly, senior Max Hill went 1-1 in the game with 3 walks and 4 runs scored.

Next up is Woodstock North Friday, followed by a home showdown vs. Libertyville May 11 and 12.

The Scoop: The Scouts are not just winning; they are bludgeoning opponents. One-sided scores of 15-0 and 19-2 are not uncommon. While they are putting up runs, they are also consistently winning with pitching and defense. In its last nine victories, Lake Forest has allowed a paltry six runs. Expect the Scouts to be a high seed when the postseason brackets come out May 13.

THE BIG THING

Congressional Democrats are taking aim at private equity in youth sports

A new bill targets rising costs, pay-to-play tournaments, and corporate consolidation — and it has some heavyweight backers.

Why it matters: Youth sports costs have become a flashpoint in Washington, and a trio of Congressional Democrats plan to introduce legislation aimed at youth sports costs later this month.

What’s happening: The Let Kids Play Act will be sponsored by New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, and Pennsylvania Rep. Chris Deluzio — all three of whom have previously spoken out on youth sports matters.

What the bill would do: The legislation calls for a ban on private equity involvement in youth sports, seeks to prohibit “stay to play” practices, and aims to redirect financial resources back into community sports.

The policy architect: Katherine Van Dyke of the American Economic Liberties Project — a former FTC attorney who represented private gyms in a lawsuit against Varsity Brands that secured a $43.5M settlement — has called on Congress to use antitrust law to curb private equity’s involvement in youth sports. She testified before the House last year and is set to speak at this week’s Project Play Summit in Boston.

Meanwhile, at the state level: The Michigan attorney general’s office has reportedly opened an antitrust investigation into the state’s youth hockey industry and stay-to-play tournaments, with Black Bear Sports Group named as a subject of the probe — though not the sole focus. BBSG told a local radio station it was unaware of any investigation.

The Scoop: The Let Kids Play Act signals that youth sports affordability and corporate consolidation are no longer just industry concerns — they’re becoming a legislative priority. Last month, Alabama became the first state to pass a version of the bill. It’s too soon to tell if there’s enough congressional support for a federal law this year, but momentum is building at both the federal and state levels.

FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS

Once again, for all the moms filling out the summer calendar… If there are any open dates, we've got your back! Scout Scoop co-editor, Emily Ryan, rounds up another curated list of sports camps.

We organize them here, with write-ups and links for each camp:

Jr. Scouts Summer Football Camp

When: July 13-17

Where: Deerpath Community Park

Ages: grades 3-8

Cost: $250 ($125 if registered for tackle)

Join the Lake Forest High School football coaching staff for an exciting one-week football camp. The Jr. Scouts football camp is for kids who have completed 3rd - 8th grade, is specifically designed to introduce and teach football in a fun, interactive and instructive environment. This non-contact camp will build each camper’s confidence and self-esteem as they develop and improve their skills, while teaching good sportsmanship and teamwork. Kids will be split into age-appropriate groups for safety. The camp will feature guest appearances and coaching from current and/or former LFHS football players.

More Info

Colston Loveland Spring Football Camp

When: May 30

Where: The Dome/Parkview Sports Complex, Des Plaines, IL

Ages: Ages 7-15 (boys and girls)

Cost: $186 ($252 for meet & greet)

Join Chicago Bears Players Colston Loveland & Luther Burden for an Unforgettable Football Experience!

Play with the Pros! Chicago Bears TE Colston Loveland & WR Luther Burden Youth Football Experience—at The Dome! This elite camp offers a high-energy, hands-on experience designed to elevate your game and inspire football dreams!

Camp Highlight:

• Expert Coaching: Train alongside Loveland & Burden and a team of elite coaches.

• Skills & Drills: Develop your techniques with dynamic drills, competitions, and game-day scenarios.

• Exclusive Photo Opportunity: Group photo with Burden & Loveland

• Limited Edition Gear: Receive the official player T-Shirt

• Parents & family members are welcome and encouraged to stay and enjoy the event at no additional cost.
  

More Info

WHERE TO TRAIN

Saturdays with QB Coach Alex Nunez @nextlevelqbs.

TAKE YOUR QUARTERBACK TRAINING TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

Unleash your true potential with cutting-edge QB training that breaks boundaries and redefines limits. Elevate your skill SET and SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM THE COMPETITION WITH US.

Saturdays at Arena41 in Lake Bluff: Youth 12 pm, MS/HS 1 pm. QBs… bring a WR buddy. They catch for free!

More Info

LET’S GET SOCIAL

TAS is now on Instagram… Be sure to give us a follow:

@theathleticscouthq

Emily gives her Instagram Pick of the Week:

@ross500

From Emily: “This is a great account for your athlete to follow, Kayaune Ross. He is one of the top football creators on Instagram right now, blending high-level athleticism with entertaining, competitive content. A former college player at Kentucky who also spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals, his Instagram is built around insane catching ability, one-on-one challenges, and creative football scenarios that make training feel fun and competitive. His content reinforces fundamentals like hands, body control, and effort, which is exactly what younger players should watch.

Jr. Scout Follow: @cjpearre510

Each week, we’ll feature a different IG account of an area youth athlete.

This week, it’s CJ Pearre, who played QB last year for our Jr. Scouts Varsity team and will head to Lake Forest High School next year. CJ has worked super hard this offseason, and we’re excited to follow his journey to HS.

Watch this incredible scramble and throw by CJ from last weekend:

SCOUT SNACKS

And finally… a few links to “snack” on before the weekend.

We’ll see y’all next time!

• To Play or Not To Play: The Price of Travel Softball

• Youth Coaching — The Happiest I’ve Been

• What I’ve Learned Coaching 17 Years at One D3 School

For more youth sports and community athletic news, go to theathleticscout.substack.com.

Share

Hi there! Thanks for reading “Scout Scoop”, our weekly newsletter from The Athletic Scout, where we bring you the straight scoop on youth sports and community athletic happenings in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff.

Scout Scoop is part of a retooling of the Scouts Football newsletter. We have folded SFN into a larger publication titled The Athletic Scout.

If you are receiving this email, you are already a subscriber to the Scouts Football newsletter. Stay right where you are and enjoy the content.

In this issue of “Scout Scoop”:

• Youth and School Sports Spotlight

• Summer Camp listings

• Let’s Get Social

Let’s get to it!

YOUTH SCOUT SPOTLIGHT

What a weekend in Peoria for a group of Lake Forest middle school 7v7 athletes… They showed out big time!

Who: TNT Ignite 7v7 15u & 14u teams

What: This past weekend in Peoria, the 14u squad won six games and took 1st place at the MidAmerica “Slugger Showdown” tournament. The 15u team took runner-up honors.

Congrats to Hunter, Stephen, Brayden, and all the boys — and girls — who participated and had such an awesome weekend!

There’s another tournament this weekend in Bridgeview.

The Scoop: 7v7 has continued to grow as a spring sport, becoming the “club” equivalent for tackle football. The sport provides foundational training on passing concepts for young athletes who play tackle in the fall. I’d encourage anyone to watch one of these tournaments live — the competition can be fierce!

(Thanks to Hunter’s mom, Bridget, for the photo!)

SCHOOL SCOUT SPOTLIGHT

Who: Lake Forest High School Girls Lacrosse

What: One of the more consistently successful spring programs at LFHS is girls’ lacrosse.

The Scouts have followed up a 17-win 2025 season (one that ended in a sectional final loss to eventual state champion New Trier) with a 10-0 start in 2026. The graduation of two-time All-American Megan Rockelein means more opportunity for returning players, and so far, so good.

Here’s a season analysis thus far from head coach Catherine Catanzaro:

The Scouts started putting in work long before the season opened in March, focusing on not only preparing physically but mentally as well, growing their lacrosse IQ through film study. Those hours have seemed to pay off with the Scouts starting the season with a 10-0 record and having no intention of it stopping anytime soon.

Leading the Scouts this year are 5 seniors who have been 4-year varsity players, Phoebe Silver, Dakota Accello, Lizzie Rieder, Ellie Carter and Claire Borega.

With thirteen underclassmen on the roster, the senior captains will use their experience and leadership to help a young, extremely talented group of individual players become a team.

Leading the Scouts in the midfield this year are Sophomores Sarah Griffin, Bridget Dacy and Gracie Pruett. The three of them have accounted for 81 of the team’s 168 goals this season. However, they are not just scoring threats; the trio also has 39 assists, 37 groundballs, 23 takeaways and an impressive 111 draw controls. The Scout’s offensive output is not limited to the midfield. Phoebe Silver leads all attackers with an impressive 21 goals, 24 assists and 11 takeaways.

Joining Phoebe with double-digit goals on attack are Ellie Carter (19 goals, 3 assists) and Haley Helfrich (13 goals, 7 assists). Defensively, the Scouts are anchored by two 4-year varsity starters, Dakota Acello in goal and Claire Borega on the field. After losing two starting defenders to graduation last year, Claire knew she would need to step up and play a leadership role this year and she has done just that for the Scouts. Joining Claire in the backfield are sophomore Gabi Masson, senior Sydney Keck and freshman Juliet Long. Combined with Dakota, this defensive group has only allowed an average of four goals a game this season.

In the net, Dakota is off to the best start of her career with 10 wins, 41 saves, and only 33 goals allowed.

The Scouts are ranked #3 in the state of Illinois through ten games. They travel to Stevenson on Wednesday night to take on the Patriots.

The Scoop: A program that appears to be on the cusp of another breakthrough — a repeat trip to the state tournament. If so, it will be the fourth time in five seasons the Scouts girls’ lacrosse team has made the state tournament. Lake Forest already has two third-place finishes, in 2023 and 2022. Get out and see them this spring!

THE BIG THING

Recent NFL draft and Super Bowl athletes say playing multiple sports made them better — the data agrees

From baseball to basketball to track, NFL stars credit their multi-sport backgrounds for the skills that got them to the biggest stage.

Why it matters: Those hoping to break through in an increasingly competitive collegiate and professional sporting landscape might feel specialization is the quickest path to elite status. But multiple studies and the experiences of several Super Bowl athletes point to a multi-sport background as the true foundation for success.

What they’re saying: The players themselves are making the case directly.

• Seattle Seahawks cornerback Nehemiah Pritchett credits his time as a center fielder in high school baseball for teaching him how to track the ball as a pass defender in the NFL: “All sports translate together. I don’t feel like you have to specialize in one sport.”

• Seahawks linebacker Boye Mafe, who played basketball and ran track in high school, said footwork from basketball carried directly into football: “Being a multi-sport athlete is the best thing you can do as a young athlete. All kids should play multiple sports.”

• New England Patriots punter Bryce Baringer said golf taught him to perform under pressure: “You’re standing on the 18th hole of a golf tournament — the mindset translates.”

• Patriots center Garrett Bradbury put it simply: “I can’t encourage young athletes enough to play as many sports as possible. It’s the best time of your life.”

By the numbers: Approximately 64% of NFL players drafted from 2011 to 2023 played multiple sports in high school. In the 2022 NFL Draft specifically, 88.9% of draftees were multi-sport athletes, and 43% played three or more sports.

The injury case: A study published in the European Journal of Sport Science found that multi-sport athletes sustained fewer total and major injuries than single-sport athletes — and played 12.2 more NFL games while adding 0.7 additional career years. In a league where the average career is just 3.3 years, that extra time is significant.

The expert view: National Athletic Trainers Association President AJ Duffy warns against early specialization because young athletes are “skeletally immature individuals” who need their bodies to grow without over-stressing certain areas. Rest between different sports allows targeted muscle groups to recover properly.

The Scoop: Diversifying athletic experiences also helps avoid burnout and reduces the psychological stress that specialization can induce. As Duffy puts it, “Let them be kids. Let them play and let them enjoy growth. As they grow older, they will find a sport they want to home in on.” The data is overwhelming against early specialization.

SUMMER CAMPS

For all the moms out there putting together the summer calendar… we’ve got you covered. Scout Scoop co-editor, Emily Ryan, rounds up another curated list of sports camps.

We organize them here, with write-ups and links for each camp:

Nike Football Tackle Camp

When: July 13-16

Where: Lake Forest College, Farwell Field, 250 Washington Rd., Lake Forest

Ages: 8-14

Cost: $599

Improve your game and have serious fun at Nike Contact Football Camps!

The Nike Contact Football Camp at Lake Forest College is a camper favorite. With top-notch instruction, premier competition, and contact drills, campers leave camp ready to compete at the next level!

Coach Luke Butts has been leading instruction for the Contact Football Camps for the past several summers. Along with a reputable coaching career, Coach Butts demonstrates a high level of enthusiasm, passion, and energy.

More Info

Nike Skills Developmental Camp

When: June 8-11

Where: Lake Forest Academy, 1500 Kennedy Rd., Lake Forest

Ages: ages 8-14

Cost: $699

This is the inaugural Nike Football Skills Camp at Lake Forest Academy, a premier overnight or extended-day experience designed for beginner and intermediate athletes ages 8–14 (capped at incoming 8th graders). This first-year camp is built to help young players develop confidence, fundamentals, and a deeper understanding of the game in a fun, high-energy environment. This is a non-contact camp.

The camp is directed by Joel Beard, one of the top-rated Nike Football Camp Directors and a coach at College of DuPage, where he helped lead the program to a fifth consecutive NJCAA National Championship. Campers will be coached by a staff of regional collegiate and high school coaches, providing high-level instruction and mentorship.

Training will emphasize position-specific coaching, core fundamentals, football IQ, and competitive drills, all tailored to each athlete’s skill level. Campers can choose the overnight option or an extended-day experience, which includes evening activities like swimming, indoor turf games, and game nights.

Come ready to work hard, improve your game, and have a great time in a supportive, encouraging Nike Football Camp environment.

More Info

NFL Alumni Youth Football Camp

When: June 22-26

Where: Deerpath Community Park

Ages: ages 6-14

Cost: $389

Join NFL Alumni players and professional coaches for a week of fun, safe, non-contact football instruction in Lake Forest! The NFL Alumni Youth Football Camp blends skill development, teamwork, and leadership training for boys and girls ages 6–14. Campers learn the game the right way — with fundamentals, teamwork, and sportsmanship emphasized in every drill.

The NFL Alumni Youth Football Camp delivers professional-level instruction, fun competitions, and life lessons from former NFL players. Kids ages 6–14 learn teamwork, confidence, and fundamentals in a safe, supportive environment.

More Info

WHERE TO TRAIN

WIN Youth Sports Performance, Highland Park

The Youth Performance Program is tailored for athletes ages 11-13 and is set up to build the foundation for a healthy athletic career. The program will work on improving speed, agility and plyometrics with a big focus on proper technique and injury prevention. WIN wants their youth athletes to build good movement patterns and increase strength while also having fun doing it.

More Info

LET’S GET SOCIAL

Emily gives her Instagram Pick of the Week:

@kelseypoulter

From Emily: “This account is a MUST to follow if you're looking for great tips/advice for your young athlete regarding nutrition. Kelsey is a sports nutrition coach and often does posts like "What you should eat after school before practice" or "Top 5 things to eat the morning of a game." (And let's just say...Chipotle is often recommended!)

SCOUT SNACKS

And finally… a few links to “snack” on before the weekend.

We’ll see y’all next time!

• Illinois Senate in No Rush to Pass Bears Stadium Bill

• Making the Case for Pretend Play

• What I Learned Raising A Super Bowl Champion

For more youth sports and community athletic news, go to theathleticscout.substack.com.

Share

Hi there! Thanks for reading the first edition of the Scout Scoop newsletter.

In this space, we aim to bring you the straight scoop on youth sports and athletic happenings in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff. But that’s not all… when there’s news and trends that impact our community on the athletic front, we’ll write about it here.

Scout Scoop is part of a retooling of the Scouts Football newsletter. We have folded SFN into a larger publication titled The Athletic Scout.

If you are receiving this email, you are already a subscriber to the Scouts Football newsletter. Stay right where you are and enjoy the content.

In this issue of “Scout Scoop”:

• 3 Big Things

• Summer Camp listings

• Let’s Get Social

Let’s get to it!

Share

3 BIG THINGS

1. As The Stadium Turns

There are more twists and turns in the Chicago Bears stadium story than in a daytime soap opera. But it appears the clock is about to run out, the calendar forcing a decision for the franchise.

The Latest: Multiple fronts here. First, Bears brass met with officials in Indiana on Friday. That same day, April 17, state rep Kam Buckner teased on a radio station interview “good news” regarding the stadium project. This week appears to be when the “rubber meets the road” in Springfield.

Driving the news: The NFL’s stadium committee has scheduled a meeting with Bears leadership the week of April 27, with the Bears’ stadium situation as the only agenda item. Team president Kevin Warren says a final decision will come by “late spring, early summer.”

• Indiana passed legislation 94-5 in its state House establishing a stadium authority — and has already approved toll road increases to generate $700 million in project funding.

• Illinois’ competing PILOT legislation — which would let the Bears negotiate property tax payments — has stalled, failing to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance to the House floor.

Zoom in: The Bears originally purchased land in Arlington Heights — just 12 miles from Lake Forest — for $197.2 million in 2023.

• The team promised $2 billion of its own money toward construction, but says it cannot proceed without guaranteed tax certainty — something Indiana has already locked in and Illinois has not.

• McCaskey compared a potential Indiana move to the Giants relocating to New Jersey in 1976, noting that “Bears fans are up to” the adjustment period.

Yes, but: Even if Illinois passes PILOT legislation before the May 31 session deadline, that’s only one piece. Roads, sewers, and transit infrastructure around Arlington Heights remain unresolved — and expensive.

The Scoop: The Bears have been patient with the state, but Indiana has done the legislative and financial work. At this point, if Illinois loses the Bears, it won’t be over a stadium — it’s losing them over decades of inept structural tax policy that makes large-scale development nearly impossible to underwrite. I’d still say it’s 75-25 the Bears build at Arlington Heights. But will the clock run out May 31 when the spring legislative session ends? If the folks in Springfield can’t make a deal, the franchise with its headquarters in West Lake Forest could play its future home games in Indiana.

2. UCF Tops Florida to Win Inaugural Women’s Collegiate Flag Football Tournament

Women’s college flag football just got its biggest stage yet — and a Florida rivalry delivered.

Why it matters: This past weekend, the first-ever college women’s flag football championships were held in Arizona. The inaugural Fiesta Bowl Flag Football Classic represents a major step in the legitimacy and visibility of women’s college flag football, with a University of Central Florida–Florida championship game broadcast on ESPNU.

What happened: Top-seeded UCF defeated second-seeded Florida 19-7 in Tempe, AZ, to claim the inaugural title. Kayla Ludwig’s 44-yard keeper in the waning minutes sealed the win.

How it unfolded: Florida trailed 13-0 at halftime but cut it to 13-7 when Mieke Rowe connected with Ava Godfrey. The Gators had a shot at a game-winning drive, but Eliana Higbie-Long’s interception set up Ludwig’s sprint to the end zone. Higbie-Long won the Defensive MVP Award; Ludwig was named Offensive MVP.

The backdrop: Florida and UCF have two of the best flag football club programs in the country, both hailing from the birthplace of the sport, which was sanctioned at the varsity level for high school in 2003. The two programs have accounted for every NIRSA title since 2013, with Florida capturing 7 of the last 8, including the most recent one in January 2026.

The field: Eight teams competed — Alabama State, Arizona State, Charlotte, Georgia, Grand Canyon, UCF, Florida, and USC — in a tournament format where each team played three games on Saturday to determine bracket seeding.

The Scoop: Women’s college flag football is rapidly growing in stature. Illinois sanctioned the sport for high school beginning in 2024. For the 2026 spring season, at least five NCAA conferences are sponsoring the sport across multiple divisions, and events like this one — broadcast nationally and backed by the Fiesta Bowl brand — signal the sport is moving well beyond club-level status. Nebraska is the first Big Ten school to say it will sponsor a team, starting in 2027.

3. Ryno Lives On Through Grandson

A really cool local story… the memory of the late, great Ryne Sandberg — the Chicago Cubs Hall of Famer who passed away last year — lives on through his grandson, Owen Koehnemann, a baseball player at Lake Forest High School.

Owen is a sophomore infielder for the Scouts’ varsity team, as this feature from the Lake County News-Sun explains (article is paywalled).

One highlight from the article is when Owen was asked about turning a double play in a recent game. Said Owen:

When we turned a 6-4-3 double play and with me making the pivot and throwing over to end the game was a rewarding feeling… to me, a defensive play like that is the most important moment.

No one would be prouder of that comment than Ryno himself.

Owen’s younger brother, Nate, a freshman, is playing on the JV team this year.

Get out and watch the Scouts baseball team this spring… they are off to a great start!

FEATURED SUMMER CAMPS

It’s almost summer camp season! For every issue during camp season, Scout Scoop co-editor, Emily Ryan, rounds up a curated list of sports camps.

We organize them here, with write-ups and links for each camp:

Jr. Scouts Summer Football Camp

When: July 13-17

Where: Deerpath Community Park

Ages: grades 3-8

Cost: $250

Join the Lake Forest High School football coaching staff for an exciting one-week football camp. The Jr. Scouts football camp is for kids who have completed 3rd - 8th grade, is specifically designed to introduce and teach football in a fun, interactive and instructive environment. This non-contact camp will build each camper's confidence and self-esteem as they develop and improve their skills, while teaching good sportsmanship and teamwork. Kids will be split into age-appropriate groups for safety. The camp will feature guest appearances and coaching from current and/or former LFHS football players.

More Info

Rome Odunze Day Camp

When: July 12

Where: Deerfield High School, 1959 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, IL

Ages: ages 6-16

Cost: $253.57

Over the course of the day, Chicago star wide receiver Rome Odunze and the FlexWork Sports coaches will guide your child through an exciting, high-energy day designed around fun and unforgettable experiences on the field. Camp activities include interactive sessions, skill stations, and unique opportunities to connect with our athletes in ways that make the game come alive.

All campers will be grouped according to age so everyone feels comfortable, engaged, and able to enjoy the day at the right pace.

We ask that campers come dressed in athletic attire (gym shorts, cleats, or sneakers) and ready to dive into the experience. Whether your child is brand new to Football or already loves the game, our camps are built to spark excitement and create memories that last well beyond camp day.

Each camp participant will receive:

• Camp team photo with Rome Odunze (free download emailed post camp)

• Limited-edition Rome Odunze FlexWork Football Camp T-shirt

• Take home items from event sponsors (if available)

More Info

Notre Dame Middle School Football Camp

When: June 18

Where: Notre Dame Football Facilities, South Bend, IN

Ages: grades 6-8

Cost: $150

This camp is designed to introduce the fundamentals of football to developing football players. The camp is a fun, competitive, and informative camp that will teach each camper the skills that are necessary to playing the game of football, including passing, receiving, tackling, coverage, pass rush, ball security, blocking, snapping, punting, and kicking. This camp will allow the camper to learn from the best coaches in the country and allow them to compete in skills and challenges against their peers. It is the goal to help each camper improve their football IQ and help them build the confidence they need to continue successfully on and off the field.

More Info

WHERE TO TRAIN

Quest Performance Training, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff locations.

Whether it’s adult or youth training you are looking for, the trainers at Quest have you covered. Every session at Quest is designed to challenge, motivate, and empower — combining expert coaching with an atmosphere of genuine support and enthusiasm. Classes are built for all fitness levels and can be easily modified to meet each individual’s needs, whether you're just starting your fitness journey or looking to push your limits. They believe fitness is more than just physical — it's about building confidence, resilience, and a strong community. At Quest, they are dedicated to helping every person unlock their full potential, both in the gym and beyond.

Book a class with Coach Q or another staff member today!

Book Now

LET’S GET SOCIAL

Emily’s Instagram Pick:

@firstdowntraining

This popular youth football Instagram account is full of tips for your middle school-age athlete. Everything from “1st Year of Tackle Hacks” to “Best Helmets for QBs/WRs” to “How to put on shoulder pads” — definitely worth a follow (and sometimes he stops through Chicago for clinics!)

SCOUT SNACKS

And finally… a few links to “snack” on before the weekend.

We’ll see y’all next time!

• How to Prepare for the First Year of Tackle Football

• Reality Check for Youth Sports Parents

• The Bears Hosted a Historic Women’s Flag Football Tournament

• What Two State Championships Taught Me About Winning

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  For more youth sports and community athletic news, go to theathleticscout.substack.com.

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