Start Asking What Sports Can Save.
When it comes to youth and college sports, most of the headlines miss the mark.
We see stories about massive TV deals, NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) battles, and high-stakes legal fights over compensation and labor rights. And while those issues matter, they often distract from a more human question:
What role should sports actually play in developing the next generation of leaders?
A new white paper by Brent Richard and Drew Weatherford—two leaders at the intersection of sports and education—dives into this deeper question. And it nails the moment.
Instead of asking how to cut costs by eliminating college sports, they ask:
What if we expanded access instead?
The Varsity Club Model: A New Path Forward
Their proposal, called the Varsity Club model, flips the traditional system on its head. Here’s how it works:
✅ Tuition-paying student-athletes—just like other students
✅ Real coaching and structured training, similar to a JV or club model
✅ No NCAA compliance issues, since athletes aren't on scholarship or part of revenue sports
✅ Better use of existing campus facilities and coaching staff
Rather than operating sports as an exclusive privilege for the elite few, the Varsity Club approach sees them as a scalable, revenue-generating educational tool. One that can benefit more students, not fewer.
The Potential Benefits Are Clear:
✅ More revenue for universities struggling to balance budgets
✅ More opportunities for athletes to continue playing at the college level
✅ More alignment with what today’s students and families are looking for in higher ed
✅ More graduates who’ve been trained in the real-life leadership skills sports uniquely provide
But the financial model is only part of the story.
Sports Are a Training Ground for Life
At Signature Athletics, we’ve built everything we do around a core belief: Sports are not extracurricular. They are essential.
They are how young people learn to lead others, handle adversity, stay disciplined under pressure, plus win with humility and lose with grit.
We see it every day across youth sports. More families are seeking serious, structured athletic experiences for their kids—not just for the scholarship chase, because they recognize what sports teach.
We also see a growing disconnect. More than 50% of future college students will have played sports seriously, yet most of them will be shut out of college athletics as it's currently structure.
That’s not a talent issue. It’s a systems issue.
The System Needs to Evolve—Not Shrink
If sports are one of the most powerful tools we have for preparing young people for life beyond the classroom, why would we restrict access? Why would we treat them as luxuries or liabilities?
Instead, what if we used sports to do what college should be doing in the first place?
- Building character
- Creating belonging
- Developing leadership
- Teaching young people how to fail, adapt, and keep moving forward
That’s the promise of models like the Varsity Club. And it aligns with what families and athletes are asking for in the youth sports world right now:
- More access to meaningful, structured competition
- More leadership opportunities
- More pathways to personal development, not just pro dreams
Let’s Expand Strategically. Let’s Develop Better People.
College sports don’t need to be saved. They need to be reimagined—with leadership, life skills, and athlete development at the core.
As the white paper makes clear, sports are a solution waiting to be scaled. And at Signature Athletics, we’re proud to be building systems and platforms that reflect this new reality.
Sports are where tomorrow’s leaders are made.
📄 Read the IMG Academy white paper: A White Paper & Strategic Case for Adding Student Athletes and Teams
