12 Essential Ingredients for Sport Growth

Last night I couldn’t sleep and instead of counting sheep I started to list the different sports I've worked on over the years. I fell asleep at 30. 

I pondered the commonality of these sports, and what these experiences taught me in terms of what makes a sport legitimate and long-lasting. Participation rates may ebb and flow, but I came up with a list of 12 factors that when in place, will help to ignite and/or sustain a sport (in no particular order):

🏸Easy to learn, fun to play.

🏋️Offers challenge and skill progression.

🏀Accessible to public venues.

💲Affordable for most.

🏌️Has a hard-core base. 

🏂There’s a lifestyle/passion around the sport.

🚴Equipment/technology keeps evolving.

🌎Internationally known and played. 

🏆There’s a competitive/championship level.

⭐Athletes with star power. 

📺Exciting to watch, conducive to media exposure

🏃‍♀️Can be played safely. 

Social distancing, school and gym closures, cancellation of professional sports seasons, and other socioeconomic conditions may have altered or paused how we play for now, but the criteria still rings true.

What ingredients do you think are essential for a sport to thrive?