Institutions are Transforming: And Sports Will Feel Its Impact
The great sports exit: leaving the old system behind and creating something new.
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Sportsโ Institutional Exit: The 6 Big Shifts
Many folks are starting to notice that power is shifting from institutions to individuals.
Here are some examples of legacy systems being transformed:
Bitcoin = exit from the Fed.
DeFi = exit from Wall Street.
Remote work = exit from 9-5.
Social media = exit from mass media.
Homeschooling = exit from industrial education.
The creator economy = exit from traditional employment.
And this shift isnโt just happening in finance, education, and media (itโs reshaping sports as we know them).
Sports will no longer be solely gatekept by monopoly-like leagues, networks, universities, and corporate sponsors.
Letโs Dive In ๐
1. Youth Athletes Are Exiting Traditional High Schools
The path used to be clear: play high school sports, get recruited, and go to college.
Now?
Elite young athletes are skipping traditional high schools altogether.
Prep schools and private academies are booming:
IMG Academy (FL) has become a factory for Division I and pro athletes.
Sierra Canyon (CA) became a media phenomenon, home to top basketball recruits like Bronny James.
Montverde Academy (FL) has produced multiple No. 1 overall picks in the NBA Draft in recent years.
Online education is enabling flexibility.
Many young athletes are opting for online coursework to train full-time.
Programs like Overtime Elite (OTE) let basketball prospects skip high school entirely, offering salaries, pro coaching, and NIL deals.
Youth sports are becoming more professionalized than ever before.
This shift raises big questions:





