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Sports policy in the U.S. is facing immediate and large-scale changes that will impact generations of college and youth athletes. In his appearance on the Future of Sports Policy Panel sponsored by the Aspen Institute, IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard laid out his argument to double college sports roster spots from 500,000 to 1 million to benefit student-athletes at every level and relieve pressure across youth pathways.
“There’s eight million high school athletes being crammed into 500,000 college roster spots,” he argued. “That supply-demand imbalance is really tough, and it creates all sorts of downstream impacts into youth sports.”
Richard appeared alongside policy leaders including Dionne Koller, Sport law professor at the University of Baltimore, Binta Niambi Brown, Entertainment partner at Manatt, Stephen Weyler, Government relations director at Invariant and Jared Cooper, Executive director of the FundPlay Foundation. The group explored how bipartisan policy, smarter funding, and child-safeguarding standards can strengthen the entire ecosystem, from rec leagues to Olympic podiums.
Why doubling roster spots matters
- Access and equity: More roster spots create room for late developers, multi-sport athletes, and students who benefit from structured sport and academics.
- Protecting non-revenue sports: A larger participation model helps stabilize Olympic and women’s programs facing roster cuts.
- Better incentives: Letting universities run multiple teams per sport (as youth clubs do) aligns facilities, coaching, and scholarships with actual demand, without “do more with less” mandates.
Watch the panel
See Brent’s argument and the full discussion on solutions colleges can act on now.
Key takeaways from Richard’s remarks
Richard’s argued how universities and colleges could reshape youth and college athletics by expanding roster spots. He emphasized the need to rethink how colleges and universities use facilities and other resources – and why it’s urgent that they expand opportunities now. Some other key takeaways below:
- “Do no harm” while rules are being rewritten. Avoid reforms that intentionally cut Olympic and women’s sports.
- Scale supply to match demand. Enable multi-team models per sport so universities can self-fund participation growth.
- Think pipeline, not silos. College policy changes ripple down to youth sports; design for the full ecosystem.
Related Reading
- A Tipping Point In College Sports Is Here
- Join #AddMoreAthletes to protect and grow college sports
- Learn more about the House vs. NCAA settlement and what it means for youth sports
FAQs
What was Brent Richard’s proposal at the Aspen Institute panel?
To double college roster spots to roughly one million by allowing multiple teams per sport, expanding access without harming Olympic and women’s sports.
How would more roster spots help youth athletes?
More college opportunities reduce the high-stakes squeeze that drives early specialization and cost escalation in youth sports.
Why is this urgent now?
Rapid changes in NIL, college governance, and funding risk unintended cuts. Expanding participation protects pathways while rules are rewritten.
