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PRIME PATH ATHLETICS
PPA PRO
Issue No. 24 · Week of September 14
OUR MISSION
Helping families spend their time, money, and trust on what actually moves their athlete forward.
THIS WEEK
Five real financial scams from this year, each boiled down to one specific question that could have caught it before the money was gone.
FOOTBALL
BASKETBALL
SOCCER
BASEBALL
SOFTBALL
CAMP SPOTLIGHT
Offense-Defense Mega Camp — Baltimore, MD
July 17–19, 2026 (2027 TBA)
Youth & HS — all positions · $599 day / $799 extended / $999 overnight
Registration OpenCAMP SPOTLIGHT
PGC Basketball — Scoring College
Summer 2026
Incoming grades 9–12 & college · $995–$1,395 commuter; $1,095–$1,495 overnight
Registration OpenCAMP SPOTLIGHT
Barça Residency Academy Summer Camps
Summer 2026
Ages 10–17 · $2,495 1-week resident; $1,495/week commuter
Registration OpenCAMP SPOTLIGHT
University of Alabama Future Prospect Camp
October/November 2026
Grades 7–12, transfers, JUCO · $419.99 / $629.99 (same structure)
Registration OpenCAMP SPOTLIGHT
Wayne State Softball Prospects Camp
Fri, Aug 7, 2026
Grad years 2028–2030 · $120 (incl. t-shirt)
Registration OpenTrainer picks are pulled from the PPA Trainer Directory. Want to update your info? Claim your listing →
RECENT FROM PPA
Clips from this week's shorts and podcasts — links go live once published.
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Incredible Baserunning IQ: Escaping a Bases-Loaded Rundown (Youth Baseball Breakdown)
YouTube Short
10 Reasons Why Youth Sports Matter
Rotates every issue — sport-specific some weeks, big-picture others.
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01A single volunteer with unsupervised access is the pattern to watch for.Case after case involves one treasurer with full control over an organization's finances for years, with no second signature required.
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02Real practices and real teammates don't guarantee a real organization.A fake travel team trained together for weeks before anyone realized there was never going to be a season.
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03A legitimate trip can produce real booking confirmations.Flights, hotel reservations, and a facility's own paperwork are all things a real program can show on request — a promise alone can't.
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04Two-signature approval closes an easy path to theft.Requiring more than one person to approve a withdrawal is a simple fix that shows up missing in nearly every case like this.
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05An annual financial summary is a reasonable ask, not an insult.A well-run organization can produce one easily. One that's never been asked before might not have a good answer.
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06A trusted relationship is exactly what a scam relies on.Families lost real money to people they already knew and trusted — a cold pitch from a stranger is easier to doubt.
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07A takeaway is only useful if it changes what you actually do.Each story here compresses into one specific, checkable action — not just a cautionary tale to feel bad about.
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08The dollar amounts add up fast across just the cases in this campaign.Ten real stories across two issues put real losses well into six figures — money that came from registration fees and fundraisers.
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09Volunteer-run doesn't mean unaccountable.Most youth sports organizations run on parent volunteers — that's exactly why basic financial checks matter more, not less.
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10We ask the same question every time.What's actually worth paying for, and what isn't? Every PPA guide and every issue of this newsletter starts there.
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FUEL UP — MEAL PREP MEAL OF THE DAY
Baked Chicken Tenders & Sweet Potato Fries
A genuine kid favorite that reheats better than fast food. Serves 4.
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment.
- Toss sweet potato wedges with 1 tbsp oil, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread on one sheet.
- Dip chicken tenders in egg, then coat in the breadcrumb-parmesan mixture. Arrange on the second sheet.
- Bake both 20–25 min, flipping halfway, until chicken reaches 165°F and fries are golden.
- Divide into 4 containers.
- Refrigerate up to 4 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer for best texture (microwave softens the coating).
GROCERY LIST
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko preferred)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 3 medium sweet potatoes, cut into wedges
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste