As featured in U.S. Veterans Magazine, November 2026
For Army veteran Larry Hayman, a longtime love of sports eventually became the foundation for a second career. Today, he operates three i9 Sports franchises in Maryland, building a business around helping kids develop confidence, build friendships, and discover a love of sports.
Service that shaped a leader
Larry served in the Army from 2000 to 2004 as an automated logistical specialist, with assignments in South Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and Korea, plus a deployment to the Middle East during Operation Iraqi Freedom. His service taught him to communicate clearly, prepare thoroughly, and trust the people around him.
“You can’t accomplish a mission alone,” Larry says. As a leader, he learned how to train people properly, assign responsibility, and trust them to follow through.
Finding the right fit
Sports were already part of Larry’s life. He played in and helped organize adult flag football leagues, and the camaraderie of being part of a team had long appealed to him. When he discovered i9 Sports, its fun-first approach and focus on helping kids build confidence, character, and a love of sports offered a way to turn that interest into a business.
Larry opened his first franchise in 2020. He now operates locations in Montgomery, Anne Arundel, and Prince George’s counties, serving hundreds of children in sports including flag football and volleyball.
Franchising also offered a business structure that felt familiar. Larry compares working in a proven system to following an established plan: the framework is in place, but success ultimately comes down to your own execution.
Earning trust, one family at a time
For Larry, sustainable growth has meant more than adding locations. It has meant earning the confidence of the families his programs serve. Parents return because they see the impact on their children, from athletic development to increased personal confidence, and that trust strengthens his relationships with families and the wider community.
The work also gives Larry something he valued during his Army service: being part of a team working toward a common goal. “With i9 Sports, the mission is different, but the heart of it is the same,” he says.
Advice for veterans considering franchising
Larry encourages veterans interested in entrepreneurship to look beyond the business model itself and find work that aligns with their interests, values, and sense of purpose. For him, sports provided that fit.
Interested in owning an i9 Sports franchise?
Veterans bring leadership, discipline, and a mission-first mindset to business ownership. If you’re exploring what’s next, we’d love to talk.
