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five sports gratitude stories.
The Playmaker Playoffs is back for Season Two, and this year, “character” is the champion. Watch the stories from five Every Kid Sports families, then cast your vote for our 2026 Champion.
CAST YOUR VOTE from November 1st through November 30th!
About playmaker playoffs
character wins.
The Playmaker Playoffs celebrates amazing kids and families whose lives have been positively impacted by play. The competition isn’t about the score. It’s not about the best athlete or the greatest play. It’s highlighting the kids who show up with everything they’ve got, work harder than anyone expects, and make the people around them better just by being there.
This year, five finalist families are sharing their stories on video. You decide which story wins. The story with the most votes is crowned our 2026 Playmaker Playoffs Champion, and every finalist takes home prizes from our sponsors.
how it works
watch. vote. share.
1.
watch
Meet the Playmakers and watch their stories.
2
vote.
Confirm your email and phone number, then vote for your favorite. One vote per person for the whole competition.
3
share.
Send the stories to friends and family so more people can vote. Use #PlaymakerPlayoffs.
Voting closes November 30. The Champion is announced in early December.
2026 playmakers
MEET THE PLAYMAKERS
These five stories were chosen from submissions by Every Kid Sports families across the country. Each one shows what teamwork, hard work, and caring look like on and off the field.
Alaia & Aria
Ages 5 & 7 | Soccer & Cheer
I’m Michaela. My husband and I, high school sweethearts, have three amazing children. We live in Hanford, a small Central Valley town where parents volunteer to coach so kids can play. When I did my daughter’s hair wrong before a cheer game, another mom jumped in to fix it. Sometimes all it takes is another mom to be your village.
I never played sports growing up, so I want my kids to try everything. Aria, 7, is shining in cheer. Alaia, 5, was made for soccer. Mason, 2, is next.
Sports have taught them teamwork, adaptability, and emotional control. When Aria’s team was about to forfeit, Alaia jumped in against older girls with her head held high, because she loves playing and loves her sister.
Sports have brought our family closer. My kids are spending these years doing what they love, and that’s all I could ask for.
– Alaia and Aria’s parents, Steven and Michaela
MICAH
Age 11 | Football
We’re a close-knit family in Katy, Texas. I’m from Tennessee and my husband is from Georgia, so our kids are being raised on faith, hard work, and looking out for each other. Micah is 11, and his best friend is his brother Myles, who’s 10.
Micah’s love for football started in our open field, playing with his dad and brothers. His dad taught him that talent doesn’t mean much unless you believe in yourself and put in the work.
Micah’s character is what truly makes him special. When challenged to step into the quarterback role, he chose to lead, encourage his teammates, and put the team first, even when things felt unfair. Instead of tearing others down, he continued to show respect, resilience, and a positive attitude. Micah is learning that true leadership means doing what’s right, lifting others up, and showing up even when it’s hard. We’re so proud of the young man he’s becoming…Our Playmaker!
He was just named MVP and Homecoming King. When he loses, he says, “I have another chance to do it different.” That’s Micah.
– Micah’s mom, Qiana
OVYONNA
Age 12 | Softball
My daughter is 12 and has hit eight home runs this season between her travel and rec softball teams. She’s a catcher and outfielder, but she’ll play wherever the team needs her.
What I’m proudest of, though, is how she treats people. She’s loud in the dugout, she cheers for everyone, and she’s usually the one comforting a teammate after a bad play. She helps the other catchers too, lends them her gear, and even tells them her “secrets.” She figures if they get better, the whole team gets better.
She plays volleyball and runs track. She’s the second-fastest girl around here, and the girl in first is one of her friends. She wants that spot, but she’s happy for her friend too.
I’m a single mom, so her shoes and gear aren’t always new. She’s never complained. She just puts them on and plays hard.
She’s my Player of the Year.
– Ovyonna’s mom, Brittany
ADDISEN
Age 8 | Softball
We’re a family of three in the Bronx, a mom and two girls, proudly repping the Mets in Yankees territory. In May 2025, the girls’ father passed away from cancer. He loved baseball, and I know he’d be their biggest fan.
My youngest, Addisen, is 8 and full of energy and creativity. Because of ADHD and a learning disability, she’s often told her energy needs to be “controlled.” On the softball field, that energy becomes her superpower: hustle, quick thinking, teamwork, and confidence.
In our apartment, softball gives them room to move, release stress, be loud, laugh, cry, and be completely themselves. Our village of grandparents, extended family, and our softball family holds us up. As a single mom, I can’t always provide everything alone. Sports have given my girls friendships, mentors, discipline, and a community that believes in them.
– Addisen’s mom, Lauren
TA’MYAH & TEYANNAH
Ages 9 & 10 | Softball
We live in Yukon, Oklahoma, with our three kids. Our girls, Teyannah (10) and Ta’Myah (9), both play softball, and Ta’Myah is the one who got her big sister into it.
Money has been tight at times, and we worried Ta’Myah wouldn’t be able to keep playing. Every Kid Sports helped make it possible. That meant she could stay on the field with her team and her sister.
Ta’Myah is usually quiet. But after a tough loss, she stood up and told her team, “We get better and better each and every day!” We didn’t see that coming.
Teyannah had an unexpected seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy. It was scary for all of us, but it never took away her love for the game. She still shows up, works hard, and shakes off her mistakes.
One found her voice. The other kept going when things got hard. They’re both our Playmakers.
– Teyannah and Ta’Myah’s mom, Tiffanie
SPONSORS & PRIZES
REWARDING CHARACTER.
Thanks to our generous sponsors, every Playmaker goes home a winner, and our Champion takes home the grand prize.
A CHAMPION’S REWARD
A year of Every Kid Sports passes
A $500 DICK’S Sporting Goods gift card from the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
A signed Tyler Adams mini World Cup ball from Every Kid Sports
A $250 SportRx gift card for eyewear
One year of Jazzercise On Demand
A custom ball from Dia’s Heart Heavenly Art
A PLAYMAKERS’ REWARD
Free Spartan race tickets to use in 2027, from the Spartan Kids Foundation
A hat and baseball cards from the Lids Foundation
One free month of Jazzercise On Demand
A book from The Soccer Tales
A free subscription from Supporter App
A $50 Academy Sports Gift Card from DrySpace Foundation Works.
A free one-year GameChanger Premium subscription
A towel and bottle from Gatorade
RULES
KEEPING PLAY FAIR.
No purchase or donation necessary to vote or win. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older, or minors with parent or guardian consent. One vote per person. Voting runs November 1 to 30, 2026. Prizes are non-transferable and subject to the Official Rules. Void where prohibited.
2026 PLAYMAKER PLAYOFFS OFFICIAL RULES
1. Sponsor
Every Kid Sports, 915 NE 7th St, Suite 1, Bend, OR 97701 (“Sponsor”).
2. Eligibility
Voting is open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., age 18 or older at the time of voting, or minors with the consent of a parent or guardian. Finalists were selected from families who participate in Every Kid Sports programs and submitted a written story by September 15, 2026. Employees, representatives, and affiliates of Every Kid Sports, DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, Spartan Kids Foundation, Lids Foundation, Jazzercise, SportRx, DrySpace Foundation Works, Dia’s Heart Heavenly Art, The Soccer Tales, GameChanger, Gatorade, and Supporter are not eligible to win prizes.
3. Overview
The Playmaker Playoffs is a public voting competition celebrating kids who participate in Every Kid Sports programs. Five (5) finalist stories were selected by Sponsor from written story submissions, based on how well each story represents Sponsor’s mission values of community, teamwork, and caring. Two (2) of the stories feature siblings, who compete together as a single entry. In total, seven (7) kids (“Playmakers”) are featured. Each finalist story is presented as a video. The public votes for their favorite story, and the story with the most eligible votes is named the 2026 Playmaker Playoffs Champion.
4. Voting Period
Voting begins at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 1, 2026 and ends at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on November 30, 2026 (“Voting Period”). Votes received outside the Voting Period will not be counted.
5. How to Vote
Visit playmaker.everykidsports.org/vote during the Voting Period. Enter your first name, last name, email address, and mobile phone number, and confirm them using the one-time codes sent to your email and by text message. Message and data rates may apply. Once verified, select the story you want to vote for and confirm your vote.
Limit one (1) vote per person for the entire Voting Period. Each person may use only one email address and one phone number. Votes are tracked by verified phone number and email address. Votes made using multiple identities, automated means, or any other method intended to get around this limit may be disqualified at Sponsor’s discretion.
No purchase or donation is necessary to vote. Making a donation to Every Kid Sports does not provide additional votes or improve any finalist’s chances of winning.
6. Prizes
Playmaker Champion: The winning story will receive a year of Every Kid Sports passes and a signed Tyler Adams mini World Cup ball, courtesy of Every Kid Sports; a $500 DICK’S Sporting Goods gift card; a $250 gift card for eyewear; twelve (12) months of Jazzercise On Demand; and one (1) custom ball, courtesy of Dia’s Heart Heavenly Art.
All Playmakers: Each of the seven (7) Playmakers will receive free Spartan race tickets valid for 2027; a hat and baseball cards, courtesy of Lids Foundation; one (1) month of Jazzercise On Demand; one (1) book, courtesy of The Soccer Tales; one (1) free one-year GameChanger Premium subscription, courtesy of GameChanger; a squeeze bottle and towel, courtesy of Gatorade; one (1) $50 Academy Sports gift card, courtesy of DrySpace Foundation Works. Stories featuring siblings receive one (1) gift card per family; and a subscription of free access to the Supporter app, courtesy of Supporter. The Supporter prize is provided as a coupon code, sent by Sponsor to each Playmaker’s parent or guardian, that must be redeemed in the Supporter app by December 31, 2026. The GameChanger Premium subscription will be provided as an activation code sent by email to the Playmaker’s parent or guardian and must be activated by December 31, 2026. The one-year term begins on the date of activation.
There is no voter prize in 2026. All prizes are non-transferable, have no cash equivalent, and are subject to availability. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if necessary.
7. Winner Selection & Notification
The Champion is the finalist story with the greatest number of eligible votes at the close of the Voting Period, subject to verification. In the event of a tie, Sponsor’s internal review panel will select the Champion from the tied stories based on the original judging criteria of community, teamwork, and caring. The Champion will be announced on or about December 3, 2026. Sponsor will contact the Champion’s parent or guardian directly.
8. General Conditions
By participating, voters and finalists agree to these Official Rules and to the decisions of Sponsor, which are final and binding. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the competition if fraud, technical failures, or other factors impair the integrity of the event.
9. Publicity & Rights
By submitting content or participating as a finalist, the finalist’s parent or guardian grants Sponsor and its partners permission to use the finalist’s first name, city, state, image, likeness, voice, and submitted content for promotional purposes without further compensation, unless prohibited by law, in accordance with the media release signed by the parent or guardian.
10. Privacy
Information collected through the voting process is used to verify votes, administer the contest, and send updates from Every Kid Sports. Voters may unsubscribe from Every Kid Sports emails at any time. Phone numbers are used to send a one-time verification code and to confirm one vote per person. All information is handled in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy: https://everykidsports.org/privacy-policy/
11. Disclaimer
This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, or any other platform.