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With a retention rate of over 90% that includes waitlists in many of his programs, Player Sports Academy franchisee Brian Hirsch is a dedicated business owner that is finally able to make a living doing what he wants to. As an educator and coach who has spent nearly 35 years in the Tampa Bay area, Brian decided to use his background as a tool to improve his future. Currently operating in 12 local schools, Brian’s organization helps 180-plus kids learn the valuable ideals of team sport, hard work, and setting and accomplishing goals. Having only recently made the choice to start living on his own terms, we sat down with Brian to discuss his growing business, the passion he has for his kids and how PSA helped him start his own sports business.  Starting a Sports Franchise for Kids
The one piece of advice that Brian keeps repeating is, “You get out what you put in.” This sentiment has been his motto for years, and he finds it rings true in almost every aspect of his life. There are no frills, no magic shortcuts and no easy ways out: hard work breeds positive results. Through his time spent as an educator, Brian already had a head start in being able to pitch his new PSA franchise, but recognized the value of connections that PSA brought to the table. With an insider knowledge of Tampa Bay’s school system, he could schedule meetings and get face-to-face with the right people. However, the complex network of insurance forms, regulatory work and state specific guidelines were an unexpected hurdle that PSA’s Allan Flott and his co-founder Ricky Burke were able to handle for him. With PSA’s support network and understanding of the back-of-house work required to start these kinds of after school programs, Brian was able to focus on his strengths while getting much needed advice in the areas where he was lacking. With zero franchising experience, Brian credits his initial success to the backing he received from PSA’s team of experts. This is where the system became an invaluable tool in getting Brian’s franchise off the ground. Regulatory paperwork is a daunting task, and ensuring that you’ve correctly filled out every form before you pitch your first school, can be a nightmare. The confidence of having experts in your corner, coupled with the certifications you can show to school officials at any meeting will accomplish two things: one, your confidence in yourself will translate into them having confidence in you; and two, with the paperwork to back up your words, you can prove that you’re not only serious about what you’re proposing, but have done your regulatory and safety homework. Without the background and expertise offered by PSA, Brian admits that starting his own after school sports franchise would have been nearly impossible. Sports for Kids of All Ages Having spent 35 years as an educator, Brian has the added benefit of experience working with children of all ages, and the disposition necessary to properly motivate young people. Alongside the connections he made within Tampa Bay’s education system, he further credits his business success to his love of working with kids. Beyond needing the desire to venture out on your own, Brian says that knowing how to work with children should be high on the list in your consideration of a PSA franchise. Noting that the kids return more than he feels he gives, Brian’s obvious devotion to his teams and students is admirable. Without knowing how to handle groups of children, and without understanding how to gain their trust, running a team isn’t possible. There is an obvious need to understand the ins and outs of the sports you choose to coach, but without the ability to convey those ideas, rules and principles to children, you run the risk of losing their interest. Along those same lines, Brian truly believes that being a star athlete is not correlated with being a star coach. Kicking a ball 100 yards, running a five second 40 or making trick shots might impress a few times, but none of these feats can guarantee ongoing cooperation from an inattentive kid. Gaining a child’s respect is massively important in successfully running any after-school sports program, and is the number one factor that determines whether they’ll sign up again next year. Showing parents that you know how to listen, and to properly engage with their kids will encourage them to be more passionate about your programs as well. Any parent who thinks that their child is benefitting from a service that you’re providing will be much more likely to spread the word: marketing that you don’t have to pay anything for. Read More: Life After College Sports - Jobs for Athletes Compassion and confidence are the keys to Brian’s success. Making specific note of these core principles, he implores anyone considering an after-school program to concentrate most of their energy into these aspects of coaching. By being able to understand and communicate with your kids, you can quickly gain their trust, and, more importantly, their respect. By reflecting your confidence in the knowledge of the sport, the trust you have built and the respect you’ve earned, coaching can become a rewarding career that enriches you as much as the kids that you mentor. 100% Passion for His Youth Sports Franchise Nothing Brian does is done halfway. Fully committing to everything in his life is one of the ways that he defines who he is, and what he is about. Through this steadfast devotion to hard work, Brian has secured for himself the freedom to be his own boss, and to make passion his business. Of course, this is a driving factor in the operational successes of his business, but it is also a key element in coaching. Passion for sports compels athletes to push themselves and overcome boundaries that they previously didn’t think possible. Giving kids goals and the focus required to accomplish them are fundamental in breeding a successful after-school sports program. Without the passion needed to run your business, your sideline presence will lack the momentum to inspire your players. Your ability to approach a PSA franchise with the passion required to run the business will follow you into the locker room and onto the field. Brian writes his own curricula (although PSA provides programming for new franchisees to use at their discretion) and ensures that each of his sessions fall in line with the strict standards that PSA so prizes. His ability to reflect back on his career in schooling has allowed Brian to branch out from the program suggestions provided to all franchisees, tweaking and supplementing in areas he knows that his kids will love. Finding the initiative to test out new methods and modes of training his kids, it is Brian’s passion that has allowed him to flourish in the Tampa Bay area. By not taking the program for granted, and by not assuming that one-size-fits-all, Brian has put his mark on the PSA model, and his continued success is a reflection of the passion with which he greets his new profession. Final Thoughts on Starting a Sports Business More than his passion, or his drive, Brian recognizes that the programs offered by PSA are needed. Loved by the kids and their parents, and appreciated by his partner schools, the only thing holding these classes back from nationwide adoption is widespread knowledge. Once he learned about it, Brian’s experience allowed him to immediately recognize the demand programs like this would garner in his community. With the practical advice PSA offers, he was able to quickly put together a curriculum and start pitching it to schools. Brian’s awareness of a deficit was the starting point of his journey. Hard work, passion and the help PSA provides, are the keys to his continued success. Reflecting the positivity he received from PSA, Brian noted that if other franchisees are putting in the work, and still need help, he will personally be willing to make sure that they succeed. Going above and beyond to spread his message of positivity, inclusion and his love for sports, Brian Hirsch’s PSA franchise is a perfect example of why we’re so enthusiastic about this business. If you think owning a kids sports franchise is an opportunity of a lifetime, we encourage you to complete an application for an initial interview. With the PSA model, you can open a sports academy in your home town or city, and with hard work and passion you can be as successful as Brian! “If this is something you’re passionate about—both working with children and working in a sports model—both Alan and Ricky will guide you, 100%. Without them it wouldn’t have worked” - Brian Hirsch
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Extracurricular activities are important for kids growing up, but they shouldn’t put parents into debt. Every parent wants to see their children get involved and learn valuable life lessons from sports, music lessons, or another extracurricular activity. We know that these activities can help kids build communication skills, learn to work on a team, and set them up for a more physically active, healthy lifestyle -- but these activities can be costly.
So, let’s take a look at what we’ll discuss in this article to keep you from going broke while your kids participate in sports:
The Surprising Stats About Debt and Sports Parents everywhere want their kids to get involved in sports and be the best that they can. That often leads them to spend a good bit of money on their child’s sport, or sports, of choice. With the cost of registration, uniforms, equipment, extra practice, and travel, these costs can start to add up quickly. Here are a few of the surprising stats around how much parents are spending on sports for their kids and how it is putting many parents into debt.
Why are parents letting their child’s sports put them into debt? Because 81 percent of parents believe that their child will eventually make money or have a career in their respective sport. But in reality, only a small portion of people make their hobby an actual career. If you look at students in middle and high school, it’s been shown that 18 percent don’t participate in any activities -- a number that is even smaller in lower-income families. Many kids are held back from learning the skills and getting physical activity because of these high costs, but how high are they really? Many kids who are in middle school or high school miss out on being apart of a team and making new friends through sports because their parents can’t afford it. Understanding the Average Cost of Club and Travel Sports any children who are very involved in their spots participate in club and travel sporting options. These are more demanding than just a typical seasonal sporting team and can require parents to fork out even more for participation. But, knowing that 81 percent of parents believe that their child will go on to make money in their sport, it’s very likely they are encouraging kids to participate at this level. Let’s take a quick look at the average cost for some of these sports teams. These costs consider the cost of registration fees, equipment, and uniforms. They also take into account some of the expenses that come with travel teams -- but that all depends on where you will be traveling with your team. Here’s the average cost for each of these teams:
Keep in mind that this is the cost for one child. Imagine if you had multiple children involved in these sports or a child that participates in more than one activity. It’s much easier to see how sports can put parents into debt. But we’re here to tell you that your children can participate in sports without having to go into debt. We have a few different ways to save you money while letting your children still benefit from playing sports. Pick One Sport and Stick to it Let’s start with the big one. We all know how hard it can be to say no to your kids, but in some cases, it’s the only option to keep you from drowning in debt. If you have multiple children participating on numerous sports teams, you’re going to start racking up a pretty hefty bill. So, have your kids pick one sport they like the most and stick with that. It will save you time running from one sport to the next and money by only having to pay one registration and equipment fee for one sport. By volunteering to coach the team you may be offered a discount on registration fees, another way to save some money -- something to consider! Don’t Miss Early Registration Deadlines Most sports programs will give offer a discount for registering for the season early. This means, the longer you wait, the more expensive the season will get for your child. It’s such a simple way to save, yet many parents lose track of time and find themselves paying a premium to get their child on a team. Don’t set yourself up for failure! Make sure to take advantage of this simple cost-saving step. If you need to, set a reminder on your phone or circle the deadline on your calendar to act as a reminder to get your kids registered. In addition to early registration fees, if your child plays year-round sports, it’s possible to receive a discount for paying the year in full. Now, this may not be an option for some families, but if you can plan ahead to save a little extra leading up to the start of the season, it could pay off in the long run. Get Involved In Community Centers and YMCAsMany local community centers and YMCAs have options for kids to get involved in sports for a minimal, or no cost. These are great options, especially for children who are just starting out and trying to find the sport that they like the most. Taking advantage of these sporting options will help you save a ton of money and allow your children to stay physically active, make friends, and learn all of those great life skills from sports that may cost thousands of dollars. Use Hand-Me-Down or Discounted Equipment For sports that require equipment (let’s be honest, they all do) one way to save is to find a way to avoid purchasing brand new equipment. Do you have a niece or nephew, or even a neighbor who grew out of their hockey stick or has an old basketball you can use? This is a great way to save a ton of money on equipment costs. If everyone you know has gotten rid of their old equipment, don’t worry, there are other options out there. Many thrift stores and even equipment resale stores exist and have used the equipment available at a lower price. Don’t forget, every penny helps! So even if you’re only paying $15 or $20 less, it adds up quickly. Equipment can get very costly, but why waste money purchasing new when there are plenty of slightly used options out there? They are just going to get dirty and worn out anyhow. Cut Cost, Stay Out of DebtSo there you have it. These are just a few ways to help save money while still getting your children involved in sports and extracurricular activities. Don’t find yourself swimming in debt just to make sure your kids are involved in a sport, be smart about it and find ways to cut costs wherever you can. Allan Flott is a former collegiate and professional soccer player who believes in the powerful role that sports play in helping children develop confidence and a strong sense of self. After his playing career, he applied his passion for youth sports to coaching children’s soccer, but was unsatisfied with the early education programming he encountered and wanted to create something better. So in 2016, he launched The Players Sports Academy to provide “service through sports” by creating healthy, fun and organized sports programs for kids. So you’ve thrown in the towel and retired your jersey, what’s next?  You’re moving on from the days of waking up bright and early to hit the gym or get to practice and you’re looking for a new career option. But before this, you’ve dedicated so much to your sport you never even stopped to consider what other career options are out there for you. Well, no worries, we have you covered! In this article, we are going to discuss the 5 best career options for former athletes. Now, of course, these are not the only career options out there, but they are a few that will meet you skillsets best. Here’s a quick rundown of what you’re about to read:
 What You Have to Bring to the Table First off, let’s start with talking about what you, as a former athlete have to bring to a new employer. These are some of the things you’ll want to keep in mind when your deciding which career path fits your skills best, and some helpful tips for interviewing. Sports offer a number of valuable life lessons and skills that you can apply to your new career. A few of these top skills, and skills that employers look for in potential candidates include: Teamwork Communication Time management Coachability Critical thinking Result-oriented Accountability Strong worth ethic Surely, you feel that your athletic career has prepared you with many, if not all of the skills. Just think how all of those skills we just listed look to a recruiter -- sounds like a jackpot to us! As we look into each career path, we’ll point out some of these skills that will help you excel in that job role. While you read through them, it should help you to narrow in on exactly which job sounds like your next career move. 1. Sales Representative  Sales representatives are responsible for selling products or services to customers. Depending on the specific job, they could be selling directly to customers, businesses, organizations, or both. In a sales role, you will likely hear no from potential customers -- but don’t let that deter you. Your strong work ethic, result-driven, and accountability will drive you to get back out there and make the sale. The more you turn that no into a motivator, the more commission you can make and find yourself in a good financial position. As a sales representative, you’ll be tasked with building relationships and selling products to clients to aid in your company’s growth. 2. Franchise Owner  A franchise owner is someone who runs one division of an existing company. There are tons of franchise opportunities out there -- from restaurants to fitness centers, you can choose what fits best for you. Even more exciting for former athletes, kids sports franchises are popping up all over the place. Your goal as a franchiser will be to follow the business plan of the company you franchise and make your location profitable. As a former athlete, you can easily do this with your coachability and learning to follow the playbook set by your coaches -- its a similar concept as the franchise instructions. Additionally, your grit and determination are what will push you to make your location the most profitable franchise out there. If this sounds exciting, it might just be the right career path for you! If not, keep reading to find your perfect fit. As a franchise owner, the first day you open your business to customers will be the first day of your new life journey! 3. Project Manager A project manager is responsible for overseeing the moving parts of projects and departments within a company to ensure the job is completed on time and on budget. Nearly every company has some form of a project manager, meaning you can get involved in a variety of different industries. If you have an interest in health care, computer science, architecture, or anything in between you can find a company to work as a project manager in. If you’re interested in becoming a project manager, here are the skills that will transfer over from your former athletic career. First, being a team player is a huge part of project management. You need to work with multiple people and departments to accomplish one goal -- does this sound familiar to you? Another skill you will find yourself using is critical thinking and knowing how to delegate tasks. If a curveball comes up mid-project, you need to quickly come up with a solution and get your team members on board with the new steps. Delegating tasks and knowing which teammates can perform these tasks is your new job responsibility.  You’ll manage all kinds of projects and teams as a project manager. Just make sure you’re getting everything done on schedule -- but with your background, we don’t expect that to be an issue. 4. Teacher Now, you’re probably pretty familiar with what a teacher does. As a teacher, you’ll be responsible for helping kids, young and teens, learn and mature into an adult. Wondering why this career made our list? Think of all the teachers and coaches you had that got you to where you are now, do you want to influence students the way they influenced you? As for the skills that make you a good candidate you have great communication skills to get through to students. Your strong worth ethic will also show through when you go above and beyond to help your students learn. Lastly, you’ve spent the last part of your career prepping for games, so you’re more than qualified to prep for the next class.  Whether you are working with kindergarteners or high school students, you’ll enjoy teaching them and watching them grow into adults. 5. Physical Therapist Physical therapists are healthcare professionals that help patients prevent and rehabilitate sports-related injuries. Physical therapy is a great career opportunity because you have seen these all of this first hand, you were the patient at one point. This job role will also allow you to stay close to what you love -- sports. There are physical therapists at all levels. From high school sports to pro athletes, someone needs to be available if an injury occurs. Other than already having an athletic background, your critical thinking will also be a very helpful skill. In the moment when a physical therapist is called into action, can be a high-stress time. Staying calm and knowing what to do will make all the difference.  As a physical therapist, you’ll spend time with athletes to ensure they are proactively avoiding injuries, and you’ll be the first response when one happens.
What Career Path Will You Take? So, did you find one of these five career options interesting? As you can see, the skills you have learned through your athletic career are in high demand for job roles across a variety of industries. Just because your athletic career is over doesn’t mean you have to stop loving what you do! Allan Flott is a former collegiate and professional soccer player who believes in the powerful role that sports play in helping children develop confidence and a strong sense of self. After his playing career, he applied his passion for youth sports to coaching children’s soccer, but was unsatisfied with the early education programming he encountered and wanted to create something better. So in 2016, he launched The Players Sports Academy to provide “service through sports” by creating healthy, fun and organized sports programs for kids. |
AuthorAllan Flott is a former collegiate and professional soccer player who believes in the powerful role that sports play in helping children develop confidence and a strong sense of self. After his playing career, he applied his passion for youth sports to start The Players Sports Acadmey. ArchivesCategories |
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