2026 Youth Sports Industry Predictions
Buying Sandlot: The Business of Youth Sports · Buying Sandlot
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Show Notes
"Parent pushback on specialization will increase."
"Youth sports tech companies will expand internationally."
"Sportstainment is set to grow."
Kyle Pagan and Kyle Scott are joined by Buying Sandlot contributor, James Kratch, to go over their 2026 youth sports predictions. The crew predict youth sports tech companies will expand internationally, an elite high school football platform will be launched, governments will start tackling the accessibility and affordability issue, the trend of organized pickup competition heats up, parents pushback against specialization, and the Supreme Court will hear a Title IX case where the outcome will benefit some sports losing youth participation. They finish with their predictions in sportstainment, the potential for youth sports credit cards for parents, and athlete wallets that could revolutionize the industry.
Get your tickets to our Youth Sports Business Conference in Philadelphia from April 14th-15th: https://events.buyingsandlot.com/summit-2026
0:00 - Youth Sports Predictions 2026
3:11 - Youth Sports Expand Internationally
6:11 - An Elite High School Football Platform Launches
10:11 - Governments Will Tackle Accessibility and Affordability
14:20 - Organized Pickup Competition Becomes a Hot Trend
21:57 - Parents Begin to Pushback on Specialization
26:42 - The Supreme Court Will Hear a Title IX-based Challenge to the House Settlement
35:23 - Sportstainment Grows
46:40 - Congress Will Pass at Least One Piece of Youth Sports-related Legislation
48:40 - Flag Football and Volleyball Infrastructure Increase
51:20 - Versant Will Partially Sell SportsEngine
58:45 - A Youth Sports Credit Card and Athlete Wallets Will be Introduced