sports programs in public schools and parks and recreation
departments. Some school teams are only surviving on financial
donations from parents, and those donations are drying up. With
childhood obesity rates at all-time highs, parents have the daunting
task of finding ways to keep their kids active and engaged.
To make matters worse, local parents looking for fun, organized sports
alternatives for children often find local athletic leagues can lack
both fun and organization. Half of all kids quit a sports team by age
12 due to cutthroat competition, pressure to excel, injury, or
unsustainable demands on time and money.
i9 Sports, a new local concept in youth sports, is on a mission to
buck this trend by providing families with the ideal balance of fun,
safety, convenience and affordability.
"We have created an exciting new model for youth sports that resonates
with families who are tired of the uncertainty of school sports and
the all-or-nothing culture of competition our children are often
thrown into," says Brian Sanders, president and COO of i9 Sports, the
nation's first and fastest growing youth sports franchise with 110
franchises in 26 states and one in your area. "Kids shouldn't have to
wonder if there will even be a school team or if they'll make that
school team. We give everyone a chance to play because there is much
more to gain from sports than just winning."
Why i9 Sports is Different:
• Practices and games are held together, one day a week – great for
working parents because it cuts down on driving, gas money, and
interruptions to family life and school work.
• Enrollment is inexpensive, with a low, one-time fee. No tournament
travel, coach and referee fees, trophy expenses, fundraising or parent
volunteering required.
• The emphasis is on fun. Every child makes the team and plays
equally.
• Parents sign a pledge to be a model of good sportsmanship. After
each game, a child earns a sportsmanship award for showing great
conduct with teammates and opponents.
• Leagues are available for children with disabilities or special
medical needs.
• After background checks, all coaches and league officials are
trained and certified.
Consider This:
• Charlotte, North Carolina - School board voted to eliminate all
middle school athletic programs. One thing saving some programs from
the budget ax for now is a $250,000 donation from Michael Jordan and
the Charlotte Bobcats!
" Every parent is concerned about budget cuts when it involves
physical education " says Denise Wilcox, a mother of two boys in i9
Sports and the PTA president of an elementary school in a suburb of
Atlanta. "With the rise of childhood obesity we parents will doing
anything we can to keep our kids active. One school system here has
already eliminated 60 physical education teacher positions; it's a
problem that's not going away. "
