In partnership with

GamePlanU and its GamePlanU360 community

A network for people trying to build something in sports, run by someone who has. Rob Thompson started GamePlanU to open commercial pathways for college athletes, sports innovators and content creators. Its line: "Entrepreneurship is the New Internship."

GamePlanU360 is the community, on Skool: member profiles, virtual meetups, a speaker series, pitch events and advisor office hours for student founders, career seekers, content creators, alumni, educators, investors and executives. It's listed as free to join and had 220 members this week (Skool).

The 90-Day Plan is Rob, one on one: a discovery call, then a plan for your next 90 days built around your priorities, with introductions from his network to the partners, advisors and industry people who can move it forward. No price is posted; it starts with the call (gameplanu.org).

For founders, there's an application for anyone building in sports, across college athletics, professional teams, grassroots programs and sports media: a pitch deck and a 90-second to two-minute video, with an answer in 10 business days (Founder Application). For investors, the Angel Network sends curated deal flow from vetted GamePlanU founders, with co-invest opportunities through its Sports Innovation Angel Fund. Membership is complimentary; fund commitments start at $25,000 (Angel Network). For schools, partnerships start with a discovery call (School Partnerships).

Why it earns the pick: if you run a program, coach, or work in youth sports and you've thought about building something of your own, or moving to the business side, this is a free way into a room of sports founders, investors and executives, with a founder who will map the next 90 days with you.

Join GamePlanU360 → · Book a discovery call →

Coming up Thursday: Rob sits down with us for Episode 2 of THE FACEOFF podcast 🎙️: taking NFL FLAG around the world in the nineties, running an Arena League front office, and how far down the commercial pathway actually reaches into youth sports.

ON ASSIGNMENT: SBJ GAME CHANGERS 🎟️

Where The Coach's Board will be on Thursday.

We're credentialed media at Sports Business Journal's 2026 Game Changers Conference, Thursday, October 1, at the New York Marriott Marquis. It's the 14th edition of SBJ's conference dedicated to highlighting women in sports business, and it follows Wednesday night's Game Changers Evening of Celebration for the Class of 2026.

We'll be in the room all day and bring back what matters to the people running youth sports. Look for it in the editions that follow, credited to Sports Business Journal. (See the agenda →)

LOOKING AHEAD ⏭️

Tomorrow on The Coach's Board: COACH'S CLIPBOARD 📋 — one play or drill you can install at your next practice.

The week on the Board:

SPREAD THE WORD

The Coach's Board grows by forwarding. Every share link below is yours. Send it to the coaches, directors, parents and operators in your network and we will know who to thank.

Fifteen subscribers from your link and the Coach's Beanie is yours: a Carhartt Watch Beanie 2.0 with the Coach's Board crest, your pick of black or heather grey. The same one we wear.

Grab your share link

Men, Say Goodbye to Eyebags, Dark Spots & Wrinkles

Particle Face Cream is a 6-in-1 formula engineered specifically for men's skin. It reduces eye bags, dark spots, and wrinkles, restores firmness, hydrates deeply, and revives dull tone. Multiple premium anti-aging ingredients, clinically researched, built into one product that actually fits your routine.

Over 1,000,000 men have added Particle to their daily routine. Easy, effective, and worth the two minutes. Try it risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

20% Off With BH20

The Coach's Board by Paul Variano
The daily executive roundup for youth sports leaders.

Have a story, deal, facility project, or product we should know about or feature in the newsletter? Just hit reply or send a LinkedIn to Paul Variano. We read every email and note.