The Sports Capital Review

The Sports Capital Review

Most Athletes Lose Before the Deal Starts

Understanding Leverage, Value, and Negotiation in the Modern Sports Marketplace

Justin King's avatar
Justin King
Apr 09, 2026
∙ Paid

There’s a dangerous misunderstanding in youth sports right now.

Athletes think recruiting is about getting liked.

It’s not.

It’s about getting valued.

And those are two very different things.

The Conditioning Problem

From a young age, athletes are taught to:

  • Listen to coaches

  • Be coachable

  • Be respectful

  • Do what’s asked

  • Stay patient

  • Don’t rock the boat

All good traits.

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