We’ll be honest…We thought once we built the first Playground, things would start to feel a little more clear. Like, “Okay, now we get it.”
That didn’t happen. If anything, mapping our first Playground in Washington, D.C. did the opposite.
It showed us just how much we don’t know yet. And honestly—that’s been one of the best parts.
It’s Bigger Than We Thought
We knew there were a lot of youth sports organizations out there. We didn’t realize how many. Or how layered it all is.
You’ve got:
- Parks & Rec programs
- Nonprofits
- School-based programs
- Independent clubs
- Travel teams
- Pop-up leagues
All operating in the same general space… but not always connected. And the deeper we went, the more we realized:
👉 This isn’t one system.
👉 It’s a bunch of smaller systems happening at the same time.
The Information Exists… It’s Just Everywhere
One of our biggest takeaways: Nothing is really “missing.” It’s just scattered.
Some organizations have great websites.
Some are active on social.
Some rely entirely on word-of-mouth.
Some are sitting on a PDF from 2018.
There’s no standard. No single place to start. And as we tried to pull everything together, we found ourselves asking the same question over and over again:
“How would a parent even know where to begin?”
The Hidden Gems Are Real
This might’ve been our favorite part. As we mapped D.C., we kept coming across programs that made us stop and say:
“Wait… how have we never heard of this?”
Organizations doing incredible work. Coaches deeply invested in their kids. Programs that go way beyond just sports.
And yet… they’re not always easy to find. Not because they’re small. Not because they’re new.
But because they’re not built to compete for attention. That stuck with us.
The Map Changes the Way You See Everything
Once we started putting organizations on the map, something shifted. Individually, these programs are great. But together?
You start to see the full ecosystem. You start to understand:
- Where things are concentrated
- Where gaps might exist
- How much opportunity is actually out there
It goes from:
👉 “What can I find?”
To:
👉 “Wow… look at everything that’s here.”
That’s a different experience.
This Is Where It Gets Fun
We’ve said this before, but it really came to life as we built this out: Sports are supposed to be fun.And they’re supposed to be competitive.
So why shouldn’t visibility work the same way?
If every organization is on the same map…If everyone has the same opportunity to be seen…Then it’s not about who spends the most.
It’s about:
- Who creates the best experience
- Who builds the strongest community
- Who kids actually want to play for
That’s the kind of competition we like.
We’re Just Getting Started
Mapping our first Playground didn’t give us all the answers. But it gave us something better: Clarity on where to keep going.
We’re starting to see patterns.
We’re starting to understand the landscape.
And we’re starting to see how this can scale.
But we’re still learning. Every single day.
Help Us Build the Next One
If you’re following along, you’re part of this now. As we move into the next Playground, we’re going to keep doing the same thing:
- Finding organizations
- Adding them to the map
- Connecting the dots
And the more complete the map becomes, the more powerful it is for everyone. If you know an organization we should include, send them our way.If you’re part of one, put yourself on the map.
Because this only works if everyone is represented. It’s about making youth sports opportunities in your community easier to find, more connected, and more accessible. Help us make sure every organization in your backyard is seen—at no cost.
Protect Your Playground.
