Youth sports franchises are experiencing explosive growth. After a brief slow-down during the pandemic, the industry is back up and running, stronger than ever. If you’re considering a career in sports, zero in on franchising and youth sports to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Why So Popular?
Youth coaching has become big business. A recent Forbes article reports that parents are willing to spend upwards of $75 an hour to have their kids professionally coached and improve their game. Which means, if you have expertise in individual or team sports and enjoy working with kids, this may be a lucrative career move.
Crunching the Numbers
Sports coaching statistics are impressive. Based on data from IBISWorld, sports coaching is a $15 billion industry in the U.S. with a 4% growth rate. There are roughly 170,000 businesses within this industry, including one-on-one sports training at athletic facilities as well as camps and schools that offer instruction to groups or individuals. Overnight and day sports instruction camps are also included in this data. Markets N Research reports the global youth sports market is projected to grow from $37.5 billion to nearly $70 billion by 2030 with a growth rate of 9.20%.
According to data collected by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, 37% of children ages 6 to 12 played team sports on a regular basis in 2021. That number is rebounding following a slight decline during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent article in the Sports Business Journal takes those numbers further. In 2021, just over 50% of children, 6 -17 years old, played organized sports or took sports lessons after school or on weekends. Based on goals set by the federal government’s Healthy People 2030 project, a program designed to improve health, the aim is for that number to reach just over 63% by 2030.
7 Reasons to Invest in a Sports Coach Franchise
What makes owning a sports coach franchise a smart investment is that there is tremendous value in the services you’re providing. Consider the difference you’ll make in the lives of kids in your community.
- Youth sports franchises offer structured and organized programs for children and adolescents to provide a clear framework for skill development, training, and competition. Success depends on ensuring quality coaching and guidance.
- Teamwork, collaboration, and building social skills are a huge component of sports. When taught at a young age, with a strong coach, participants learn to work together, communicate effectively, and develop relationships with teammates. These experiences contribute to character development, valuable life skills, and fostering friendships among participants.
- Giving young people exposure to sports promotes a healthy and active lifestyle. By engaging in regular physical activity, participants develop good exercise habits, improve their overall fitness, and establish a foundation for lifelong wellness.
- A good coach uses sports for character building and personal growth. Participants learn important values such as discipline, perseverance, sportsmanship, and resilience. They also develop leadership skills, learn to handle success and failure, and build confidence in their abilities.
- Competitive environments like organized leagues and tournaments allow participants to challenge themselves, set goals, and experience the thrill of competition while learning valuable lessons about sportsmanship, teamwork, and effort.
- Your sports coach franchise can create a sense of community and support among participants, parents, and coaches. Families can come together to support and cheer for their children, fostering a positive and encouraging environment.
- Your business may serve as a talent development platform, identifying and nurturing young athletes with exceptional abilities. How rewarding to know that you may provide pathways for participants to progress to higher levels of competition, potentially leading to collegiate scholarships or professional opportunities in their chosen sport.
Timing is Everything
As consumer demand grows for youth sports, so does need. There is growing concern for adolescent health and wellness. The CDC reports, with childhood obesity on the rise as well as mental health issues like anxiety and depression, sports can provide a healthy outlet, allowing kids to create positive long-term lifestyle changes.
That’s important to us at Skyhawks Sports Academy. In the past 40 years, our programs have welcomed over two million children in 25 states, teaching life lessons through sports and instilling a life-long passion for athletics and a healthy lifestyle with 11 different sports offered.
We are the country’s leader in providing a safe, fun, and skill-based sports experience for kids. Whether it’s our programs like camps, after-school programs, classes, and leagues for 4-to-12-year old’s—or our SuperTots classes and enrichment programs developed for little ones, 18 months to 5 years old—we have developed a model that satisfies our customers and our franchise owners.
Franchising in sports can be a rewarding career, giving you a flexible work-life balance with profit potential while providing a much-needed service in your community—while you do something you love.
If you are ready to hear more, simply request franchise info, and we’ll be in touch.