Saumil Majmudar’s Post

New federal government data on sports participation is out with analysis from USAFacts. The National Survey of Children's Health found that 54% of children ages 6-17 in the U.S. played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022 — down from 58% in 2017. The goal is 63% by 2030. Sports participation rates tend to be higher in the Northern U.S. than in Southern states, following a trend we saw during COVID-19. In 2022, the states with the highest percentage were Vermont (69%), Iowa (68%), North Dakota (67%), Maine (64%), and Wyoming (64%). New Mexico had the lowest percentage of kids involved in sports at 41%. Other states with low rates: Nevada (46%), Mississippi (46%), Louisiana (47%), and West Virginia (48%). The decline in sports participation rates has been more pronounced among girls than boys. From 2017 to 2022, boys participation decreased from 61% to 58%, while girls dropped from 56% to 49%. The largest decreases in participation rates among racial and ethnic groups were among Hispanic kids, whose participation dropped 7.9 points from 50.0% to 42.1%, and Asian kids, whose participation fell 9.5 points from 59.6% to 50.1%. Sports participation rates among kids from families below the federal poverty level dropped 6.5 percentage points, while those between one and two times the federal poverty level dropped 3.3 points, and those between two and four times that level fell 7.1 points.

The good news is that the 2022 figure (53.8%) shows a big rebound from the pandemic-depressed 2021 figure (48.5%). We'll see whether the post-pandemic momentum can carry participation above pre-pandemic levels, which were already in decline.

New federal government data on sports participation is out with analysis from USAFacts. The National Survey of Children's Health found that 54% of children ages 6-17 in the U.S. played on a sports team or took lessons in 2022 — down from 58% in 2017. The goal is 63% by 2030. Sports participation rates tend to be higher in the Northern U.S. than in Southern states, following a trend we saw during COVID-19. In 2022, the states with the highest percentage were Vermont (69%), Iowa (68%), North Dakota (67%), Maine (64%), and Wyoming (64%). New Mexico had the lowest percentage of kids involved in sports at 41%. Other states with low rates: Nevada (46%), Mississippi (46%), Louisiana (47%), and West Virginia (48%). The decline in sports participation rates has been more pronounced among girls than boys. From 2017 to 2022, boys participation decreased from 61% to 58%, while girls dropped from 56% to 49%. The largest decreases in participation rates among racial and ethnic groups were among Hispanic kids, whose participation dropped 7.9 points from 50.0% to 42.1%, and Asian kids, whose participation fell 9.5 points from 59.6% to 50.1%. Sports participation rates among kids from families below the federal poverty level dropped 6.5 percentage points, while those between one and two times the federal poverty level dropped 3.3 points, and those between two and four times that level fell 7.1 points. Via Aspen Institute Sports & Society #YouthSports #Sports #Kids #LinkedinSports #Sportsbiz

Aspen Institute Sports & Society - State of Play 2024 Participation Trends 🔥 The good: Overall participation is at its highest since 2015! 👧 Game-changer: Girls are closing the gap - now just 5.4% behind boys (down from 15.4% in 2013) 🚫 Challenge areas: - Boys participation dropped from 50% to 41% since 2013 - Black youth participation fell from 45% to 35% - Kids now average just 1.63 sports (down 13% since 2019) 💫 Bright spot: Hispanic participation jumped 14% in 2023! 🎯 7 states already hit the national 2030 goal of 63% participation The data is clear: We're making progress, but still have work to do in making sports accessible and enjoyable for ALL kids. #YouthSports #Sportsbiz #LinkedInSports #Sports #YouthSportsBiz #Kids #Parents #participation The Aspen Institute https://lnkd.in/gpzYzJHB

🚨 **Youth Sports Update: Balancing Act of Costs and Benefits** 🚨 In the dynamic world of youth sports, we're witnessing a delicate balance between rising costs and the undeniable benefits for our young athletes. A recent survey by the Aspen Institute highlighted a concerning trend: families are now spending an average of $883 annually on their child's primary sport. This increase in costs, particularly in travel and registration, is causing some families to reconsider their children's participation in sports. However, the benefits of youth sports participation cannot be overstated. Beyond physical activity, sports play a crucial role in developing social skills, resilience, and teamwork among children. They also offer a critical countermeasure to the growing obesity epidemic among youth. Yet, there's a stark disparity in participation between income groups, with lower-income families significantly less likely to involve their children in sports due to financial and time commitments. This gap underscores the need for a collective effort to make sports more accessible and inclusive for all children. Let's come together as a community to address these challenges and ensure every child has the opportunity to experience the growth, learning, and joy that come from participating in youth sports. Together, we can make a difference! #YouthSports #Inclusivity #CommunityEngagement #PhysicalActivity #childdevelopment

"The average family paid $883 annually for one child’s primary sport in 2022, according to Project Play by the Aspen Institute." This highlights what's happened to equivocal access to team sports in US communities. Why has this occurred? Because there's been a "dramatic shift from sports being seen as a way to have fun and make friends and learn life lessons to sports being a way to get ahead in life." - to gain advantage. "There’s a need to return to the promise of youth sports as a positive and inclusive force in society, and a way to help all kids meet health goals, make friends and learn how to work together." “We need to find ways to keep kids involved and positive on the fields and courts, without the hyper-competitive, high-pressure, expensive culture that seems to predominate today,”  https://lnkd.in/gf_Zqb6Y

**Reimagining Youth Sports: A Call to Return to Inclusivity and Child-Centric Values** In the thought-provoking article "Why Have We Allowed Money to Ruin Youth Sports?", the author critically examines the transformation of youth sports from a joyous, child-centric activity into a profit-driven industry. As we navigate these changing dynamics, it's crucial for us in the kids' toy and play industry to reflect on our role and the broader implications for childhood development. **Key Issues Highlighted**: 1. **Intense Teams and High Costs**: The shift towards competitive teams with frequent practices and early registrations has made casual participation increasingly difficult. This intensifies the pressure on young athletes and their families. 2. **Profit-Driven Model**: The commercialization of youth sports now caters more to parents' aspirations than to the children's enjoyment and personal growth. This undermines the fundamental purpose of play. 3. **Unequal Access**: Affordable options are scarce, and the escalating commitment required from parents limits access for lower-income families. This contributes to a widening gap in opportunities for children across different socioeconomic backgrounds. 4. **Loss of Inclusivity**: The current model's focus on competition and profitability leads to a loss of inclusivity, pushing many children to the sidelines. The author's reflection on these issues is a powerful reminder of the need to prioritize inclusivity and personal development in children's activities. As industry experts, we have the opportunity—and the responsibility—to advocate for a return to a more child-centric approach. **Implications for the Toy Industry**: - **Design with Inclusion in Mind**: Create toys and games that encourage spontaneous, unstructured play accessible to all children, regardless of socioeconomic status. - **Support Local Initiatives**: Partner with community programs to offer affordable recreational options, making organized sports and play more accessible. - **Promote Holistic Development**: Develop products that focus on physical, emotional, and social development rather than purely competitive elements. Let's engage in a meaningful discussion about how we can collectively shift the narrative back to what truly matters—the joy, growth, and inclusion of all children in the world of play. 🔗 Visit us at [Kids Playhouse](https://lnkd.in/gExZvi6m) to explore our initiatives in promoting inclusive play. 👉 **Join the Conversation**: What steps can we take as an industry to support a more inclusive and child-centric approach to youth sports and play? Share your thoughts below! 💬 #YouthSports #InclusivePlay #ChildDevelopment #ToyIndustry #KidsPlayhouse #IndustryTrends #CommunityEngagement

It's Project Play Summit week! IN BALTIMORE, where nearly 700 leaders will gather in the city where #ProjectPlay first made that turn from talk ... to action. From playbook ... to playmakers. The year was 2017. After two years of roundtables with 300 leaders, we had published Sport for All, Play for Life -- our seminal report, 8 shared strategies for the 8 sectors that touch the lives of children. The nation's first shared framework on how to build healthy children and communities through sports. But where to start? Our friends at Under Armour raised their hands and said, come here, to Baltimore. Can you, Aspen Institute Sports & Society, landscape the state of play in our hometown and create a resource that could identify opportunities to help the good people of our city? Not gonna lie. I knew what folks were up against and it was daunting. A few years earlier, I had written about Baltimore in my book Game On ... dedicated an entire chapter to a city that once had 150 rec centers across the city, two-thirds of which had been shuttered by the turn of the century. A city destabilized by the loss of safe places to go for children afterschool and on weekends. Tax revenue was down, crime was up, relations between residents and police strained by the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. Could local stakeholders REALLY mobilize around sports as a tool of community uplift, with all else going on? Would national organizations have the incentive and courage to invest in this, the nation's 29th largest city, just small enough to be forgotten? I'm happy to report that, 7 years later, even with the disruption of COVID, we now know the answer to this question is YES. Today's report in the Baltimore Sun highlights some of the progress made by an array of groups that dug in. If you wonder why I do what I do, just read this piece. It's inspiring. We are capable of doing hard things, if we focus and work together.

The culture of youth sports in the U.S. is largely broken. Skyrocketing costs and pressures have increasingly led to burnout for young athletes and parents alike, continuing a yearslong decline in youth sports participation. Put simply, kids aren't having as much fun playing sports as they once did. So what are the problems, and what can be done to improve youth sports? Read more at cleveland.com: https://lnkd.in/gEdhebWJ

Embracing Insights from Project Play’s 2024 State of Play Report I’m excited to share key insights from the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Project Play 2024 State of Play Report, which examines current trends in youth sports and how we can better support young athletes. Key Highlights: * Increased Focus on Inclusivity: The report emphasizes the growing importance of making sports accessible to all children, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or physical ability. * Holistic Development: There's a strong trend towards using sports for holistic youth development, addressing physical health, social-emotional well-being, and academic performance. * Community Engagement: Effective sports programs increasingly partner with local organizations to build stronger, healthier communities through collaborative efforts. * Mental Health Awareness: The link between physical activity and mental health is increasingly recognized, with programs incorporating mental wellness support. * Technology Integration: Innovative technology boosts training and accessibility in youth sports, making it easier for children to participate and succeed. At ShareWaves, we are committed to aligning our efforts with the best practices highlighted in the report. Here’s how we’re leaning into these insights to amplify our impact: * Commitment to Inclusivity: Our #GameChanging Grants remove financial barriers so every child can access quality sports experiences. * Holistic Youth Development: Our #Ready2Play Camps and Clinics focus on athletic skills and emphasize teamwork, leadership, and personal growth, fostering well-rounded individuals. * Strengthening Community Partnerships: We are building a network that supports and uplifts our youth by collaborating with local organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City and leveraging initiatives like the Kansas City Play Equity Coalition. * Promoting Mental Health: Our Movement is the Medicine Podcast. Our campaign emphasizes the vital link between sports participation and mental well-being, advocating for support systems for young athletes. * Embracing Technology: We are excited to explore partnerships with innovative companies like Garmin and Tonya Williams to integrate advanced technologies that enhance training and engagement for our participants. As we move forward into 2025, we remain dedicated to creating a positive and lasting impact on the lives of Kansas City’s youth. Together with our partners, supporters, and community members, we are building a future where every child can thrive through the power of sports. Thank you to the Aspen Institute for this invaluable report and all our partners who share our vision of empowering young athletes. Let’s continue to work together to build better humans through sports! 💪⚽🏀🏈 #ShareWaves #ProjectPlay2024 #YouthSports #CommunityImpact #Inclusivity #MentalHealth #HolisticDevelopment #KansasCity #BuildBetterHumans #SportsForAll