At Ankored we’re all about learning from experience! So we sat down (virtually) with three experienced professionals for a live panel discussion. In 30 minutes they shared surprising lessons and insights from the challenges they have faced in building and growing youth sports programs - both in the non-profit and for-profit spaces.
And we got to pick their collective brains with a live Q&A session. We had dozens of very thoughtful questions from the community during the live session and we’ve shared a few of our favorites below, along with the insightful answers from our panelists!
Firstly, for context, let us tell you a bit about our three panelists and their extensive backgrounds in youth sports! Each panelist has a strong background in youth sports and brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Their experiences range from managing grassroots programs to overseeing national-level initiatives.
You can watch the full webinar recording here.
Courtney: I suppose we do lose some kids to travel programs, which, if that's their sport, it's understandable. I was in the same situation; I played travel softball, but I play recreational volleyball. So, we're not necessarily upset about it. If a kid has a certain skill set, yes, we want them to get the additional training that we can't offer in a recreational program.
But, we also see more kids coming in. Sometimes, parents invest in travel sports, and their children make the team but end up sitting on the bench. Then the parents are upset that that investment was lost or wasted. As a result, we see them come back to the rec program, because, again, the kids just want to have fun.
Often, it’s the parents who want that college track for them or have these ideas that their kid is going to go pro. And a lot of times, the kids just want to play. So we see a little bit of both.
Courtney: We see way more kids trying new sports. We would love for them to stick with things through the season, but those conversations happen at home.
John: I agree with Courtney that conversations at home dictate those outcomes. I personally believe that kids, especially young ones, should try a variety of sports before the push to specialize takes over. A great resource on the broader topic of specializing is Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World by David Epstein.
Courtney: Our issue right now is with travel teams wanting to use our rec league as a practice platform, and that's not fun for the kids who are just starting out. It detracts from their experience and turns a lot of kids off. Because if you go and you get stomped every weekend, then you don’t want to come back. So, that's one of our current struggles.
Courtney: One thing we’ve done in some sports is to offer Advanced, Intermediate and Beginners tiers when we have enough participants. We also offer playoffs for our older divisions, and our baseball/softball players have the option to try out for MLB’s RBI All Star program, offering a pathway to higher competition within the framework of recreational play.
Courtney: Infighting is so common. We've tried some things, like bringing all the stakeholders together to ask, "Hey, what are you looking for that we're not providing?" A lot of times, people didn't like our bureaucracy. They preferred to run things their own way, without being under our jurisdiction, but they still want to use our field space.
John: To us, it’s always been about staying true to what you guys believe in, what you've learned and what your community believes in – that these sports programs are for this purpose. It's in the permitting process that you have to adhere to these specific behaviors, you sign off on it as a participant. If these agreements are breached, those involved are essentially out. We can take them over, let someone else handle it, or at least introduce new leadership.
Courtney: If you mean ‘running it in-house' in the format of skills/drills, one benefit is the option to generate income through affiliate programs with private schools, neighboring towns, etc. Additionally, it offers the opportunity to introduce kids to league and tournament play.
John: As you may be aware, in addition to our sports training programs, we offer supplemental trainings that any league can add onto their coach memberships at no extra cost. We initiated a partnership with ESPN two years ago, emerging directly from the challenges presented by Covid, which highlighted the importance of mental health and the benefits of outdoor activities for children. We introduced additional training on mental health and emotional intelligence, teaching parents and coaches effective ways to communicate with children about these issues within a coaching context.
Courtney: We promote coaching opportunities year-round, but start asking parents and the general public during open registration. We have also started stepping outside of just the parent realm and peppering our community at large. We make it easy for people to sign up on our website. Every season I reach out to everyone who signed up and let them know about current openings.
John Engh: One thing I’d focus on is making sure volunteers understand that becoming a coach is easier than they think. There are so many more resources available now than there used to be.
Jason: There's an unbelievable movement around women's sports right now. This is a really good time for people at the youth level to lean into girls sports and offer programming specifically designed for them. Ride that wave created by professional leagues and global brands like Nike.
Courtney: While skill assessments can be frowned upon in recreational leagues, they are an effective way to evenly distribute players. For us, practices are held when coaches are available. If a child can't make it, we try to transfer them to a center with a compatible slot.
Courtney: In Saint Paul, we do not allow it in our 10u level, but it is allowed at 12u, 14u, and 18u.
Courtney: We apply our gender identity language across all youth and adult leagues. You can find it in full here: Gender Inclusivity in Youth Programs
Courtney: Yes, we've phased out tackle football in Saint Paul. It was on the decline pre-Covid, and we have transitioned toward things like tackle bar and 7v7 passing leagues. Flag football is definitely where things are headed for us; it’s less expensive and allows for more free movement.
Courtney: Stress the importance of fun and friendly competition, or try offering sports "out of season," like summer basketball.
Jason: Nearly 70% of kids drop out of sports by age 13. This goes back to the professionalization of youth sports. Lose the fun, and you lose the kid. Explore emerging sports that don't have a defined college pathway yet—provide something fresh!
Jason: First, clearly define your purpose—is it fun, competitive, or both? Set expectations early. Second, study national players to see what they do well. Finally, focus on finding the right coaches and giving them the organizational tools they need. Lack of organization is the number one complaint from parents.
Click below to watch the full on-demand video discussion for more insights, lessons and challenges.
Title: Beyond the Game - Unleashing Growth in Youth Sports
Was live on: February 6
Duration: 43 minutes