Tech advances in the K-12 sports space have prompted a market shift as veteran K-12 sports technology companies look to unlock large potential revenue channels, namely through consolidation and partner integrations. To address all the vendor activity and leverage collective AD voices, K12 Sports Tech launched the Vendor Impact Initiative with the first industry-wide Athletic Director Vendor Survey, where ADs are encouraged to share (and access) candid feedback about vendors with complete anonymity. The survey is one of 4 key recommendations (below) to advocate for your athletics program and avoid service confusion, disruption, or major department issues amidst all the changes.
Through the K12 Sports Tech Vendor Impact Initiative and AD survey, K12 Sports seeks to encourage industry best practices that support, serve, and create a positive impact on school athletics. To do this, K12 Sports collects and arms athletic administrators and staff with comprehensive, unbiased feedback and data about tech solutions and vendors in the school sports space; to help equip athletic departments with resources that truly fit their programs and serve student athletes.
For vendors, K12 Sports Tech offers multiple channels to join the movement and Vendor Impact Initiative as a High Impact Vendor – to demonstrate a commitment to elevating AD voices and helping equip athletic departments and student athletes with the tools they need. The High Impact Vendor program evaluates and recognizes vendor performance in the following categories: service, functionality, innovation, and overall positive impact. Results come primarily from surveys given to ADs across the nation who have firsthand experience using various platforms to increase the productivity of their departments and positively impact the student athlete experience. By distributing the surveys and performing well, vendors can earn the High Impact Vendor designation. ADs can also nominate exemplary vendors as a High Impact Vendor.
Read about K12 Sports Tech’s new High Impact Vendor: Gipper!
Another impactful option for vendors is sponsorship of the Vendor Impact Initiative, where vendors directly grant select schools, districts, or regions helpful tools and services to give their programs a boost and streamline their technology.
The impact of K-12 sports on our youth is undeniably large, as is the school sports industry itself. Generating more revenue than all professional sports combined, school athletics remains a highly attractive market for new tech innovators that want to join the generally steady and healthy space. And although it may feel as though coaches and athletic administrators like you are simply along for the ride with no control over how things unfold, you carry more sway than you may think. That power and influence multiplies when combined with fellow administrators and coaches across the country. Because the simple fact is: the best corporate strategy in the world doesn’t work if the tech and service isn’t what you and your student athletes need and want…and more importantly (for them), what you buy and use.
Here are the Top 4 ways to advocate for your program with your vendors amidst all the changes in the space.
1) REVIEW YOUR VENDORS
Until now, there was no place for athletic directors and coaches to find or provide objective, measurable feedback on vendor solutions. Information came directly from marketing language or sales reps (so…not exactly objective). Be part of the movement to keep school athletics vendors accountable and encourage industry best practices that have the needs of you and your student athletes at heart. Review your tech vendors now. *Until June 15th, every review you submit earns you entries to a K12 Sports Raffle for an Apple Watch or free custom apparel.
2) ASK KEY QUESTIONS
Amidst all the activity in the space and the new shiny objects in front of you, the bottom line is that you have a program to run. And you need your tech providers to continue to provide reliable technology and service; to follow through on promises made before any corporate moves were made. Be bold and advocate for your program – asking good questions now can prevent confusion and major issues down the line. Here are some good questions to ask vendors making moves with other companies.
3) REVIEW YOUR CONTRACTS & OPTIONS, CONSULT AN EXPERT
Dig out those legal docs and review your terms, particularly the language around termination, exclusivity, pricing, and privacy & data sharing (especially family and student data). Consider a review with an attorney or work with an expert like K12 Sports Tech to take it all off your plate and make sure you have the tech and services you need – solutions that truly suit your program – short and long term.
4) NOMINATE AN EXEMPLARY VENDOR
We hear a lot of positive feedback about certain K-12 athletics tech vendors word of mouth, or through sponsorship, publications, committees, or other groups who do not actually use the tools. K12 Sports Tech wants ADs and coaches, true users of the solutions, to be the voice to recognize excellence in products and service in the K-12 space. Nominate a vendor through the survey.
Join the movement and make your voice heard by Reviewing Your Tech Vendors. *Through June 15th, every vendor survey submitted earns ADs entries into a raffle to win an Apple Watch and/or custom school apparel.
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About the author:
Abby Emerson founded K12 Sports Tech after 11+ years experience working in the school athletics tech space, creating joint solutions with corporate partners, overseeing product launches and technical integrations, and collaborating with and serving hundreds of athletic directors and their school communities. She and the staff at K12 are AD advocates who understand that one size does not fit all in school athletics. K12 offers an array of services to help equip athletic departments and empower athletic leaders with the tech and support they need to succeed.