When it comes to our sports,

All are Welcome – No Exceptions

For many kids, sport is the perfect dress rehearsal for real life. Kids solving their own problems and making their own decisions leads to better mental health. Kids remaining active and vibrant leads to better physical health. And kids learning how to communicate and interact with one another leads to greater social competence and confidence.

Youth sport has significant downstream benefits off the field, particularly in daily life and in the workforce. Studies show that sport teaches kids how to communicate together and work cohesively in groups – and this is especially true for girls and women.

Fortune magazine reports that over 80% of female Fortune 500 executives played a team sport at some point in their lives.

Movement, play and sport have benefits that extend well beyond sport itself, beyond those in sport, and beyond those whose kids play sport.

Done right, sport benefits all of us.

Here‘s Why We Believe in Sports for Everyone

WHY We Are
Making Sports Available for ALL

Based on “The Norwegian Way”, we believe in equal access for everyone – regardless of skill level, finances, or socioeconomic background.

2 HUGE PROBLEMS We’re
Confronting in Youth Sports

It turns out that exclusionary programs designed for grooming “elite” athletes don’t work very well for the vast majority of participants and their families.

Some DISCOVERED BENEFITS
You’re Going to Love

We’ve learned that including as many people as possible in sport creates this “multiplier effect” where everyone wins – players, coaches, parents, and even staff members.

Video: (2 Min) Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel: The Norwegian Way | HBO

Sports “The Norwegian Way”

We were inspired to learn how the Norwegians use sport – skiing in particular – to develop character and life skills in their youth. In fact, we’ve modeled our entire facility around this methodology.

It’s not about grooming the next superstar athlete (although they seem to do plenty of that)…it’s about cost effective access for everyone, with a focus on fun.

Inclusion over elitism

We know that the more young adults that we are able to invite into sport, the more far reaching the effects on their lives and those around them will be.

Only an elite few make it to the top levels of sport. The ultra-competitive model that we’re observing in the space simply doesn’t work for the vast majority of participants.

Ultimately, we believe we’re in a position to lead a paradigm shift in sports. The ripple effects of inclusivity, positivity, and equal access for ALL will last for generations.

Quick Tip:

There are simple 3 questions that adults should be asking their kids at the end of any game or season:

Are you having fun?
Are you working to improve your skills?
Are you excited to come play again?

So why does our method matter to you?

Because of 2 major crises that everyone in youth sports is facing right now…

Youth Sports Problem #1:
Adults Are Getting in the Way

Each year, 40 million kids in North America register to play a sport. 70% of those kids will quit their sport before the age of 13. That’s seven out of every 10 kids – finished. Out of the game for good.

Why are kids quitting sports despite all of the obvious benefits?

Because adults have transformed the joy of playing sport into the chore of working sport.

Video: (13 min) Give Sport Back To The Kids | Matt Young | TEDxGrandviewHeights

Leveraging Parent EGO & FOMO for Profit

Pass by any public playground, and you’ll see kids experiencing the joy and wonder of movement. They’re having fun, playing fairly, and involving everyone in the game. Enter the adults.

Parents, coaches and others observe some sort of early potential in a child (usually their own) and steal control.

Elite teams with tryouts and cuts lead to division – between those who are in, and those who are out.

Some parents think that placement on a lower team will adversely affect their social status, so they pay extra for coaching, personal trainers, hoodies, ball caps and backpacks – all of which are smoke and mirrors confirmation of elite status.

And with that increased investment comes an increase in expectation – extra hours of practice, more playing time, better coaching. Don’t even think about playing another sport or having another hobby, because there’s no time for that.

Here’s the takeaway:

Less than 2% of North American high school athletes will ever set foot in a collegiate setting. And less than 2% of that group will make it to the pros. Yet, parents, coaches and administrators continue to push the 2% development pathway on 100% of the participants.

As the demands and the cost of being on the best team rise, the number of kids who can play and afford to play drops.

…which leads us to problem number two.

Youth Sports Problem #2:
Haves vs. the Have-Nots

Video: (13 min) The Price of Youth Sports (Full Segment) | Real Sports w/ Bryant Gumbel | HBO

Free access to sport used to exist everywhere – public parks, leagues and recreational centers. But what used to be free now carries HUGE costs.

Cash strapped communities have cut back on public facilities. Baseball and soccer fields that used to be open to local neighborhoods are now overgrown or fallen into disrepair.

High end sports facilities have cropped up everywhere – leveraging parent ego and FOMO to crank up prices for access and maximize profits.

Youth sports have become inaccessible for many families – with an increasing gap between those who get to play and those who don’t have the means.

Kids see their best friends playing on a team that their parents can’t afford.

They wonder “why can’t I play?” Families without the means simply don’t have the same opportunities – it changes the trajectory of their life.

These situations contribute to depression and lack of confidence and self esteem. With no structure after school, what choices are kids going to make in that down time?

We know that kids tend to turn to less stressful, sedentary, and sometimes dangerous lifestyles. They’ll play more video games, watch more TV, log more couch time, and even turn to drugs and crime later on.

40% of children are obese or overweight right now.

Sitting around for long periods of time, with little physical exercise is not good for children. We’re heading for a national health crisis as these kids roll into adulthood.

25 Million school children in our country are classified as low income…effectively priced out of sports. Sure, they can try out for teams – but limited access means their chances are slim. Most decide to save themselves the embarrassment.

…A Better Way

Everyone Plays

Regardless of skill level, finances or socioeconomic background. We mean it.

Fun is Paramount

Enjoyment is our key performance metric – not wins and losses

Be Kind

We believe that kindness and courtesy are shows of ultimate strength…not weakness.

…And Some Hidden Benefits of Our Methods
That You’re Going to Love!

As we’ve deployed “The Norwegian” methodology at MG, we’ve made some amazing discoveries. Real world results have strengthened our conviction that we’re on the right path toward making this world a better place.

We’ve learned that including as many people as possible in sport creates this “multiplier effect” where everyone wins – players, coaches, parents, and even staff members. Turns out, there is no downside when we choose to embrace kindness, positivity, collaboration, empathy, and good old fashioned friendliness.

Honestly, the good stuff is everywhere
When it’s not all about winning, kids are happier, more social, and far less hierarchical. Bullying has stopped altogether.

Money isn’t an issue
There is no longer a financial gap between those who are allowed to play and those who are not. Everyone has an opportunity. Kids are no longer watching their friends playing games that their parents can’t afford.

Free to try new things
Without obscene skills requirements, kids can get a late start into a new sport and still feel accepted. A 13-year old has a place to try basketball for first time without fear of getting cut – and the embarrassment that goes along with that.

Play as many sports as you want
There is no pressure to focus on a single sport. Kids are trying new things – like Futsal, Field Hockey or Pickleball – because they want to. This expands skill sets, improves coordination, and promotes well-rounded physical development. Kids aren’t getting hurt as often either.

Parents get to relax
Parents are breathing sighs of relief and charging their own batteries. Financial stress is gone. Their kids are involved with their friends and having fun – which we know improves their chances of success in school, work and life. As a side benefit, parents have a chance to chill out a little bit while the kids are on the field.

Bringing out the best in our Coaches
Coaches are now free to inspire players without the persistent stresses of “winning at all costs”. They’re able to move beyond the X’s and O’s and get to the good stuff…the things that really matter in a kid’s life.

Crazy collaboration on the field
Teammates help one another – even when they’re not on the same team! When games aren’t about beating each other up, we’re seeing kids BUILD each other up. Another person’s success doesn’t mean my own failure.

Everyone wants to work here
Staff, referees, umpires and all other stakeholders are benefitting from a culture of inclusivity and mutual support on the basis of fun – not winning games. If you hate your job, I bet company culture has a LOT to do with it.

…and guess what,

Our kids are getting REALLY good at their sports. A larger pool of players means that our chances of developing the next superstar are much higher than we had ever imagined.

Of course, creating an NBA All-Star would be great…but we’re actually a lot more excited about creating thousands of amazing human beings – set for success as they grow into adults.

Maybe You Know Someone?

If you’ve got a friend, or know someone with children who are facing any of the challenges we’ve mentioned, please invite them into our circle.

They’ll have a place to play…regardless of skill level, finances, or socioeconomic background. They’ll be welcomed with open arms, and given opportunities previously only afforded to the affluent and privileged.

All are Welcome – No Exceptions

Here‘s Why We Believe in Sports for Everyone