Skyhawks: Shaping Young Athletes Through Innovative Sports Education

Founded in Spokane, Washington in 1979, Skyhawks Sports has long been a trailblazer in the world of youth athletic development. The organization specializes in providing structured sports programs designed to teach core athletic and life skills to children in an engaging, supportive environment.

Skyhawks offers a broad range of activities, including summer camps, leagues, clinics, and after-school programs, with a focus on sports like soccer, basketball, and flag football. The brand took a major step forward in 2007 when it launched its franchising initiative to extend its programs to communities nationwide.

In 2002, the company introduced SuperTots Sports Academy—a groundbreaking concept aimed at children aged 18 months to 5 years. It became one of the first programs of its kind to offer structured, skill-building sessions in sports such as basketball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, and cheerleading, tailored specifically to preschool-aged kids.

Their combined mission to promote physical development and character-building in youth through age-appropriate instruction has made them a respected name in the youth sports education industry.

Training

The franchise offered by Skyhawks Sports Academy provides franchisees with a multi-layered training program aimed at ensuring operational success:

1. Initial Training Program: Franchisees and designated managers must attend and complete a structured initial training program, which can be conducted virtually or at Skyhawks’ headquarters. The program includes modules such as marketing, sales, operations, staff recruiting, financial analysis, and instructor training.
2. Territory Training Support: For first-time franchisees, Skyhawks provides up to two days of in-person or virtual support within the franchisee’s territory to assist with marketing and staff training. This is in addition to the formal initial training.
3. Ongoing Training: Franchisees and key staff are required to participate in periodic refresher and advanced training programs. These may be conducted annually and are mandatory to maintain compliance.
4. Remedial Training: If the franchisor identifies operational deficiencies during inspections, they may require franchisees to undergo remedial training at the franchisee's expense.

Territory Protection

The franchise offered by Skyhawks Sports Academy grants franchisees an exclusive territory. During the term of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisor agrees not to establish or franchise another Skyhawks Business within the assigned territory.

This territory is defined prior to signing the agreement and remains fixed, provided the franchisee continues to meet minimum royalty obligations. However, while the assigned territory is exclusive in terms of other Skyhawks franchises, it is not entirely protected from competition.

Franchisees may still face competition from the franchisor’s other distribution channels, including catalog, wholesale, and internet sales. Skyhawks retains the right to operate through alternative means within or outside the territory and does not compensate franchisees for any overlap resulting from these activities.