STRATEGIC PLANNING

Strategic Planning for Sports Organizations

Navigate Disruption and Build Sustainable Excellence Across All Levels of Sport

The entire sports ecosystem is being disrupted. From Olympic governance reforms to NIL in college sports, from esports emergence to youth sports professionalization—organizations without strategic clarity either miss opportunities or make catastrophic mistakes.

WORLD-CLASS SPORTS ARBITRATORS & MEDIATORS

CAS • FIFA • MLB Salary • USOPC • USSF • USATF

University of Oregon Professor & FAR • Author of The Sports Playbook & Strategic Negotiation • 30+ Years Experience

Universal Strategic Challenges in Modern Sport

Every sports organization faces disruption:

  • Professional Sports: Media fragmentation, player empowerment, global expansion
  • Olympic/International: Governance reforms, athlete activism, sustainability pressures
  • College Athletics: NIL, realignment, transfer portal chaos
  • Youth Sports: Professionalization, safety concerns, participation decline
  • Governing Bodies: Integrity challenges, modernization demands, stakeholder conflicts
  • Non-Profits: Funding models, mission drift, impact measurement

The Cost of Strategic Drift:

68%

Of organizations lack clear strategy

$100M+

Lost in missed opportunities

5-10 Years

Behind more strategic competitors

Strategic Planning Across the Sports Ecosystem

With experience from grassroots to global, we bring unique perspective to strategic planning—whether you’re a local youth organization or an international federation.

Global Perspective

CAS Arbitrator and FIFA Mediator bringing international best practices to every engagement

Governance Expertise

From NCAA committees to Olympic organizations, we understand complex stakeholder dynamics

Cross-Sector Experience

Professional leagues, college athletics, youth sports, non-profits—we’ve planned for them all

Tailored Strategic Planning by Sector

Professional Sports Organizations

Strategic Focus Areas:

  • Global market expansion and localization strategies
  • Digital transformation and fan engagement evolution
  • Player development and talent pipeline optimization
  • Revenue diversification beyond traditional sources
  • Brand positioning and competitive differentiation
  • Collective bargaining and labor relations planning

Recent Engagements:

• League expansion strategy – Franchise valuation growth – Media rights positioning – Stadium/arena planning – International partnerships

International Federations & Olympic Organizations

Strategic Focus Areas:

  • Governance modernization and transparency initiatives
  • Global development and emerging market strategies
  • Olympic cycle planning and Games preparation
  • Integrity protection and anti-corruption measures
  • Sustainability and legacy planning
  • Athlete welfare and voice integration

Expertise Includes:

• IOC Agenda 2020+5 – IF governance reforms – Multi-sport Games planning – SafeSport implementation – Commercial rights strategy

Intercollegiate Athletics

Strategic Focus Areas:

  • NIL strategy and collective coordination
  • Conference realignment evaluation and negotiation
  • Transfer portal management systems
  • Academic mission and athletic excellence balance
  • Title IX compliance and gender equity
  • Revenue generation and financial sustainability

FAR Advantage:

As Faculty Athletics Representative and NCAA DI Committee member, we bring insider knowledge to navigate complex governance and compliance landscapes.

Youth Sports & Non-Profit Organizations

Strategic Focus Areas:

  • Mission alignment and impact measurement
  • Sustainable funding models and donor cultivation
  • Safety protocols and risk management
  • Volunteer engagement and retention
  • Growth strategies and geographic expansion
  • Partnership development with schools and communities

Special Focus:

• Accessibility and inclusion – Character development – Parent engagement – Coach education – Community impact

Our Proven Strategic Planning Process

1

Assess

“Where are we now?” Current state analysis

2

Envision

“Where do we want to be?” Vision and mission development

3

Strategize

“How do we get there?” Strategic priorities and initiatives

4

Execute

“Making it happen” Implementation and accountability

Flexible engagement models: From 30-day sprints to 6-month comprehensive planning

Strategic Planning for Today’s Critical Issues

Digital Transformation

Data analytics, fan engagement platforms, virtual experiences

Governance Evolution

Transparency, athlete voice, stakeholder engagement

Revenue Innovation

New models beyond traditional gates and media

Safety & Integrity

SafeSport, concussion protocols, match-fixing prevention

Sustainability

Environmental impact, social responsibility, legacy planning

Global Competition

International expansion, emerging markets, new formats

Why Choose SCI for Strategic Planning?

Global Reach

From FIFA to youth leagues, we understand sports at every level and bring best practices from around the world

Proven Process

30+ years refining our approach across professional, Olympic, collegiate, and grassroots organizations

Implementation Focus

Plans designed for action, not shelves—with clear metrics, accountability, and adaptive mechanisms

Chart Your Course to Sustainable Excellence

Whether you’re navigating disruption or seizing opportunity, strategic clarity is your competitive advantage. Let’s build your roadmap to sustained success.

Confidential consultation to discuss your organization’s strategic challenges and opportunities.

Sources

Workplace Conflict and Coaching Effectiveness

International Coach Federation, Global Coaching Study: Executive Summary (2024), https://coachingfederation.org/research/global-coaching-study (documenting median 7x return on investment for organizational coaching programs with 86% of companies recovering initial investment).

CPP Global, Human Capital Report: Workplace Conflict and How Businesses Can Harness It to Thrive (2008), https://shop.themyersbriggs.com/pdfs/CPP_Global_Human_Capital_Report_Workplace_Conflict.pdf (finding 85% of employees experience workplace conflict with average of 2.8 hours weekly managing disputes, totaling $359 billion annually in lost productivity).

The Myers-Briggs Company, New Research: Time Spent on Workplace Conflict Has Doubled Since 2008 (2022), https://www.themyersbriggs.com/en-US/Connect-with-us/Press-Room/New-research-workplace-conflict (reporting 36% of employees now handle conflict occasionally, frequently, or constantly).

Gerald Olivero, K. Denise Bane & Richard E. Kopelman, Executive Coaching as a Transfer of Training Tool: Effects on Productivity in a Public Agency, 26 Pub. Personnel Mgmt. 461 (1997) (demonstrating 88% productivity increase when coaching supplements training versus 22% with training alone).

Daniel Runde & Craig Flanagan, Becoming a Conflict Competent Leader: How You and Your Organization Can Manage Conflict Effectively (2d ed. 2012) (documenting managers spend 20-40% of time managing workplace conflicts).

Sports Conflict Management Research

Lauren Secaras, Conflict Management for Sport Coaches, Mich. St. U. Sport Coaching & Leadership Blog (Nov. 14, 2024), https://education.msu.edu/sport-coaching-leadership/uncategorized/conflict-management-for-sport-coaches/ (presenting evidence-based framework for conflict intervention in athletic settings).

David Hedlund & Bo Hanson, Research into the Effectiveness of Developing Sport Coaches’ Self-Awareness Using DISC Profiling, Presentation at the National Coaching Conference, Morgantown, WV (2024) (demonstrating improved conflict resolution through enhanced self-awareness tools).

Ryan Hedstrom, Coaching Through Conflict: Effective Communication Strategies, Ass’n for Applied Sport Psychol. (2022), https://appliedsportpsych.org/resources/resources-for-coaches/coaching-through-conflict-effective-communication-strategies/ (identifying active listening and non-verbal communication as primary conflict resolution tools).

Corey M. Turner, Conflicts of Interest in the Intercollegiate Athletics Management Structure: The Impetus for Nullification of Presidential Authority, Sport J. (June 2, 2020), https://thesportjournal.org/article/conflicts-of-interest-in-the-intercollegiate-athletics-management-structure/ (analyzing systemic conflict issues in NCAA athletics governance).

Return on Investment Research

MetrixGlobal LLC, Executive Briefing: Case Study on the Return on Investment of Executive Coaching (2019) (documenting 788% ROI in Fortune 500 leadership development program).

Joy McGovern et al., Maximizing the Impact of Executive Coaching: Behavioral Change, Organizational Outcomes, and Return on Investment, 6 Manchester Rev. 1 (2001) (finding average 5.7x return on executive coaching investment).

Anthony M. Grant, ROI Is a Poor Measure of Coaching Success: Towards a More Holistic Approach Using a Well-Being and Engagement Framework, 5 Coaching: Int’l J. Theory, Res. & Prac. 74 (2012) (proposing comprehensive evaluation metrics beyond financial returns).

Jack J. Phillips, Return on Investment in Training and Performance Improvement Programs (2d ed. 2003) (establishing methodology for calculating training and coaching ROI).

Conflict Resolution Theory and Best Practices

Cinnie Noble, Measuring Conflict Coaching, Mediate.com (May 26, 2008), https://mediate.com/measuring-conflict-coaching/ (establishing framework for assessing conflict coaching effectiveness and ROI).

Kerry Patterson et al., Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High (3d ed. 2021) (providing evidence-based communication strategies for high-stakes conflicts).

Gary Furlong, The Conflict Resolution Toolbox: Models and Maps for Analyzing, Diagnosing, and Resolving Conflict (2d ed. 2020) (presenting comprehensive diagnostic framework for conflict intervention).

Christopher W. Moore, The Mediation Process: Practical Strategies for Resolving Conflict (5th ed. 2024) (establishing foundational principles for conflict intervention and coaching).

Sports Conflict Institute Research

Joshua Gordon, Workplace Conflict Resolution: On How Team Leaders Can Create the Right Environment, Authority Magazine (Dec. 23, 2023), https://medium.com/authority-magazine/workplace-conflict-resolution-joshua-gordon-546ac46cf7a4 (discussing adaptive language and evidence-based practices in sports conflict resolution).

Sports Conflict Institute, Play-By-Play™: A Framework for Understanding and Navigating Conflict in Sports (2020) (proprietary conflict management model developed specifically for athletic contexts).

Ken Pendleton & Joshua Gordon, Above the Neck: Mental Strength and Conflict Management in Elite Athletics, SCI TV (2021) (exploring intersection of sports psychology and conflict resolution).

Note: Statistics regarding workplace conflict costs and coaching effectiveness are based on comprehensive studies involving thousands of employees across multiple industries. ROI calculations utilize conservative estimates based on documented productivity improvements and reduced turnover rates. Sports-specific research draws from both academic studies and practitioner experience in NCAA Division I athletics, professional sports leagues, and Olympic organizations.