The only Youth Sports
Management Conference

New York, NY | October 16-17

What's NextUp?

By bringing together today’s most impressive minds in youth sports, NextUp is the only conference that provides an opportunity for organizers and coaches to learn about and discuss the most important topics in youth sports today.

Join us for 2 days full of engaging keynote presentations, interactive breakouts & workshops, and countless networking opportunities.

Mainstage Topics Will Include:

The Business of Youth Sports
The Youth Sports Product: Experiences and Player Development
Moving from Parent Trap to Parent Partnership
Business Models of Youth Sports
Reimagining Space: Fields and Facilities

View Agenda

Upcoming Speakers

Adam Ewing

VP of Academics at TPH Academy

Alex Day

Host / Content Creator

Ben Joffe

Director of Operations, National Youth Sports Nevada

Benita Fitzgerald Mosley

Olympic gold medalist and CEO, Multiplying Good

Billy Welcome

CEO & Co Founder, All In Athletics

Brad Freeman

Senior Director, Mavs Academy at Dallas Mavericks

Chris Meade

Co-CEO & Co-Founder, SportsRecruits

Jody LeVos, PhD

Chief Learning Officer, BEGiN

Dr. Kensa Gunter

Clinical & Sport Psychologist

Frank Decembrino

Director of New Market Development, EL1 Sports

Garrett Shea

President, Sports, Sponsorships and Events Consulting, LLC

George Barrios

Founder and Co-CEO, Isos Capital

Greg Kristof

Partner, Young Strategic Ventures

Julie Foudy

2x FIFA Women's World Cup champion, 2x Olympic gold medalist

Justin Nihiser

Operating Partner, Garnett Station Partners

Karl Rectanus

Co-founder, LearnPlatform

Katie Brunnhoelzl

Executive Finance Manager, Nassau County PAL

Liz Robertshaw

Executive Director, IWLCA

Marti Reed

Director of National Partnerships & DEI Programming Manager, Positive Coaching Alliance

Matt Chandik

Director of Communications, Dynamic Sports Management

Mitchell Pehlke

Content Creator

Nathan Clinkenbeard

Senior VP, Marketing & Communications, Steel Sports

Rick Abbott

CEO, Cooperstown All Star Village

Rodrigo Gomes

CEO, Northern Virginia Volleyball Association

Tyler Rutstein

Chief Brand Officer, OTE and Head of Commerce, Overtime

Zelimir Stevanovic

Founder & President, IBSA Basketball

* Agenda sessions and timings subject to change *

Day 1

8:30AM

Breakfast Opens

9:30AM

Opening Session

An introduction to the concept of Youth Sports as a business, incorporating trends and data from LeagueApps with CEO Brian Litvack and President Jeremy Goldberg.

9:45AM

The Business of Youth Sports

Explore the billion-dollar youth sports industry in this keynote, discussing business strategy, media rights, technology, and fan engagement, while sharing insights on industry trends, data analytics, and scalable business models with George Barrios, co-founder of Isos Capital and former Co-President of WWE.

10:15AM

The Business of Youth Enrichment

Discus the critical role enrichment plays in shaping our youth, with actionable takeaways for entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders dedicated to making a meaningful difference in young people's lives.

11:00AM

Breakouts

Best Practices - Finance & Accounting

Defining your Sponsorship Portfolio

Developing an Online Presence

Beyond the Star Athlete

1:00PM

Winning On and Off the Field

This keynote presentation will draw powerful connections between sports and business leadership, offering actionable insights on how to excel in both arenas. Whether you're an executive, entrepreneur, or team leader, you’ll learn practical strategies to elevate your leadership game and achieve lasting results.

1:30PM

Delivering Amazing: Youth Development

From fostering holistic growth in young athletes through collaboration to delivering immersive, high-impact events, this session offers valuable insights for coaches, educators, and event planners looking to maximize potential and ensure lasting success of a youth sports organization.

2:15PM

Breakouts

Purpose-Driven Programming

Powering Strategic Goals with Data

Maintaining Codes of Conduct

Next Stop, College: Trends in Recruiting, NIL & More

3:30PM

The Secrets of Scaling

Key strategies and practical insights for growing and scaling a successful youth sports business, from expanding operations to enhancing profitability and impact

3:55PM

Principles of Business Success

Explore the key principles of business success through the lens of e-commerce, highlighting strategies for growth, community engagement, and innovative marketing in the youth sports world.

5:00PM

Happy Hour

Day 2

8:30AM

Breakfast Opens

9:45AM

Opening Session

A keynote interview with Sameer Ahuja, President of GameChanger

10:10AM

How to Partner with Parents

A deep-dive into parent relationships that will uncover what they truly want, with innovative approaches to engaging them effectively

10:40AM

The Keys to Building a Multi-Stakeholder Business

Discover how to successfully navigate and align parents, players, coaches, staff, and owner interests to build a thriving, multi-stakeholder business.

11:30AM

Breakouts

Retaining your best talent

The End-to-End Event Lifecycle

New Models of Collaboration: Professional Leagues and Youth Sports

The Escalation Trap

1:30PM

Delivering Amazing: Experiences

Explore creative approaches to delivering in-person and digital experiences that maximize your revenue and keep customers coming back.

1:50PM

Reimagining the Youth Sports Experience

A discussion about innovative strategies for reimagining the youth sports experience, focusing on brand building, community engagement, and emerging digital strategies

2:30PM

Open-Space Breakout Discussions

A freeform session where topics and conversations are driven by attendees

3:30PM

Conference End

NextUp 2023 Highlights

Attended by the biggest players in Youth Sports