Turning Sports Into Economics: How One High School Student Built a Free Program for Middle Schoolers
Every week, the class began the same way—not with a definition, a worksheet, or a lecture, but with a decision.
No one started by explaining the economic concepts behind those choices. Instead, students learned the way real general managers do: by making decisions and living with the consequences.
That hands-on approach is the foundation of BOW Sports Capital, a free economics education program founded by high school student Brayden White of Yeshivat Frisch.
“The idea came from a simple observation,” White said. “I loved sports. I knew a lot of kids who loved sports. And I knew almost none of them loved economics—even though the two are connected in so many ways.”
According to White, many of the concepts students encounter in economics classrooms already exist throughout the sports world. Salary caps mirror budget constraints. Trade deadlines reflect supply and demand. Rookie contracts are bets on future value. Economic principles, he realized, were hiding inside the games students already followed every day.
To bring those ideas to life, White launched BOW Sports Capital—named after his initials—and spent the past year running two six-week Zoom sessions for roughly 30 middle school students.
Each class combined short lessons, group discussions, and interactive simulations designed to place students directly in the role of sports executives. Using Claude Code, White developed a variety of custom simulations that became the centerpiece of the program.
Students navigated luxury tax decisions, negotiated player trades, set ticket prices, managed payrolls, and built competitive rosters under financial constraints. Behind every challenge was an economic lesson: incentives, opportunity cost, scarcity, market value, and risk.
“The simulations became the engine that helped students understand the business side of sports,” White explained.
The response from participants has been overwhelmingly positive. Students returned week after week, often bringing friends along, while parents reported that their children continued discussing class topics long after sessions ended.
Because the program is completely free and operates online, students can participate from anywhere. White emphasizes that no advanced math skills—or even deep sports knowledge—are required.
“You just need to be curious about why things cost what they cost and why people make the decisions they make,” he said. “That’s all economics really is. Sports just happens to be the best disguise it’s ever worn.”
Registration for the next BOW Sports Capital session will open soon.
Interested students and families can register here.
Additional information is available at: braydenokley13.wixstudio.com/bowsportscapital
Questions can be directed to: braydenokley13@gmail.com
Brayden White is a high school student in Westchester, New York, and the founder of BOW Sports Capital, a free economics education program that teaches financial concepts through the world of sports.
Photo Caption: Brayden White