TEAM Inc.

According to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, the average racial diversity workforce at the headquarters in the NBA, MLB, NFL and MLS is 33.3%, while gender diversity averages 36.7% (Sports Business Journal, 2018). TEAM Inc. seeks to intentionally disrupt the sports industry’s hiring practices by empowering and training the next generation of tech professionals.

TEAM Inc. is successfully building a pipeline for underrepresented youth to enter into the sports industry by combining STEM education and sports technology. Through our program, students get introduced to coding and design, data collection, video analytics, and hands-on training using industry-leading software. Our approach makes us uniquely positioned to create tangible inroads for underrepresented youth in the sports industry and beyond.

According to the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, the average racial diversity workforce at the headquarters in the NBA, MLB, NFL and MLS is 33.3%, while gender diversity averages 36.7% (Sports Business Journal, 2018). And although the sports industry is changing their hiring priorities by creating new executive roles in diversity and inclusion, and hiring from other industries, the problem remains, “Are underserved communities prepared to fill these positions within the workforce?” 

TEAM Inc. was founded in 2016 to provide an innovative solution, creating workforce development pathways targeted to underrepresented youth (ages 14-18), while combining their interests in sports and STEM learning. Our training is project-based and encourages the growth of evaluative, problem-solving skills that engages students’ critical thinking and analytical skills. TEAM Inc. seeks to disrupt the sports industry’s hiring practices by empowering and training the next generation of sports tech professionals, and equipping them with the skills necessary to competitively join the workforce.

Our cost-free program is targeted to high school youth (ages 14-18), who have a deep interest/connection to sports. The TEAM Core Program model represents the intersection between sports and technology, providing not only a positive learning environment, but meaningful life experiences too:

* Safe Place – We created a safe space for youth to learn new skills in connection to something they love, away from some of the barriers and traumas experienced in their homes/communities;

* In-Depth Learning Experiences – Beyond the classroom, we also cultivate internships and job opportunities for participants;

* Goal Achievement – Course projects provide students with unique access to the sports industry while being held accountable for project completion;

* Purpose in Life and Career Vision – Enrollment into the program opens up and launches confidence in the youth to seek a future life purpose and new vision for access to prior unattainable careers.

Our training is project-based and encourages the growth of evaluative, problem-solving skills that engages students’ critical thinking and analytic skills. Students get to work with cutting-edge, industry-leading technology in the sports they are passionate about. This training is not only unique, it is one of its kind in the nation!

The TEAM Core Program is a cost-free, 14-week program where students get introduced to basic coding and scripting, data collection, video analytics, and hands-on training using the SportsCode Elite software. The SportsCode platform is an industry standard for video analysis within major sports organizations including the NBA, WNBA, MLS, and NHL. Students learn to film sports games, use SportsCode to edit the film clips, then track statistics and analyze patterns through coding and scripting. The resulting data is then used to assess players’ and team’s performance. The SportsCode platform can also be used in real-time, challenging students to apply their classroom knowledge in real world scenarios with industry professionals. Once students successfully complete the program, students become certified users and immediately have access to video analysis jobs within high schools and colleges. Since the Core Program was first introduced in 2016, 80% of students (53/67 students) have earned industry certifications in the SportsCods platform, making them the youngest Certified users in the world. This approach makes TEAM Inc. uniquely positioned to create tangible inroads for underrepresented youth in the sports industry and beyond. 

In 2017, TEAM Inc. piloted our NBA Summer League Internship Program and placed 5 Certified student alumni with one NBA Summer League team. Students were tasked with coding/scouting games, various analytic projects, and ultimately presenting their projects to their assigned contact – a coach, operations staff or front office executive. In 2018, TEAM Inc. scaled to 10 students interning with 6 NBA teams; and in 2019, expanded to 15 students interning with 12 NBA teams.

To expand our reach, we have also formed partnerships with non-profit organizations, community foundations, sports organizations and technology companies. We strongly believe in the transformational power of technology and with thoughtful collaboration across different sectors, we can unify to provide meaningful learning experiences for students. One example of this collaboration is "Tech Slam". Tech Slam is a one-day event offering innovative and dynamic programming for students to experience the possibilities of pathways centered on the intersection between sports and technology. Tech Slam was launched in the fall of 2017 in partnership with Google and the Hidden Genius Project, and we now have annual events in both London and South Africa.

The sports arena is considered to be one of the viable settings in which positive youth development goals can be reached. While ambitious, TEAM Inc. believes our program is associated with improvements in emotional, financial, individual, intellectual, physical and social capital in the youth we serve.

Our program is unique in its scope, methodologies, and targeted service populations. While there are certainly other programs that educate youth about technology skills and pathways, it is rare for them to leverage sports as a vehicle capable of reaching a broad swath of young people from diverse backgrounds. Through sports, we meet students where their passion already lies and challenge them to imagine just how far it can take them. We are creating access to viable career pathways and employment opportunities through skill and leadership development, internship and job placement. Students are equipped with a unique yet transferable skillset, giving them an edge to provide immediate value to a team, organization or company and catalyzing them toward building financial self-sufficiency and meaningful careers.

The Theory of Change for our program is as follows:

* Activities: Students attend classes throughout our 14-week Core Program; complete at-home assignments; and receive hands-on training using the SportsCode Elite software

* Outputs: Students gain knowledge of basic coding and scripting, data collection, video analytics, and become Certified users of the SportsCode software

* Short Term Outcomes: Students are able to obtain paid internships and job opportunities as video analysts for high school, collegiate and professional sports teams, sporting events, etc.

* Long Term Outcomes: Students are able to access a large network of industry professionals, mentors, TEAM Inc. alumni, and job opportunities; opportunities to give back to their community through peer education training and becoming TEAM instructors.

While other youth development organizations may target similar populations, TEAM Inc.is unique in cultivating internships and job opportunities for underrepresented youth in the NBA, WNBA, colleges, and high schools by leveraging an existing network of employers and mentors. Since 2016, TEAM Inc. has served 67 students in the Core Program and has impacted over 3,000 students nationally and globally through event participation. Eighty percent of students (53/67 students) have earned industry certifications in the SportsCode platform, making them the youngest Certified users in the world. From 2017-2019, TEAM Inc. has fostered internships for 30 Certified student alumni with 12 teams in the NBA Summer League. Students were tasked with coding/scouting games, various analytic projects, and ultimately presenting their projects to their assigned contact – coach, operations staff or front office executive.

Currently, TEAM Inc. serves 90 students annually in the Core Program (6 programs x 15 students) and reach over 500 youth in collaboration with community partners through event participation. Our students have opportunities to gain real-world experience by providing video analysis at sporting events and school games. Our goal is to serve 100 students in the Core Program by 2021 and 400 in the next five years.

With funding from MIT Solve, TEAM Inc. could expand its programming to over 250 students per year per city for up to five cities (50 students per city). We are currently only operating in Oakland, California. However, we have established relationships with several NBA teams which would allow us to easily train-the-trainer for designated cities through our relationships. As we ramp up our training models, it will designate quality control features and data tracking that will allow for steady but controlled and authentic expansion.

We envision growth through 1) national and international programs in partnership with professional teams across three to four sports industries, 2) engagement of youth on a technological and intellectual level, and 3) preparation of a pipeline of qualified candidates. The professional opportunities are vast and include: NBA analytics staff, video coordinator positions, performance analysts in the UK, Australia and other select European markets, athletic leadership in high schools and colleges, sales and service positions with any of the sports tech companies, entrepreneurship and more!

The greatest barriers to our growth are limited staffing capacity and program expenses. In order to serve more students at more sites, we need additional instructors, trainers and site coordinators to facilitate classroom instruction. We currently provide our Core Program at one location, our headquarters in Oakland. With additional staff, we would like to expand the program to one other Oakland location within the next year and expand to four other cities within the next five years. However, in order to expand, we need to increase our fundraising capital to be able to support these staffing and program expenses. 

One solution is to invest in fundraising and development staff in order to secure more donors and funding sources. In the next year, we aim to hire a full-time fundraising professional to join our team. Within the next five years, we would like to be able to secure multi-year grants that can help with our expansion plans. Another solution is to secure additional offsite (events) and school site partners providing our services for a fee.

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As previously mentioned, we envision growth through national and international programs in partnership with professional teams across three to four sports industries. The skills acquired through our Core Program are applicable across multiple sectors and industries. Students have expanded opportunities to enter the sports or technology industry. The professional opportunities are vast and include: NBA analytics staff, video coordinator positions, performance analysts in the UK, Australia and other select European markets, athletic leadership in high schools and colleges, sales and service positions with any of the sports tech companies, entrepreneurship and more. 

In 2018, we partnered with The Hidden Genius Project to host an international Tech Slam event in London, England. The event partnered with Google, Chelsea FC Foundation, Colorintech, and a host of collaborators to provide approximately 100 London-based high school youth with hands-on, interactive computer-based coding activities, a primer on tech-driven sports and analytics, dialogue with industry professionals about the various pathways available in sports and technology, immersive exhibits that explore how tech influences sports, and more. Our goal is to draw upon the success of this event, collaborate with international organizations, and make it available in other cities across the world!

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TEAM Inc. has been a volunteer run organization up until last year (2019). The expertise and commitment of our volunteers has helped us to build a successful program; starting with five students in our pilot year (2017) to now 60 students (2019). In addition to volunteers, developing authentic partnerships with other organizations has been at the core of our organizational values.

Currently, there are two (2) full-time staff that support the daily operations of the organization, three (3) instructors, one (1) administrative staff, and three (3) contractors.

Anwar McQueen, co-founder and CEO of TEAM Inc., has 25 years of experience in the sports industry. He was a professional basketball player and coach for many years; then worked as the Vice President of Sales at Sportstec Inc., a global leader in providing performance analysis solutions. Through personal experience selling the SportsCode Elite Software, the industry standard for video analysis in the NBA, WNBA, MLS, and NHL, Anwar observed the lack of representation of people of color and women in back office jobs in the sports industry – especially in video analysis roles. Anwar realized the potential of the SportsCode platform and began personally training and mentoring 70 individuals, who then completed certifications and landed jobs in the NBA, WNBA, and collegiate athletics. He continued to support their growth by connecting them with executive leadership roles through a vast network of mentors and industry professionals. In 2016, TEAM Inc. was created, providing innovative and dynamic programming for students to experience the possibilities of pathways centered on the intersection of technology and sports. Anwar teamed up with co-founder, Alexis Musante, a former collegiate athlete and education professional to help spearhead the Core Program. Alexis has spent her career committed to ensuring equity and elevating women’s unique experiences and perspectives within the sports and tech ecosystem. 

TEAM Inc. partners with non-profit organizations, community foundations, sports organizations, and tech companies because we believe in the transformational power of technology; and with thoughtful collaboration across different sectors, we can come together to provide meaningful learning experiences for our students. We have partners in the following industries:

Sports:

We currently partner with the NBA Summer League to provide summer internships to our Certified student alumni. We partner with BallerTV and the Oakland Men’s Basketball League to provide students with paid work experiences. And we have partnered with the Golden State Warriors team during Black History Month.

Technology:

We partner with Hudl to be able to train our students using their SportsCode software. We partner with Coach Paint to train students on broadcast production drawing tools. We partner with MyVideoAnalyser and Angles to train our students on video analysis projects. We also partner with Qwasar Silicon Valley to help students develop coding skills.

Community Organizations:

We partner with The Hidden Genius Project to host an annual, international Tech Slam event in London, England, and Johannesburg, South Africa.

The key beneficiaries of our program are underrepresented youth (ages 14-18). Through our Core, Offsite, and School Programs, our instructors provide beneficiaries (students) with exposure to the intersection of sports and technology (STEM focused), and training on basic coding and scripting, data collection, and video analytics. The Core Program provides 14-week classroom instruction, whereas, the Offsite and School Programs may vary in length of courses and training modules. Through our partnerships with various technology companies (e.g., Hudl, Coach Paint), we use industry leading and innovative software and platforms to conduct hands-on, in-person training. We provide students with all the necessary equipment (e.g., computers, software, hardware, etc.) at our headquarters as well as at offsite workshops and events. Students gain valuable and transferable technological skills that can be applied across various industries. Successful completion of the Core Program enables students to take advantage of internship and job opportunities, as well as leadership and mentoring opportunities through our existing network of partners and industry leaders (e.g., NBA Summer League). Lastly, students are prepared to add immediate value to a team, organization, or company, and apply their newly gained skills towards making impactful decisions and changes in their lives.

We will continue to raise capital through different channels including grants, direct public support, and fee for service. As a vehicle for growth, we created an event called Tech Slam, in partnership with The Hidden Genius Project. We will continue to cultivate opportunities for collaboration with other organizations and schools in order to expand our reach and impact.

Since 2016, we have accomplished positive results with mostly volunteers and a lean infrastructure. If we are selected as a finalist, $100,000 would go towards capacity building, including salaries for current and future employees; hiring additional staff to help realize program opportunities; investing in our youth educator program, where alumni are trained as instructors and have paid opportunities to deliver the program to new students, and allowing us to scale responsibly with a focus on mentorship and community building. With increased capacity, our goal is to be able to serve 100 students annually by 2021, and 250 students across five cities annually within the next five years.

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Our plan is to strengthen our existing partnerships so that we can provide targeted, effective solutions to our students. One of our greatest sponsors is Hudl. Hudl’s continued support provides students with an enormous advantage over their peers since SportsCode is already the industry standard video analysis software for major sports organizations. 

Our existing partnership with another Oakland-based organization, The Hidden Genius Project, allows us to provide annual, international Tech Slam events in the UK and South Africa. Through continued collaboration, our hope is to expand and provide more Tech Slam events within the US and different countries. 

Another great supporter of ours is the NBA, providing our students with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to attend the NBA Summer League with paid internships as well as other career opportunities. Through continued collaboration, our hope is to be able to partner with all 30 NBA teams during this summer’s NBA Summer League. 

We work closely with our education partner, the Oakland Unified School District; providing our services at their schools’ games as well as inviting students to join our program. Our goal is to be able to work with more schools within the district, and expand our reach to the other Bay Area school districts.

We would like to partner with other community organizations such as Eat Learn Play, Oakland Roots, and Ryse Center Richmond to provide additional workforce development opportunities for TEAM alumni, support our Offsite Program growth, ramp up our Train-the-Trainer Program, and target and reach more student-athletes.