Skyhawks Awards Its First Missouri Territory in Columbia

We are excited to announce that the first Skyhawks & SuperTots franchise territories have been awarded in the state of Missouri! 

Join us in welcoming new franchise owner Ross Whelan, in Columbia, MO to the Skyhawks & SuperTots family! 

About Ross Whelan

Ross Whelan is a man that is able to let his passion for influencing youth guide him through life. Growing up, he learned to play a wide array of sports - he was a legendary backyard football player, playground basketball hero, and street hockey competitor. Through this passion for sports, he grew to help lead his high school basketball team to 2 Missouri state basketball championships.  

During his career as a high school athlete, Ross found himself gravitating toward helping children play the game he loves. Through these athletic tutorials, he realized assisting kids was something that was growing into his passion. This passion led him to the other side of the world as he taught children in China. It seemed as though each of his classes had a unique and meaningful relationship with their “big teacher.”  And it was through these relationships that he significantly and positively influenced their lives.

During his time in China, Ross and his wife, Liz, welcomed their daughter into the world. Both decided that they wanted to raise her in the United States. The couple decided to move their young family to Columbia, Missouri, the place home to the Missouri Tigers, the team he cheered as a young boy.

After moving to Columbia, Ross continues his passion for influencing youth by teaching life skills through sports with Skyhawks & SuperTots.

"I chose Skyhawks because I believe that the organization and I share the same coaching philosophy; that teaching life skills through sports to our youth can have a higher effect on their lives than just teaching them how to play the sport" said Whelan. "We both believe that every player, no matter their skill level, should have an opportunity to learn and play the sport they love. As a new franchisee, I have seen that shared passion and philosophy through the work done alongside the Skyhawks team over the past few months. Although I am just getting started, I know that the team is there to help support me, which gives me confidence in my ability to succeed."

You can find programs in Columbia by visiting skyhawks.com/columbiaMO. 

If you're interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your city, visit skyhawks.com/franchise. 

Seven Advantages of Buying a Franchise: Join a Winning Team

For entrepreneurs who want the benefits of business ownership without all the struggles of an independent start-up, there are many advantages of buying a franchise.

There are about four different franchise models, but we’ll focus on the traditional model in the industry, which is a contractual legal relationship between a franchisee and franchisor. For an initial fee, the franchise owner has access to a franchise brands trademark, logo, branding and business model. Most franchises are structured so that the franchise owner has day-to-day responsibilities in the business, typically doing the work, managing, or overseeing in some form. There are many benefits of being a franchisee - let's dive into the top seven advantages of franchising.

Seven Advantages of Buying a Franchise

1.       Instead of learning a business from scratch, there is no need to reinvent the wheel. A franchisee receives a proven business model that is already market tested. The franchisor has done the heavy lifting to ensure that the model has evolved to generate profit.

2.       Working with a respected brand is advantageous, because there’s a built-in customer base which knows the brand and its standards. That highly recognizable brand name can open many doors, ensuring a steady flow of customers.

3.       The franchisor provides training to help you get your franchise location up and running, from understanding the business to your grand opening. For many franchise brands experience is not required. They provide the training you need to operate your franchise.  A franchisor is dedicated to your success as a franchisee because they want to grow the brand.

4.       In order to give you the best start in your business venture, a franchisor will provide you with a marketing plan designed to introduce your franchise in the community and let potential customers know you are open and what your business is all about.

5.       You are given on-going support by franchise industry leaders who can assist with any challenges during your daily operation - yet another safeguard in place to provide you the best opportunity for profit and success.

6.       Being a part of a franchise gives you a unique networking advantage with fellow franchisees who are like-minded and dedicated to helping each other with exchanging ideas.

7.       For product and service franchises, you will benefit from lower purchase prices because of the buying power of a franchise. Many times, a franchise can provide cheaper supplies from dealers who give discounts for multiple locations. That helps your bottom line.

The Pros and Cons of Franchising

Like any other form of business ownership, there are pros and cons of franchising. For all these already mentioned pros, there are always some cons - in any equation. For example, in franchising, many people find adhering to strict guidelines set by the franchisor is too rigid. But that’s actually the point of franchising; to follow the playbook given to you and not deviate so you can benefit from a highly effective business.

Another concern of entrepreneurs considering franchising is that there are too many fees involved and too much profit back to the franchisor. The primary fee involved is your initial franchise fee, essentially the entry fee for your franchise. It pays for the use of the model and operating systems.

There are marketing fees and royalties, typically collected on a monthly basis. The marketing fee pays for the promotion of the brand, and the royalties help fund the growth of the franchise as well as new innovations and training.

While you still have to pay for construction or renovation costs, you would have had to do that with a new business anyways. Instead, you skip many steps like a creating a business model, marketing, and support, which gives you a head-start on your business.

Another important caveat to note is that no matter which avenue you choose, opening a business, either as a start-up or franchise, will require a significant initial investment. Working with a franchise can often help secure funding. By using a franchisor-suggested lender, many financial institutions are more apt to secure a loan for a trusted, reputable business like a franchise that is proven to show growth. The lender takes less risk with this loan.

Franchising with Skyhawks Sports Academy

At Skyhawks Sports Academy, we have been giving our franchise owners the benefits of our successful model and franchise operations for decades. We are an established business with a reputable name built over nearly half a century, which helps open many doors for entrepreneurs partnering with us.

As a business, we believe in providing a safe, fun, and skill-based sports experience for kids (ages of 18 months up to 14 years) in the dozen sports we offer through afterschool classes, clinics, and summer camps.

For our franchisees, we believe our franchise training and support is what best prepares you to perform well. That training consists of hands-on instruction at Skyhawks University by the best of the best corporate instructors. You’ll benefit from guidance with sales assistance, training on our proprietary software systems, call center, HR, accounting, and marketing support.  

If it’s time you turned your dreams of business ownership into reality and took your passion working with kids and sports and turned it into your profession, then request franchise info and let’s take the next steps!  

Skyhawks Sports Academy Boosts Golf Programming through Partnership with Payne Stewart Golf Experiences

The nation’s leading youth sports camp franchise, Skyhawks Sports Academy powered by Stack Sports, is excited to continue building its impressive sports programming by becoming the Official Youth Sports & Camp Partner of Payne Stewart Golf Experiences.

This five-year partnership establishes Skyhawks Beginning Golf, advancing the Spokane-based brand’s commitment to providing accessible, enjoyable, and positive golf instruction to young kids no matter their proximity to a golf course.

“Payne Stewart Kids Golf Experiences adds significant value to our Skyhawks Golf Camps through their programming and game-based curriculum developed specifically for younger kids,” said Jason Frazier, COO and President of Skyhawks. “The PSGE team has significant PGA experience and hopes to alleviate issues of accessibility, cost, and exclusivity by creating a new pathway for kids learning golf away from the golf course.”  

Skyhawks Beginning Golf is powered by Payne Stewart Golf Experiences, the recommended entry-level golf program for PGA Junior Golf Camps. By improving curriculum and training for coaches, more kids will be able to build their confidence by learning golf both inside and outside.

“They have a well-established recreational sports footprint where we can add our Payne Stewart Kids Golf Experiences program and have an instant impact in getting more kids exposed to the fun side of golf,” said Kelly McCammon, Founder and CEO of the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation. “Younger kids, especially from the age of four and up, have to first get exposed to golf in recreational settings away from the golf course and in local neighborhoods.  Our partnership will bring golf to the kids where they are.”

The unique, games-based play program and modified learning equipment make it easier for kids to hit the ball and experience early success. Putting, chipping, pitching, and full swing, are all taught through games, simple repetitive motions, and learning rhymes that make it easy for young kids to remember and repeat. Specially designed, age-appropriate golf equipment is provided.

This instruction and Skyhawks Beginning Golf programming will soon be implemented in locations throughout the United States. Local camp operators are currently preparing for the summer camp season, which experienced record nationwide participation in 2021.

About the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation

The Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation, established in 2020, is the fundraising entity behind the Payne Stewart Golf Camps & Clinics. These unique programs provide a complete golf learning experience for kids ages 4-9 years old. Using unconventional spaces to bring golf to the masses, the camps and clinics make any gymnasium or soccer field a golf learning center to teach children the fundamentals of both golf and life. For more information about the Payne Stewart Kids Golf Foundation please visit www.paynestewart.org.

About Stack Sports

With nearly 50 million users in 35 countries, Stack Sports is a global technology leader in SaaS platform offerings for the sports industry. The company provides world-class software and services to support national governing bodies, youth sports associations, leagues, clubs, parents, coaches, and athletes. Some of the largest and most prominent sports organizations including the U.S. Soccer Federation, Little League Baseball and Softball, and Pop Warner Little Scholars rely on Stack Sports technology to run and manage their organizations. Stack Sports is headquartered in Dallas and is leading the industry one team at a time focusing on four key pillars — Grassroots Engagement, Participation Growth, Recruiting Pathways, and Elite Player Development. To learn more about how Stack Sports is transforming the sports experience, please visit www.stacksports.com.

Join Skyhawks in celebrating National Girls and Women in Sports Day and the value women bring to the sports industry. Fresh off a successful 2021 that saw record participation from coast to coast, we are highlighting the part-time jobs, internships, and permanent roles that are currently available for women to gain work experience and spark their career in sports.

“There are so many benefits to working with Skyhawks, even beyond the fun of being able to teach and play the sports you love,” said Tori Makela, owner of Skyhawks Sports Academy in Colorado. “For those interested in teaching, sports management or sports education, our coaching positions give them an opportunity to work with kids and get outside and active. They could also do internships to gain experience in the business side of sports, from marketing to finance and operations. There are so many ways to get your foot in the door, no matter which path or position you choose.”

This year, February 2nd marks National Girls and Women in Sports Day as the industry recognizes the accomplishments of female athletes and sports professionals. While honoring the progress women have made in so many areas of the sports industry, Skyhawks Sports Academy is proud to provide a unique blueprint for the industry’s next generation.

Whether working with one of the many nationwide franchise locations or for the brand’s corporate staff around the country, women are essential to operating Skyhawks’ mission of “Teaching Life Skills Through Sports” to more kids each year. Offering roughly a dozen different sports programs for kids aged 2 to 14 throughout the U.S., Skyhawks not only has part-time coaching jobs and internships for students but also provides a path to a more permanent career in the sports industry.

“There are so many opportunities for women in our company,” said Skyhawks Sports Academy’s East Coast Regional Manager Sarah Kelley-Reid. “Regardless of their role, women in our business get the unique opportunity to be visible role models who show young girls they aren’t afraid to be confident, competitive, and strong leaders in a typically male-dominated arena. I’m most proud of the growth you can achieve here, from gaining coaching experience that you can take elsewhere to working up to more of a management role within Skyhawks. I couldn’t be prouder of the strong women who make this company and industry great.”

Skyhawks Sports Academy, recently named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list with a Best-in Category designation for Children’s Fitness Programs, now has about 200 locations, meaning students and young professionals can find work opportunities throughout the nation. To learn more about working for Skyhawks, visit www.skyhawks.com/jobs. 

To learn more about how you can celebrate National Girls & Women in Sports Day, visit https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/get-involved/ngwsd/.

Skyhawks Sports Academy, the nation’s leading youth sports camp franchise, begins 2022 with a major honor. The Spokane-based brand was again listed in this year’s Entrepreneur Franchise 500, placing No. 156 overall and earning the top spot among brands offering children’s fitness programs.

This recognition comes after a record-breaking 2021 for Skyhawks Sports Academy, which offers roughly a dozen different sports programs for kids aged 2 to 14 and set system-wide enrollment records for each season of the year.

“We saw unprecedented success in 2021 and earning one of franchising’s top honors will help us carry that momentum into 2022,” said Skyhawks President and COO Jason Frazier. “Our mission is ‘Teaching Life Skills Through Sports’ and we were able to help more kids than ever before, thanks to the work of our staff, our coaches, and our franchisees. Their commitment is what allows us to meet the passion and interest of the families who bring their kids into our programs. I’m excited to have those efforts rewarded with another strong appearance in the Franchise 500 rankings and a best-in-category designation.”

The Entrepreneur Franchise 500 represents one of the most competitive measures for franchise brands and one of the most useful research tools for potential franchisees. Brands are evaluated on various factors including costs, fees, size and growth, brand strength, and financial stability.

The No. 156 placement represents a steady presence in rankings over the past several years, as the 2022 ranking also represented the fourth-straight year of Skyhawks Sports Academy placing in the top half of the Franchise 500. Thanks to that success, Skyhawks earned additional rankings of No. 139 among Fastest-Growing Franchises and No. 12 among Franchises for Less than $50,000.

Now with roughly 200 locations across the United States, Skyhawks Sports Academy is preparing to continue its growth in 2022, doing so through further franchise expansion and providing even more value to its participants, staff, and partners across the country.

To view Skyhawks Sports Academy in the full rankings, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2022 issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands January 11th.

Stay Active with the Whole Family this Fall

In the past year everyone had to adjust to a new way of life; whether that be taking online classes, working from home, socially distancing, or self-quarantining. With big life changes like these it is common to let our schedules fall apart with all the added stress on our mental health. As we move into back-to-school season it’s important to remember the importance of incorporating fitness for the whole family into your routine. Staying active throughout these times will lower stress levels, boost energy, and put you in a better mood helping with your mental health. These are some ways to get your kid active while at home.

Involve the kids - Include your chidlren in the process of deciding what kind of exercise they want to do. Give them a few options and let them choose the activity. This can also be done around the house by giving them small chores and responsibilities. 

Safe outdoor activities - Encourage kids to go outside when social distancing is possible. This can include playing catch, walking the dog, riding bikes around and so much more. Another great option for children to be outdoors are Skyhawks Sports programs, which keep them social and active while also following safety protocols. 

Change it up - Make sure to change things up so your child doesn’t get bored doing the same activities. This can be as simple as playing a new game, hiking on a different trail, or even going to a new park.

Family activities - If you make physical activity part of your family’s routine the children will be more likely to participate. Some examples include taking family hikes, playing active games together, and walking the dog.

Set an example - Children are much more likely to engage in and enjoy physical activity if they see that you’re active as well. (You will also benefit from the exercise!)

Dealing with a new schedule and surroundings can be hard on your mental health, which is why being able to stay active is such a big deal. The benefits of being active can help maintain a balanced lifestyle and provide kids with a much needed energy release after so much time spent indoors this past year. Check out our Family Resources page for more ways to stay active at home including free lesson plans and class videos! 

Skyhawks Sports Academy Camps are the definition of fun, but we want to make sure that your child is fully prepared to attend! Below are some items that your child should bring to camp with them each and everyday to ensure that your child is ready to enjoy everything that our amazing programs have to offer! 

- Spray on / Mist Sunscreen! 

Our camps run from either 9am-12pm, 9am-1pm, or even 9am-3pm, which often means that campers are in the sun for a strong majority of the day. In order to prevent the harmful damage of prolonged sun exposure, it is highly recommended that campers bring sunscreen every day of camp.To protect both coaches and campers, Skyhawks coaches are not permitted to apply sunblock to campers. However, coaches ARE permitted to help campers apply sunscreen that are spray on / mist products, and are encouraged to remind kids to reapply throughout the day 

- A water bottle! (reusable if possible) 

In order to prevent fatigue and potentially even heat strokes, it is essential that all campers bring some sort of water bottle with them to camp each and every day. Having fun and playing sports in the sun at camp all day can be quite tiring, so it is highly recommended that each and every camper brings a reusable water bottle (or two) as it is very likely for a child to finish all of their water before the end of the day. 

- Athletic Wear / Athletic Shoes! 

Here at Skyhawks, we want to ensure that every camper has comfortable attire that can be worn for long periods of time. It is highly recommended that each camper comes to camp every day with athletic/tennis shoes, as well as appropriate attire for playing sports all day! Hats are also a great addition to keep the sun off of your child’s face and out of their eyes. 

- A Snack! (lunch if applicable) 

Each and everyday, depending on the length of your camp, every child should be prepared for a snack break with a nutritious and filling snack. For camps that end later than 12:00, a snack as well as a packed lunch is required. 

- Hand Sanitizer! 

Although all Skyhawks Sports Academy Coaches are prepared and equipped with hand sanitizer at every camp, it is always a great idea to bring your own just in case! We are all doing our part to stop the spread of germs at camp.

- A Mask or Face Covering 

 If local and/or state guidelines require it, participants and parents/guardians are required to wear face coverings during check-in, check-out, breaks (when not eating or drinking) and when not engaged in the program. Policies vary by area in regards to whether face coverings are required during instruction and activities. To learn more about our Return to Play safety guidelines, click here.