In youth sports today, families often feel trapped between two extremes.

On one side is Upward league or general recreation league play — fun and accessible but sometimes lacking the level of competition young athletes crave. On the other side is the intense world of travel sports, where weekends disappear into tournaments, schedules become relentless, and burnout can happen before kids even reach high school.

Three23 Sports was created to offer something in the middle.

Born out of a desire to develop young athletes without sacrificing faith, family, or balance, the ministry-based sports organization is quickly becoming one of the most unique youth sports initiatives in Georgia.

And it all started with a simple question: What if there was a better way?

Where the Vision Began

The idea for Three23 Sports emerged about three years ago when Pastor Trea Brinson and another coach from Eagles Landing First Baptist Church began volunteering in youth recreation leagues. What they saw concerned them.

By the time many athletes reached middle school or high school, they were already exhausted from year-round travel schedules and nonstop competition. Parents were searching for an option that was more competitive than church leagues, but healthier and more sustainable than full-time travel sports.

That gap became the inspiration for Three23 Sports.

The organization takes its name from Colossians 3:23 — “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” The ministry itself grew out of Camp 323, a long-running community summer camp ministry that has served families for nearly a decade.

What began as a single baseball team has quickly expanded into a multi-sport ministry with a much larger mission.

More Than a Team

Today, Three23 Sports operates through four distinct areas:

1) Recreation Leagues

The recreational arm creates opportunities for kids to compete in a structured, developmental environment. Unlike traditional Upward leagues, players are evaluated and grouped based on skill level to create more balanced and competitive experiences.

The goal is not simply participation — it’s growth.

“If an eight-year-old is ready to compete with ten-year-olds, we want them challenged,” Brinson explains. “Kids improve when they’re pushed in the right environment.”

2) Travel Club Teams

Three23 Sports also fields club travel teams in baseball, flag football, volleyball, and basketball.

But unlike many travel organizations, the ministry intentionally limits the intensity of the schedule. Teams typically avoid Sunday play whenever possible, prioritizing church and family time while still giving athletes meaningful competitive opportunities.

The philosophy is simple: sports should enhance a child’s life, not consume it.

Rather than pushing year-round specialization at young ages, Three23 encourages multi-sport participation and long-term athletic development.

“We want kids to love the game,” says Brinson. “Not burn out before they even get to high school.”

3) International Missions Through Sports

Three23 Sports has also launched international mission opportunities that combine athletics with outreach.

This summer, volleyball and basketball teams are traveling to Costa Rica, while baseball initiatives are planned for the Dominican Republic. Athletes compete while partnering with local churches and ministries to build relationships and share their faith.

The ministry hopes these trips teach young athletes that sports can be used for something greater than personal achievement.

“We really approach Three23 as a missional endeavor,” says Brinson. “We just want to reach people for the sake of the gospel. This is an avenue by which we can do that.”

4) Content Creation

Three23 Sports recognizes that youth sports don’t just shape athletes — they shape families.

That’s why one of the ministry’s fastest-growing areas is content creation. The organization is developing podcasts, devotionals, and parenting resources aimed at helping families navigate the pressures of modern sports culture.

“Think of it as like FCA Bible, or FCA daily devotions, or Upward, putting some devotional material in the hands of the athletes,” says Brinson. “We’re putting resources directly in the hands of athletes so they can start doing devotions. Ours right now is based on the character of God. We know repetition is a key to understanding, so we’re going to reinforce that repeatedly. At the end of the year, we want the guys to have grown deeper into that as they journey with us.”

Podcasting is another vehicle benefitting Three23 Sports. Several well-known athletes have already joined the effort, including former NFL quarterbacks Derek Carr and David Carr, former Georgia Bulldog and ESPN analyst David Pollack, and MLB pitcher River Ryan of the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

The goal isn’t celebrity branding. It’s conversation — going after the heart of the dad so that he can listen to these podcasts to and from work, and then maybe adjust as he leads his family.

“We’re trying to leverage these higher profile athletes that are passionate about this to put podcasts together, not for the athlete, but for the mom and dad,” says Brinson. “We want to educate, partner with a parent to disciple the child, and just give the warning signs that everyone has seen but that maybe are being ignored. Then they can feel more equipped to make decisions that are best for their family moving forward.”

“These athletes have lived it,” says Brinson. “They’ve seen burnout. They’ve seen the pressure. They want to help families make healthy decisions.”

Faith at the Center

At the heart of Three23 Sports is a mission far bigger than athletics.

The ministry focuses on what leaders call the “Three Cs”: Character, Competition, and Commission.

Athletes are taught to compete hard, grow through adversity, and use their gifts to impact others.

That mission is already changing the culture around them.

At local baseball tournaments, young players from Three23 teams have begun leading postgame prayers with opposing teams — not because adults instructed them to, but because the athletes themselves initiated it.

What started with a few eight- and ten-year-olds praying after games has spread across entire leagues.

“Win or lose, they gather together and pray,” Brinson adds. “The kids are leading it themselves.”

The ministry also explores creative ways to share encouragement and faith at tournaments through devotional resources, athlete outreach, and parent-focused content.

A Growing Movement

What started as one baseball team has now expanded to serve well over 100 athletes across multiple sports.

And the vision continues to grow.

Leaders hope one day to develop a dedicated Three23 Sports facility — a regional hub for training, leagues, tournaments, and ministry opportunities that combines high-level athletics with intentional discipleship and family support.

But even as the organization expands, its mission remains focused.

Three23 Sports isn’t trying to create the next sports empire.

It’s trying to create healthy athletes, strong families, and young people who understand that competition and character can grow together.

By By Craig Threlkeld