Participating in youth sports has long been a cornerstone of the American experience – or at least it used to be. Fewer American children are playing sports, and shifting trends are leaving countless children on the sidelines.
It is important to reverse this trend. Youth sports are not just games; they are a critical component of childhood development. Simply put, the well-being of our nation hinges, in part, on our investments in youth sports today.
The cost of participating in sports has become increasingly prohibitive. The rise of digital entertainment has captivated children’s attention, drawing them away from physical activities. These declining participation rates threaten young Americans' mental and physical health. Exercise can help reduce the increasing anxiety and depression in children.
Youth sports are becoming steadily more privatized: Today, "pay-to-play" youth sports are a $30-to $40 billion dollar industry. American families spend an average of almost $900 annually a child to participate in organized sports.
The growing socio-economic gap in sports participation is glaring. Today, while more than two in three children from wealthier families play sports, only about one in three from the poorest families get the same opportunity.
Sports teach teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and resilience – traits that are essential both on and off the field. For many children from challenging family situations, sports offer a sense of belonging and purpose and put them on the path to a more stable future.
Engagement in sports activities has been associated with improved academic performance, enhanced self-esteem, and an increased probability of college enrollment. Studies indicate that 66% of students who achieve all A's participate in organized sports, compared to 24% of students with mostly D's and F's.
Children 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.
Investing in youth sports is a matter of public health – and national pride. The athletes who will represent us in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics are today's young hopefuls in recreational leagues and school teams.
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.
Non-profit organizations have a unique opportunity to cultivate that pipeline. My organization, the Daniels Fund, recently teamed up with the Aspen Institute to launch the first Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day. With over $3.7 million raised through overwhelming support from philanthropists and community members, this campaign demonstrates the deep belief in the importance of making sports accessible to all children.
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.
Hanna Skandera is president and CEO of the Daniels Fund (danielsfund.org) and is a former track and field athlete and coach. This piece originally ran in Salon.
