LeagueApps

A conference is only as impactful as the people in the room—and we're so proud to have cultivated this community of incredible leaders in youth sports who keep returning to #NextUp year after year. This year we tackled ambitious themes like AI, recruiting in the age of NIL, data, facilities, and rec models, while sharing the tech and strategies to move all of these areas forward. Every one of you who attended brought valuable perspectives, insights, and ideas to the room, and we're grateful to be a part of your youth sports ecosystem. So to the entire #NextUp community, thank you, and we can't wait to see you next year! Did you attend #NextUp2025? What was your highlight? 👇

This week at the LeagueApps Conference in New York City, my faith in youth sports and the educational purpose for the future was reaffirmed. While some view youth sports with apprehension due to rapid growth, private equity involvement, and the rise of far-flung tournaments, this conference shed light on a different perspective. Surrounded by 400 youth sports leaders, Jeremy Goldberg and Brian Litvack showcased how their technology business is revolutionizing the industry. They are empowering small youth sports operators to automate processes and enhance the experience for parents, coaches, and administrators while prioritizing the development of young athletes. During the keynote between Jeremy and me, we delved into the transformative power of technology and data in sports, drawing parallels to my experience at KAGR (Kraft Analytics Group) in professional and college sports. Our discussions ranged from customer journeys to the role of analytics and AI in personalizing communication for all stakeholders involved. Amidst the commercialization of youth sports, the conference attendees remained steadfast in their commitment to the holistic development of children. As someone deeply involved in youth coaching for the past decade (currently, coaching flag football & soccer), I've witnessed firsthand the importance of streamlining communication, scheduling, and training for coaches and parents alike. Tools like LeagueApps have made certification, background checks, communication, and coach training more manageable, allowing coaches to focus their time on teaching the life lessons of sports to young athletes. I'm so eager for KAGR to help support this evolution over the coming years as data and technology becomes more accessible. Thank you to all youth sports operators nationwide for their dedication and passion. Special thanks to LeagueApps for fostering a community focused on education and best practices, ensuring that our youth engage in meaningful experiences that transcend mere competition. We all must continue to nurture teamwork, sportsmanship, and resilience in our young athletes, preparing them for success in all their future endeavors (99% most likely outside of sports). #sportsbusiness #sportsanalytics #leadership #youthsports #analytics

Kay Adams knows a thing or two about hustle—both on the field and in an office. We're so excited and honored to have Kay quarterbacking (sorry, Jeremy Goldberg) this year's #NextUp2025 youth sports management conference as our emcee 🎙️ So many inspiring speakers and savvy business owners are joining us at this year's conference—are you one of them? nextupconference.com

NextUp is just about two weeks away—have you checked out our list of speakers yet? Dynamic perspectives from all over the youth sports industry will be in attendance and speaking, including: Jesse Winter, President & CEO of Level Up Long Island Leonard C Stephens, Jr, CEO of Perfect Performance NOVA Sydney Redisch, Director of Marketing at Downtown United Soccer Club Cat Dailey Minyard, Co-Owner of Northeast Volleyball Club Get your tickets: https://lnkd.in/eYNKfYN

JohnWallStreet’s Youth Sports Summit will bring together key stakeholders and investors for a half-day of interactive conversation and high-level networking. We’ll unpack the latest trends, discuss new monetization strategies, and talk through best practices in a closed-door environment. Ben Sherwood is going to kick off our half-day summit. The senior media executive (current The Daily Beast CEO, former Disney ABC Television Group President/Co-Chair of Disney Media Networks) and MOJO Sports founder will sit down with TeamSnap CEO Peter Frintzilas for a conversation that focuses on the increasing convergence of media & technology in youth sports. The loaded program will also feature deep-dive firesides on the following topics: • Building the Operating System for Youth Sports LeagueApps Co-Founder and CEO Brian Litvack will dive into the various ways digital infrastructure is helping to modernize the industry, while driving its consolidation. • The Franchise Model: Scalable, Sustainable, and Still Misunderstood Youth Athletes United Co-Founder and CEO Adam Geisler will explain why franchising makes sense in youth sports—and how the Amazing Athletes and Soccer Stars parent co. balances its needs for a centralized brand and systems with local ownership, trust, and delivery. • A Realist’s View on Private Capital in Youth Sports 3Step Sports founder and former CEO David Geaslen will separate signal from the noise—what money can (and can’t) fix in youth sports and why many investors fail to understand the operational complexities that exist on the ground. • Segments & Metrics Driving Top Returns Not all youth sports assets or investment opportunities are created equal. Boxwood Partners Managing Director Brian Alas will discuss where smart money is flowing, the categories delivering the largest returns, and the valuation levers that can turn a good exit into a great one. Big thanks to our partners (Kyle Scott Laskowski Buying Sandlot) and sponsors (Chris Russo Fifth Generation Sports LeagueApps) for their help putting on what is certain to be a great event. You can apply for a seat in the comments. #sports #sportsbiz #events #youthsports #investment #operators

Private Equity Parental investment Market size Sports tourism These are all factors that are evolving youth sports into a multi-billion dollar market right before our eyes. Are you ready? NextUp is the only event designed to prepare youth sports operators for the next phase of youth sports—and it's less than one month away! Get your tickets for the NYC conference here: https://lnkd.in/eYNKfYN

We're #hiring a remote VP of Engineering! As the technology leader, you will guide our engineering organization to deliver innovative solutions, align technical strategy with business objectives, and drive measurable impact across the company. Apply today or tag someone below who may be a good fit 💡 https://lnkd.in/eBke_bpR

NextUp is a conference like no other—where youth sports operators gather to learn how to take their businesses (and the industry) to the next level. But what does that mean? This year, for the first time ever, we're hosting a webinar to give you a preview of the conference, with featured speakers like Jordan Baltimore of New York Empire Baseball, Scott Wollaston of Institute for Youth Sports Leaders (IYSL), and Martin Brown of Steel Sports, and the answers to your questions about NextUp. Register now to be the first to know what's to come: https://lnkd.in/e7-GcyDP

Some of the most impactful youth sports organizations are taking their programming to the next level by trusting us with their technology needs—and their partnership inspires us to push the envelope to help make sports experiences better for all. TPH Academy is a long time partner of LeagueApps, and the impact their programming has on student-athletes continues to grow each year. Just a few stats from this year's Impact Report: 800+ student-athletes annually 20+ TPH Academy campuses 20+ sport concentrations $8K raised for local communities 1.5K+ hours spent volunteering To read TPH's full impact report, click here: https://lnkd.in/dWp5JKwb