For Tanya McAlpine, a single mother from central Iowa, the temptation was hard to resist. By paying a fee to a competitive volleyball club, her 14-year-old daughter Braylynn will receive three training sessions a week, six or seven games over a six-month period, and a uniform and jersey of her own.
Instead, she handed over nearly $3,000 and received a month of training, a game, but no jersey in return.
“A lot of things were promised, but nothing was delivered,” McAlpine told local news station WHO 13.
McAlpine was one of dozens of families left struggling when Ignit Sports and Fitness, a 62,500-square-foot fitness center in the Des Moines suburb of Grimes, suddenly closed on February 10.
Parents and athletes attending practices that week found the building closed, with no explanation given — just a vague post on the facility’s website and Facebook page saying the facility was “working through some issues.”
“They really swept us off our feet…I sent emails and made phone calls,” Anthony Willis told WHO 13. His daughter Maya, also 14, gave up dancing to join the Ignit national team.
About 80 athletes contributed to the volleyball program alone, and the family estimates Ignit received about $220,000. The company also operates basketball, baseball, softball and football programs, meaning the broader financial losses could be much greater.
“Where did the money go?” Maya’s mother Carla asked. “That’s what I want to know.”
McAlpine added that she felt sick to her stomach from having “so much money almost flushed down the toilet.”
In hindsight, the warning signs were there.
Court records show Ignit’s owners, brothers Chad and Brian O’Meara, have a history of financial disputes with customers dating back to 2018. Four small claims lawsuits allege unpaid refunds, missed game fees and breach of commitments across multiple sports. All cases ended in default judgments worth thousands of dollars, and Ignit representatives never appeared in court.
In January 2025, a parent filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau saying she paid nearly $3,000 for her daughter to play club volleyball, only to experience late uniforms, fewer tournament games and a coach who resigned after not being paid.
The Omelas’ troubles extend far beyond the confines of the Grimes facility. The brothers are also behind the ambitious Ignit Johnston project, a multi-million dollar sports complex that is currently only partially developed.
Iowa court records show Johnston’s property has been foreclosed on. The brothers allegedly defaulted on multiple large loans, and the city of Johnston said it expected to receive more than $3.5 million in pre-development grants. Neither brother has been criminally charged.
Even more concerning: Ignit’s website still promotes its charity, the “Ignit Sports Foundation,” and even includes an active donation link. But IRS records show the foundation’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit status was revoked in 2020 after the organization failed to file required documents for three consecutive years(1).
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As in the rest of the country, youth sports are a big part of childhood in Iowa, with families paying heavily for teams, camps and facilities. The case highlights the real financial risks in an industry where families are already stretched thin and spend huge amounts of money on youth sports.
American families now spend an average of $1,016 per child per year on their primary sport, a 46% increase from 2019, according to a 2025 survey from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. Over the same period, spending on youth sports has grown at twice the rate of overall inflation (2).
Club and travel programs, like the one offered by Ignit, tend to drive up the cost: A similar volleyball program in the Midwest can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $4,500 per season, not even accounting for additional costs such as travel, hotel, and tournament entry fees (3).
When a private project ends unexpectedly, families have few options, especially if the refund policy is not clearly stated in writing. According to the Aspen Institute, approximately 55% of U.S. youth participate in organized sports, and many families may be affected by bad actors (4).
The good news is that while the road to recovery may be long and complicated, there may be some recourse.
According to Nolo’s Legal Resource Guide on Closing Health Clubs and Sports Facilities, consumers in states without specific health club refund laws may turn to their state’s Unfair or Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP) statutes (5). These are broad consumer protection laws in all 50 states that cover situations where a business fails to provide paid services.
According to online legal database Justia, consumers may be entitled to seek multiple types of damages under UDAP regulations—sometimes up to three times the value of the loss—and, in some states, attorney fees, so it’s worth consulting a consumer protection attorney before thinking the money is gone (6).
Families who paid with a credit card can also dispute the charge, which Nolo notes is a viable option when a facility unexpectedly closes (5).
As for Ignit parents, they can also file an online complaint about deceptive and unethical business practices with the Iowa Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division (7).
At the same time, family members also received some help. According to WHO 13, volleyball director Daniel Wong was blindsided along with the family and has been working for free to keep the kids playing.
Other coaches have been helping out for free, donated gym space has been secured and sponsors have stepped in to pay for tournament entry fees. One team even had the numbers ironed onto their black T-shirts for their first game after the hiatus (1).
More broadly, the situation is a warning to any family considering high-dollar private youth sports programs. Before you sign or pay any fees, consider these steps:
1. Read the contract carefully. Find out exactly what is promised, how many games are included and whether uniforms and coaches are guaranteed. Without clear cancellation or refund terms, you may have little entitlement if something goes wrong.
2. Ask about the refund policy ahead of time and look for it in writing. If a project can’t give you a clear answer as to what will happen if it’s canceled, closed, or fails to deliver, that’s a big red flag.
3. Review the legal and financial status of the business. Look for the organization on your state’s business registry. Search court records to find previous lawsuits or judgments. Verify the status of any nonprofit organization with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (8).
4. Check BBB complaints and online reviews. Better Business Bureau and Google reviews, as well as other review sites, often reveal behavioral patterns in individual homes that might otherwise be missed.
5. Consider nonprofit or municipal alternatives. Community centers and urban recreation programs are often less expensive than private club sports and carry institutional responsibilities that private facilities do not have.
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World Health Organization 13 Des Moines (1); Aspen Institute (2, 4); Rockwood Thunder (3) Nolo (5); Justice (6); Iowa Attorney General (7); Internal Revenue Service (8)
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. It is provided without any warranty of any kind.
