Arlt Sports Ventures

A mother at a school soccer match gasped when she heard an 11-year-old might leave club:

"She's too good for rec."

That's not the child's voice. That's a parent whose identity is tied to their kid's tier.

TIME published a piece last week calling for rec sports to make a comeback. More funding. More state programs. Nicer jerseys. The diagnosis is that participation is declining because access is broken.

I don't think access is the problem. The problem is a culture where parents feel shame about rec. Where "what level is your kid at?" replaced "does your kid love this?"

Too Good For Rec The youth sports participation crisis isn't about access. It's about what we've taught ourselves to value.

The Sports Life is where I write about what I’ve learned, from founding Ultimate Hoops to advising sports tech startups.

Two sections:

Sports Business: strategy, growth, and what’s really happening in the industry.

Ultimate Sessions: My serialized memoir of founding Ultimate Hoops.

Publishes on Substack. Tuesdays and Saturdays.

The Sports Life | Alan Arlt | Substack Sports business writing from Alan Arlt. Founded the largest adult basketball league in North America. Never stopped building. Click to read The Sports Life, by Alan Arlt, a Substack publication.

The launch of AIM+ has been featured in the Los Angeles Times.

After months working with the AIM Sports Group team, we're thrilled to see AIM+ come to life.

AIM+ is the first-to-market AI-powered digital ecosystem, set to revolutionize youth volleyball (and beyond) with features like touchless video capture for full game replays, automatic highlight clips for every team & player, box scores and stats, and a proprietary ranker system, all in one platform.

Full article here:

AIM Sports Group Launches AIM+, Bringing AI-Powered Tech to Youth Volleyball AIM Sports Group unveils AIM+, a new AI-powered ecosystem for youth sports. Discover how this pro-level tech streamlines video, stats, and recruiting today.

Exciting update from our friends and partners at AIM Sports Group.

Over the past 9 months, we’ve been collaborating with the ASG team on AIM+, and we’re thrilled by the enthusiastic response from The Showcase attendees who got an early preview of the platform.

This early validation from users energizes us as we approach the full AIM+ launch this fall.

How 665 Teams and 65,000 Fans Proved Boys Volleyball Is Youth Sports' Next Up Key Takeaways Box 📌 • SoCal Cup drew 665 boys volleyball teams and 65,000 attendees to single venue over Father's Day weekend • AIM Sports Group launched AIM+ tech platform preview, signaling major technology investment in youth volleyball • Boys volleyball experiencing exponential year-o

Big news from our friends and client at SportsVisio

Their $3.2M funding round is a bet on the future of AI in sports, something we’re bullish on as a driver of pro-level experiences at scale for all athletes.

We’re proud to support their vision as they reimagine how players, coaches, and fans connect with the game.

SportsVisio raises $3.2M, eyes growth of AI stats, video services AI-powered sports statistics and video platform SportsVisio has raised $3.2 million.

Arlt Consulting is looking for strategic, driven, and creative minds to help us build, scale, and monetize sports businesses.

If you thrive in fast-moving environments and love solving big problems, we want to hear from you.

Apply Now!

Careers Page - Arlt Consulting Co. Join the Arlt Consulting Co. team

We were honored to be in Los Angeles this past weekend, supporting our friends at AIM Sports Group and their iconic SOCAL Cup events.

In times of tragedy, sports have a unique way of bringing people together and offering a sense of normalcy and healing.

The SOCAL Cup not only delivered world-class volleyball but also served as a powerful platform to support relief efforts, raising funds for the American Red Cross.

Read more about the event and its impact from the Los Angeles Times.

SoCal Cup Volleyball Brings Normalcy Back to Los Angeles, Raises Funds for American Red Cross The SoCal Cup, the nation's leading boys' volleyball tournament series, brought its 'The Open Championship' to the Los Angeles Convention Center this past Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend.

As Arlt Consulting Co. continues to expand in 2025, we are looking for a Client Success & Growth Consultant to join our team.

This role is about building relationships, managing accounts, and helping clients grow in meaningful ways.

If you thrive in a space where strategy meets ex*****on and value autonomy, this is your kind of opportunity.

Learn More and apply on our LinkedIn page.
https://www.linkedin.com/hiring/jobs/4111632956/detail/

In the latest issue of The Sports Life, I reflect on my return to Minneapolis after a decade in New York City, and how I built a vibrant business network through basketball by launching Ultimate Hoops.

You can adopt a similar approach by starting your own recreational sports league to forge a diverse professional network, merging your passion for sports with community-building.

- Alan Arlt

#038: How Starting A Recreational Sports League Can Boost Your Professional Network In 2005, I moved back to Minnesota after a decade in New York City, where I had built a robust professional network. Upon returning, I faced the challenge of starting from scratch—my local connections were practically nonexistent. Like I did in New York, I turned to basketball, not just as a passi...

Hey folks, we’ve got something special for you.

We’re excited to announce the launch of SportsVisio’s new website, a project we’ve poured our hearts into.

This isn’t just a collaboration; it’s a convergence of creative minds.

Working alongside digital-first brand designer, Brian Bjerketvedt of Hybrid Studio and the brilliant team at SportsVisio (led by Sean O'Connor) we have crafted something truly unique.

This website is more than just bytes and pixels – it reflects SportsVisio’s mission to ‘Elevate Sports Experiences on a Global Scale,’ merging Jason Syversen’s visionary idea with advanced sports tech. It’s about making AI accessible, not just to the pros, but to every passionate athlete, coach, parent, league operator, and fan out there.

Drop by the new site at sportsvisio.com and see how SportsVisio is rewriting the playbook on game analysis. It’s fresh, it’s bold, and it’s waiting for you.

- Alan Arlt