Kid's sports education

Kids' sports -- from baseball and soccer to basketball and volleyball -- are hot, and entrepreneurs jumping into the sports education field are scoring major points. With so many parents wanting to help their kids excel in their sport of choice, there's an ample market willing to shell out good money to train young superstars-to-be. Just ask Ivan and Sherri Shulman, 44 and 46, respectively, who founded The Sports House in Houston. The comprehensive sports training company boasts two facilities with camps, clinics and everyday sports classes -- it even provides parties for excited youngsters, offering everything from batting cages to pitching clinics. Though their core market is kids ages 5 to 17, their Soccer Tots program targets wee ones from about 18 months to 5 years old.

At The Sports House, kids get not only physical exercise, but also personalized training, which parents love. "[There's] something about sports I learned a long time ago," says Sherri. "A plumber is going to spend the same amount of money as a cosmetic surgeon to make his kid better." Parents are spending so much, in fact, that 2007 sales for The Sports House are projected to surpass $1 million.

Getting into the market takes skill, notes Sally S. Johnson, executive director of the National Council of Youth Sports in Stuart, Florida. She's noticed an increase in sports interest across the board -- especially in organized youth sports -- and suggests that startup youth sports trainers first get training. NCYS offers administrative courses for youth sports professionals, while the American Sport Education Program offers specialized coaching training as well as many online tools for coaches.

Ready to jump into kids' sports education with your own business? Consider the following before getting started.

Get the requisite training. If you want to start educating youngsters about sports, you have to be a master yourself. You should be well-versed in your sport of choice, and if you lack coaching experience, be ready to bring someone in who has some. Also consider sports management training and sports administrative courses, says Johnson: "That type of education is imperative."

Assemble a great team. If you plan to open an entire training facility like the Shulmans did, make sure your entire staff is top-notch. Conduct criminal background checks on your employees since they'll be working with children, suggests Johnson.

Pick a welcoming location. If you want parents to drop off their kids at your facility, you need to make it as inviting as possible. Choose a safe neighborhood and make sure every floor, window, wall and piece of equipment is squeaky clean, says Ivan. Those little touches of comfort and community make parents eager to return for year-round activities.

Put safety first. Sports and physical education are fraught with risks, so you need to bone up on your safety and first aid training. "[You] don't need to know how to handle dislocations so much as [you] need to know the emergency first aid response," says Johnson. And don't forget insurance. After researching the type of insurance he would need, Ivan found a broker who specialized in youth and batting cage businesses.

Treat every kid like the next superstar. Keep it positive as you encourage kids in their particular sports. "Every parent thinks their kid is the absolute best in the world," says Sherri. Your treatment of both the children and their parents should be enthusiastic and encouraging, making every client feel special. Why? Because it's all about building self-confidence -- not just in sports, but in life.

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• 这个我觉得根据地区不同情况也不一样。 -我不爱背单词- ♀ (130 bytes) () 03/02/2007 postreply 09:19:31