NEWARK, N.J., June 20, 2026. More than 125 student-athletes in grades 3 through 12 from across Newark, New Jersey, discovered that the skills, training, and competition of sports are the foundation for education and career success within infrastructure sectors like energy, construction, broadband, healthcare, and tourism, all on a soccer field.
The Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association (IHNA), an NJ World Cup Community Initiative awardee, hosted the Sports Power Infrastructure Combine at Ivy Hill Park, the headline event of Ivy Hill Soccer Fest 2026.
"Every student who walked onto this field today walked away with proof of what they can do, on the field and beyond it," said Dwayne Wilkins of the Ivy Hill Neighborhood Association. "That proof opens doors most of our young people never knew existed."
Across the country, fewer than one percent of the eight million student-athletes who compete each year will play professionally, and less than 2% will reach the NCAA Division I level. Meanwhile, nearly 1.9 million infrastructure jobs in utility, energy, broadband, transportation, film, and tourism are projected to go unfilled over the next decade.
The Combine is part of a two-part series delivered by The SPIN Foundation, the licensed U.S. provider of Sports Power Infrastructure's Sports Power Rating, which closes that gap in four steps:
- Test. Speed, Strength, and Agility testing plus Education and Career Readiness assessments.
- Verify. Each student's results combine into a Sports Power Rating, a sports and career skills performance ranking.
- Connect. That rating travels to coaches, schools, and employers.
- Compete. It also qualifies them to compete within their home state for the Athletes Make The Best U.S. Top 100 Ranking for the 2026/2027 season.
Every student who took part received a complimentary scholarship for automatic entry into Athletes Make The Best Top 100, a year-round league that concludes with the U.S. Top 100 in May 2027, with divisions in New Jersey, New York, Arkansas, and Texas, backed by government, corporate, and nonprofit partners. The league also ranks local coaches and trainers who support education and career pathways across every sport, including soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and flag football.
TS Safety Solutions, a New Jersey-based safety company built on a family legacy dating to 1966, when its founders helped draft today's OSHA policy. That expertise now powers training, audits, and safety plans for projects between New Jersey and New York, from entertainment studios and data centers to Federal Reserve facilities and energy infrastructure. TS Safety Solutions now leads the Sports Power Infrastructure Combine's Construction Safety track, using each Sports Power Rating to place teens and adults into the right construction and infrastructure roles aligned with their natural strengths.
Community on the Field
Jersey City-based Goya Foods kept every participant fueled throughout the day, providing beverages and snacks across the entire event. Representatives from Invest Newark, IHNA board members, and the Ivy Hill Youth Soccer Club were also on hand, offering onsite mentorship and taking part in the day's activities alongside the athletes.
Next Step
Sports Power Infrastructure Combine participants will be able to complete the rest of their education and career assessments for their Sports Power Rating and meet local business professionals at another career focused combine planned for Thur. July 2nd at Ivy Hill Park between 3pm - 5pm.
Through July 31, Newark residents and business owners can also visit sportspowerinfrastructure.com/savings-rewards to be automatically entered to win a $1,000 Sports Power Infrastructure Savings + Rewards Grant. Just complete a 1-minute survey on what they need to improve their quality of life in Energy Savings, Broadband & Connectivity, Health & Wellness, and local workforce and supplier pathways.
Take the 2-minute survey for a chance at the $1,000 grant: sportspowerinfrastructure.com/savings-rewards
About IHNA: IHNA represents 26,000 to 30,000 Newark Ivy Hill residents, an NJ World Cup Community Initiative awardee.
About SPIN Foundation: SPIN is a 501(c)(3) licensee of Sports Power Infrastructure, powering the Athlete Workforce Index™ and Top 100 Employers for Athletes.
Media Contact: Tenicka Chaney, Managing Director, Athletes Make The Best contact@athletesmakethebest.com
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