LiFEsports at The Ohio State University

What LiFEsports at The Ohio State University does

LiFEsports at The Ohio State University is a university-based outreach initiative founded in 2009 under the OSU College of Social Work that delivers sport-based Positive Youth Development (PYD) programming to socially vulnerable youth, primarily aged 5-14, in the Columbus, Ohio region. Its core offerings include the 4-week LiFE*sports* Summer Camp, the 8-week LiFE*sports*+ Summer Camp, 2-hour Sport Clinics, a 4-year Youth Leadership Academy for high school students, the virtual Sport in a Bag camp, and the Coach Beyond coach-education program run with the Ohio High School Athletic Association. All programs are grounded in the proprietary S.E.T.S. curriculum (Self-Control, Effort, Teamwork, Social Responsibility) and paired with eight validated survey instruments developed internally for outcome measurement.

The organization operates as a non-profit university initiative funded through corporate sponsorships (e.g., Dick's Sporting Goods), foundation grants (Susan Crown Exchange, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Lindy Infante Foundation), government support (ADAMH Board of Franklin County, Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services), and the annual LiFEsports Classic fundraiser. Programs are free to participants and include meals and transportation. LiFEsports also operates an interdisciplinary Youth Development Minor for OSU undergraduates and produces peer-reviewed research output (18 articles, 8 book chapters, 31 international presentations). The organization has cumulatively served 50,000+ youth (per organization website). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, distribution occurs through on-campus locations, Columbus community centers, and 25+ Ohio school districts, and its most significant recent move is the 2024 expansion to the University of Maryland.

Name

LiFEsports at The Ohio State University

Legal name

LiFEsports at The Ohio State University

Website

https://lifesports.osu.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LiFEsports is a sport-based positive youth development initiative at The Ohio State University that runs free summer camps, sport clinics, and coach training for vulnerable youth and coaches in Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development and Sport-Based Education Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Multi-Sport Camps (General Athletics, Summer Camps) (MPAKAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Amateur Clubs & Community Sports Organizations (MPAKACAE), Amateur & Grassroots Sport Associations (Community/Youth Governing Orgs) (MPAKAFAF)

Keywords

• Youth development programs
• Sport-based education
• Coach training services
• Summer youth camps
• Positive youth development

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Sponsorships: Funding from corporate sponsors, foundations, and government agencies to support camp operations including location sponsors for various camp sites, meals, and transportation
2. Donations and Fundraising: Annual funding campaigns and events like the LiFEsports Classic to raise funds for programming
3. Youth Development Minor: Interdisciplinary academic minor at OSU preparing students for careers in youth services and education

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LiFEsports at The Ohio State University is a sport-based Positive Youth Development initiative offering free multi-week summer camps (LiFE*sports*, LiFE*sports*+), sport clinics, the Youth Leadership Academy for high schoolers, a virtual Sport in a Bag Summer Camp, the Coach Beyond coach education program in partnership with OHSAA, Community Resource Connections, and the Youth Development Minor academic program at OSU. All programs are anchored in the proprietary S.E.T.S. curriculum (Self-Control, Effort, Teamwork, Social Responsibility) and are delivered free of charge to participants.

Product overview

LiFEsports at The Ohio State University is a sport-based Positive Youth Development (PYD) initiative that operates as a unified portfolio of programs rather than a traditional software platform. The core offerings include multiple camp programs (LiFE*sports* Summer Camp, LiFE*sports*+ Summer Camp), the Youth Leadership Academy for high school students, Sport Clinics, and the Coach Beyond coach education initiative. Virtual programming is delivered through Sport in a Bag, while Community Resource Connections provides family support services. The organization also offers a Youth Development Minor for OSU undergraduate students. All programs are grounded in the S.E.T.S. curriculum (Self-Control, Effort, Teamwork, Social Responsibility) framework and share the mission of preparing youth for life and leadership through sport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LiFE*sports* Summer Camp A 4-week summer camp serving youth ages 10-14 (incoming 4th through 9th grade) that fosters social competence through sport, fitness, and educational activities. Features the S.E.T.S. curriculum (Self-Control, Effort, Teamwork, Social Responsibility), proper nutrition, daily physical activity, and introductory individual sport technique and strategy across 8 sports including baseball/softball, basketball, dance, football, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, and volleyball.
• LiFE*sports*+ Summer Camp

Quantifiable outcome

• 63% increase in interpersonal skills (S.E.T.S.) among program participants
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership to change the landscape of coach training in Ohio through Coach Beyond, a series of eight coach education sessions designed to ensure Ohio's coaches are ready to coach beyond traditional coaching.
• Dick's Sporting GoodscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor providing support for youth sports programming and camps.
• Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction ServicescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerState government partner supporting programs with focus on mental health and addiction services.
• Columbus Recreation and Parks DepartmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCity government partner providing community center venues and recreation facilities for programs.
• Columbus City SchoolscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUrban school district partner for youth programming and community outreach.
• Ohio State University, College of Social WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome college providing faculty, research capacity, and academic programs including the Youth Development Minor.
• Ohio State University, Department of Recreational SportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity department partner providing recreational facilities and expertise.
• Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board of Franklin CountycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCounty board providing funding and support for mental health programming components.
• Columbus Metropolitan Housing AuthorityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHousing authority partner supporting programming for housing authority residents.
• Aspen InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner for Project Play and Million Coaches Challenge; collaborated on National Coach Survey with funding from Susan Crown Exchange and Nike.
• Dublin City SchoolscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool district hosting LiFE*sports* Summer Camp and Youth Leadership Academy programming.
• 25+ Ohio School Districts (Coach Beyond)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool districts across Ohio receiving Coach Beyond training including Akron, Dayton, Hilliard, Lancaster, Mansfield, Newark, Princeton, Strongsville, Upper Arlington, Worthington, and others.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Right To Play: International organization that uses sport and play to educate and empower children facing adversity; closest analog to LiFEsports' sport-based PYD methodology and outcome focus.
• Girls on the Run International: National youth development program combining running with life-skills curriculum for elementary and middle school girls; comparable multi-week sport-based life-skills curriculum model.
• Up2Us Sports: National nonprofit that places trained coaches in underserved communities to deliver sport-based youth development. Mirrors LiFEsports' coach-mediated PYD model and youth outcome orientation.
• Laureus Sport for Good (USA): Foundation that funds sport-for-development programs globally; shares LiFEsports' sport-based PYD philosophy, funder-of-programs model, and national-award positioning.
• PeacePlayers International: Uses basketball to bring together youth from divided communities; comparable sport-based PYD approach with validated youth outcomes and university/community partnerships.
• Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA): National organization that trains coaches in positive, character-building youth sports through workshops and online courses. Closely comparable to LiFEsports' Coach Beyond mission and validated PYD framework.
• U.S. Soccer Foundation: Funds and operates sport-based youth development programs for underserved children in urban areas; comparable free-program, partnership-driven model targeting vulnerable youth.
• The Aspen Institute Project Play: National initiative that promotes youth sport access, quality, and PYD; partners with LiFEsports on Million Coaches Challenge. Directly comparable sport-based youth development mission and policy-adjacent work.
• National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS): Provides coach certification and youth sport programming standards across the U.S. Highly comparable to LiFEsports' Coach Beyond coach-education and youth sport delivery mission.

Emerging players

• Million Coaches Challenge: Aspen-led coalition to train 2 million coaches in PYD by 2030; LiFEsports/Coach Beyond is a key implementation partner. Comparable coach-training focus but operates as a coalition rather than direct service provider.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• TikToktiktok.com/@osulifesports
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lifesportsatosu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LiFEsports at The Ohio State University