We know one federal youth sports bill -- the Let Kids Play Act -- is imminent. That legislation will reportedly seek to ban private equity from involvement in the industry.
There are also rumblings about at least one other industry-led bill that will be introduced. And Stephen Weyler, who was a guest on our podcast this week -- a senior director at lobbying firm Invariant -- does not expect things to stop there.
"The perception around youth sports is that it's more expensive, it's commercialized and -- at least to some policymakers -- private equity is to blame or perhaps part of the blame," Weyler told Buying Sandlot. "I think the devil will be in the details for what this bill says."
While banning PE from youth sports would be an "uphill battle," Weyler said it is important to realize this is a bipartisan issue. While three Democrats are expected to propose the Let Kids Play Act, there are also Republicans who have expressed concerns about PE's involvement in youth sports and the larger conversation about consolidation and vertical integration in other industries like healthcare.
The popular perception of what youth sports "should" be -- i.e. low-cost, community-based rec leagues over clubs and travel -- also factors in.
"I think the definition section is the key piece here for what these lawmakers are truly going after here," Weyler said. "They talk about banning private equity. What does that mean? Does that mean anyone investing in youth sports? Or are these the really big players that are focused on the quote unquote roll up strategies that they've talked about in these field hearings. Is it the smaller private equity firms? Is there going to be a requirement that these private equity companies are going to have to reinvest in the community?”
Weyler's advice to the industry: "Telling an authentic story about your company and really why you care" to counter the perception that PE and other private businesses are only seeking profits.
"The issues that voters care about are ones that touch their life every single day," he said. "Right, wrong or indifferent, the cost of youth sports is one that touches their life every single day. I can promise you congressional offices are hearing about this. They are hearing about it because the people in their district are seeing the cost of their children's participation in a sport go up. So when you have that very concrete and real connection to an issue around a politically important one, it's one that we will continue to see politicians talk about.
"While this is probably the first real attempt to legislate affordability, it most definitely will not be the last."
Follow on LinkedIn: Kyle Scott, James Kratch, Kyle Pagan