No kid should be priced out of playing sports

Of course, only the tiniest fraction of today’s young athletes will ever compete at the elite level. But there’s no way to predict which six-year-old at a local gym will become the Simone Biles of the 2030s. Or which elementary student darting across the playground will become the next Noah Lyles. 

Participation in sports has been linked to better academic performance, higher self-esteem and a greater likelihood of college attendance. In fact, studies show that 66% of students who earn all A’s play organized sports compared to just 24% of students with mostly D’s and F’s. 

Kids who play sports have higher lifetime earnings. They have vastly lower rates of depression, obesity and other serious health conditions. The benefits are so stark that Americans would be a collective $57 billion richer each year, thanks to reduced healthcare spending and increased productivity, if the youth sports participation rate increased by just about 10 percentage points, according to one recent study.

Participating in youth sports has long been a cornerstone of the American experience — or at least it used to be. Fewer American kids are playing sports, and shifting trends are leaving countless kids on the sidelines.

So without a robust pipeline of young talent, not only will our health suffer — but our ability to compete at the highest levels will be compromised. 

The cybersecurity kit your kids need

What are you unintentionally teaching your kids about money?

NBA and MLB hustle for cut of the sports betting jackpot

As a society, we’ll need to make big investments to ensure that every child has a chance to experience the benefits of sports. By doing so, we will build a healthier, more resilient generation of Americans.

Gen X parents worry more about financially supporting their kids

The cost of participating in sports has become increasingly prohibitive. At the same time, public recreation and school sports are on the decline. Youth sports are becoming steadily more privatized: Today, “pay-to-play” youth sports is a $30 billion to $40 billion dollar industry. American families spend an average of almost $900 annually per child to participate in organized sports.

American families spend an average of almost $900 annually per child to participate in organized sports

source