Exploring the top youth sports facilities in Northeast Ohio: How to win at youth sports, from WKYC

Proper training and nutrition are both essential to any young athlete’s development, but so, too, are facilities for practices and games.

WKYC, in partnership with cleveland.com for its series “How to win at youth sports (without going broke or breaking down),” visited two of the top sports facilities in Northeast Ohio: Sports Force Parks in Sandusky, and ForeverLawn Sports Complex in Canton.

Sports Force Parks, about three miles from Cedar Point amusement park, is one of the country’s top youth sports tournament sites for baseball, softball, soccer and lacrosse. The parks host events from March to November, attracting about 2,300 teams annually from all over the U.S.

ForeverLawn Sports Complex is located at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton, Ohio. The facility features eight full-sized football fields and hosts tournaments for flag football, soccer and lacrosse from March to November.

However, while these sports complexes offer unique opportunities for youth athletes, the experience often comes at a high price tag of thousands of dollars per team for a weekend tournament, sometimes with admission fees for parents and other spectators.

Learn more about two of Northeast Ohio’s largest youth sports facilities at WKYC’s website.

In our partnership with WKYC called “How to win at youth sports (without going broke or breaking down),” we talked to experts, coaches and families about the current landscape and what we can do better to develop healthy, well-adjusted players.