No one can doubt the numbers behind the youth sports market. With millions of young people involved in sports, from tee ball to high school, the market is vast. But it’s also heavily fragmented, which poses a major challenge for companies trying to build scale. ESPN’s decision to abandon its high school division shows that no matter how deep the pockets, finding a formula to make youth sports into a national property can be a daunting task.
Yet companies continue to enter the youth sports market, or continually revamp their business models, in search of the right formula. Many of them reside in the digital space, offering to assist youth leagues with everything from registration and scheduling, to streaming video of games. Many are still seeking their first profit.
In the pages that follow, meet some of these companies and the people behind them. See what they’ve brought to the market, or how they have evolved with time, and why they think they will find a successful niche in youth sports.
All American Games
Korrio
HighSchoolSports.net
iScore Sports
SportsSignup
Youth Sports Network
Sports Broadcasting Academy
iHigh
PlayOn! Sports
