When Arizona parents turn to their phones to book a babysitter, they're not scrolling through the usual list of neighborhood teens anymore. Instead, many are turning to Division I athletes such as volleyball players, swimmers and tennis stars who bring the energy and dedication of college sports into their living rooms.
Through an app called Sports Sitters, families are discovering a new kind of child care: one that trades screens and couch time for games, laughter and mentorship. The app, founded by Arizona entrepreneur Meaghan Franks, aims to provide parents with dependable sitters while helping college athletes find flexible jobs that fit their schedules.
Franks said the idea came from her own experiences as a parent and a fan of college athletics. After seeing how athletes manage school, sports and community involvement, she wanted to create something that could benefit both sides.
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"The first six months, it was a handful of student-athletes," Franks said. "They were all from ASU, and we launched what you call an MVP, Minimum Viable Product, with (the app). It had super limited features and just a couple of parents that were on the platform, but we really wanted to test if parents trusted and enjoyed the athletes in the same way that we did in our household."
Within months, Franks and her team released a full version of Sports Sitters to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, with more than 200 families now using the app.
Sports Sitters launched a little over a year ago and has steadily grown with families in the Valley and Tucson using it to connect with local college athletes. The app's model centers on word-of-mouth rather than paid advertising.
"We've never spent anything on marketing," Franks said. "Everything that this platform does, I want it to go to the women on the app. We rely heavily on parents being happy, kids being happy and athletes being happy."
Currently, Franks said only female athletes are available for sitting jobs due to no expressed interest from male athletes or not meeting all of the position's criteria. So for now, no Cam Skattebo-type football player will be teaching children the art of bulldozing through a defense.
Sports Sitters offers services located within 20 minutes of Arizona State, Grand Canyon University and the University of Arizona, with plans to expand to DePaul University in Chicago next year. Franks said more than 30 additional universities have shown interest in bringing the program to their athletic departments.
"The interest has come from athletic departments, it's come from athletes," Franks said. "Especially with ASU women that move to a different school, they want to continue connecting with the community and earning through flexible work."
Franks said the platform also operates within the NCAA's evolving Name, Image and Likeness landscape.
'Not regular babysitters'
Parents download the Sports Sitters app, create a profile and browse local college athletes available for babysitting. Sitters list their sport, availability and experience. Once booked, parents can leave reviews that help others in their community choose reliable sitters.
Franks said this system builds transparency and accountability while giving athletes an income option that complements their sports commitments.
"I'd rather spend my time bringing this to a small group in multiple cities that really understand the beautiful qualities these athletes bring into their home," Franks said. "They're not regular babysitters."
For many athletes, the biggest appeal is flexibility. ASU swimmer Ella Guilfoil said the app makes it possible to earn extra money without sacrificing time in the pool or classroom.
"This is so awesome because it's so flexible," Guilfoil said. "There's no minimum or maximum that you have to work."
She added that she takes jobs during slower weeks without meets or travel.
"On busy weeks or when I have a meet, I'm not really going to be focusing on jobs like this," she said. "But when I have a slower week or a free weekend, it's so easy to find a time that works."
The experience has also been personally rewarding for Guilfoil.
"When you walk in there, it kind of feels like you're a celebrity," she said. "Not only are the parents so excited that you're a Division I athlete, but so are the kids. They know they're going to have someone to play their favorite games and sports with."
She recalled that one family even asked to swim together during a babysitting session.
"One time, they even wanted to get in the pool, and I know the parents felt comfortable with me doing that, being a Division I swimmer," Guilfoil said.
Guilfoil believes her background as a college athlete gives parents confidence that their kids are in good hands.
"We're not just going to go in there and sit around with them or put on the TV," she said. "We know what it means to be active. We have good skills, time management, responsibility, all of those things parents really want when they have a babysitter."
ASU tennis player Karsyn Evans said she quickly noticed the demand for sitters on the app.
"Since I've started, jobs go really quickly. I have to click on it pretty fast when something comes up," she said.
Evans said she's built genuine connections with several families.
"This is a little bit easier because you don't have to know the people to start, but you can build connections along the way," she said. "The kids do kind of treat us like celebrities."
Like Guilfoil's experience in giving some kids swimming lessons, those relationships go beyond child care.
"I've gotten to teach tennis lessons outside of the actual app," Evans said. "So yeah, definitely making connections."
The parents who use Sports Sitters say the app stands out for professionalism and enthusiasm.
Isaac Gabriel, who regularly books sitters through the platform, said he values how engaged the athletes are.
"The athletes are very mature, very engaged," Gabriel said. "We don't really allow a lot of screen time for the kids, so we ask them to be active, and they're totally into it."
Gabriel said he's never had a cancellation through Sports Sitters, a contrast to other services.
"We've never had anybody miss on the Sports Sitters, where we have had people cancel last minute from other services," he said.
Nina Johnson, another parent, said her daughters have grown so attached to their Sports Sitters that they now look forward to every booking.
"My girls beg for my husband and I to go out on dates every night of the week so that we can call a Sports Sitter," Johnson said. "They've been far better sitters, engaging with the girls and making sure the house is picked up, where that hasn't been the case in the past."
She added that the athletes' presence makes a clear difference in her kids' behavior and energy.
"A lot of times other babysitters have been just a human making sure they don't die," Johnson said with a laugh. "These girls actually play, teach and keep my kids busy."
Victoria Lewkowitz, a former Division I swimmer at Harvard University, said she related to the athletes' schedules and appreciates what Franks has created.
"It's super cool to meet these women who are so motivated and such great role models. It's a win-win for everybody," Lewkowicz said. "These women are accountable, responsible and organized."
Lewkowitz said her own children have become fans of their sitters beyond the job, as well.
"My son is obsessed with basketball. Now he wants to go to games just to support his babysitter," she said. "When they leave, I feel like I get the greatest gift because my kids are just so happy. They adore these women."
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