If you had told us three years ago that we’d be building a nationwide youth sports directory, we probably would have looked at you a little confused. We came into the space with one idea to fix the landscape. But in hindsight we didn’t fully understand how complex the system really is. And more importantly… how much opportunity there is to make it better.
It Started with an Idea… and an “Aha” Moment
When we first dove into this space, our focus was on crowdfunding. One of our co-founders has extensive experience in the K–12 education field and saw firsthand what a program like DonorsChoose could do for classrooms in need. So we thought—why not apply that same concept to the youth sports space?
The idea felt straightforward. There are so many great youth sports organizations out there that need funding. What if we could build a platform that helped communities support those programs directly?
It made a lot of sense. And it still does. But as we attended events like Project Play and spent more time in the space—talking to leaders in youth sports, exploring programs, and trying to understand how everything connects—we had a bit of an “aha” moment. Especially when we learned this:
“The United States is the only nation in the world without a government ministry or central agency to oversee and fund sports for its citizens.”
— The Aspen Institute, Project Play
And a lightbulb went off for us. Funding isn’t actually where our journey needs to start. Because before you can support a program, donate, or even consider getting involved in your community…You have to be able to find it.
That realization changed everything for us. It wasn’t that funding wasn’t important, it absolutely is, and it’s still a big part of where we’re going.
But what became clear is that this space needs something more foundational first. Something that connects everything. Something that makes every opportunity visible.
That’s when it clicked:
This isn’t just about adding a layer to youth sports. It’s about helping rebuild the foundation—starting at the community level.
Then We Started Digging…
Once we saw it, we couldn’t unsee it. There wasn’t a single place to understand what youth sports opportunities actually exist in a community. No central hub. No complete picture. No easy way for families to explore what’s available nearby.Instead, everything felt scattered. A bit like the wild west—thousands of organizations all trying to earn your community’s attention, time, trust, and money.
Families bounce between Google searches, outdated websites, and word-of-mouth recommendations. Some programs are easy to find. Others feel like hidden gems you only discover if you happen to know the right person.
At the same time, there are incredible organizations doing meaningful work every single day—but many of them aren’t being seen.Not because they aren’t great. But because they don’t have the resources to promote themselves.
So We Decided to Build Something
We didn’t start with a perfect plan. We didn’t have all the answers. But we had a clear belief:
There should be one place where families can find every youth sports opportunity in their community—regardless of budget, exposure, or marketing reach—and then decide what’s best for their child. Because right now, that’s not how it works. What gets seen is often driven by who can afford to be seen. And over time, that creates a gap.
Programs with larger budgets show up everywhere. Programs doing incredible work in the community… often don’t.
That doesn’t sit right with us. So instead of building something that adds to that dynamic, we wanted to flip it. We started with something simple—but foundational:
Make visibility free.
That’s how Phase One of PlaygroundStars was born—a free nationwide directory for all youth sports organizations.
- No pay-to-play to be listed
- No advantage for bigger budgets
- No barrier to being discovered
Just a level playing field where every organization—no matter its size or resources—has the opportunity to be seen. Because equity in youth sports doesn’t start with funding.
It starts with access. And access starts with visibility.
What We’re Learning So Far
We’re still early in this. But even in the first phase, a few things have become really clear:
- There are far more organizations out there than most people realize
- Many are doing incredible work with little visibility
- The information exists—but it’s scattered across too many places
And maybe most importantly:
This isn’t a supply problem. It’s a connection problem. The opportunities are there. They’re just not easy to see… yet.
Why We’re Sharing This
We could wait until everything is perfect. Until the platform is fully built. Until every city is mapped. Until we have it all figured out. But that’s not how we want to do this. We want to build this out in the open.
To share what we’re learning.
To highlight the communities and organizations we come across.
To bring people along as this grows.
Because this isn’t just our project. It’s building a framework for a new youth sports ecosystem. A build we want you all involved in.
Come Along for the Ride
If you’re a parent, a coach, or part of a youth sports organization, we’d love for you to follow along and be part of this with us. We’re building this in the open—learning as we go, connecting communities, and working toward something bigger than a single platform. And if you’re part of a youth sports organization that isn’t on the map yet, we’d love to include you. Because this only works if everyone is represented.
👉 Submit your organization and help us build a more complete picture of youth sports in your community.
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about building a platform.
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.
