What Do I Know? with Bill Shakos | Episode 9: From Little League to Big Business: The Rise of Professionalized Youth Sports

Over the past three decades, youth sports in America have undergone a massive transformation. What was once a casual, community-based activity is now increasingly shaped by professional-level infrastructure, technology, and investment. In this episode, we explore how parents, coaches, and communities can navigate this evolution to support kids in the healthiest, most meaningful way possible. Our guest, Jeremy Goldberg, President of LeagueApps, and a parent-coach himself, brings unmatched insight from the intersection of sports, technology, investment and youth development.

🎯 In This Episode, We Cover:

• How youth sports have evolved since the 1990s—from local leagues to national travel teams and tech-enhanced performance training
• The role of AI, social media, and structured investment in shaping young athletes' experiences and outcomes
• How the business of youth sports is creating both opportunity and pressure for families across the country
• Where youth sports may be headed by 2030, including equity, access, and new models of leadership
• LeagueApps’ work with underserved communities and the launch of NextUp—a professional platform for the youth sports industry

⚾ Why This Conversation Matters:
Youth sports now impact everything from family schedules to college admissions, shaping not only kids’ athletic skills but also their confidence, identity, and social worlds. Understanding this fast-moving shift isn’t just important for parents and coaches—it’s essential for anyone who cares about equity, community, and the future of play.

Stay Connected:

• LinkTree page with all ways to listen, follow, and subscribe
• Follow What Do I Know? on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠, and ⁠TikTok⁠
• Not on social media? ⁠Sign-up for the bi-weekly newsletter⁠ for new episodes and recaps
• ⁠Podcast Website⁠ listen, follow, subscribe, and learn about Bill’s story and podcast purpose 
• ⁠YouTube Channel⁠ with supplemental content

Creators and Guests

BS

Host

Bill Shakos

What is What Do I Know? with Bill Shakos ?

Curiosity. Empathy. Real Conversations.

Join host Bill Shakos, a self-proclaimed Serial Meet and Greet Guy (SMAGG), as he dives deep into honest conversations that explore identity, community, and the invisible walls that divide us. Through humor, humility, and deeply empathetic storytelling, Bill challenges what we think we know about people who are different. So, he set out to connect with people from all walks of life—one story at a time.