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**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

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

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.

“Get Kids to Play” - our new book attempts to answer the simple but crucial question - “how do we get kids to play?” with two critical decision-makers in mind – parents and school leaders. Both Parents and School Leaders want to get kids to play but often struggle with the “How?” and get bogged down with obstacles. Eventually, the problem snowballs into a classic case of “Everybody’s baby is nobody’s baby.” Similar to a tool-kit, this book has a range of tools, utilities, and practices to negotiate the various challenges. The five chapters, namely Space, Time, Child, Content, and Facilitator, are organized in such a way that readers can jump to their choice of topic based on their needs. The authors firmly believe that it is possible to get kids to play. And it is worth it! www.GetKidsToPlay.com | EduSports | Sportz Village | To buy the book, visit … 1.     Kindle edition: https://lnkd.in/gxHFCqJT 2. https://lnkd.in/gtuDfNva 3. https://amzn.eu/d/4v3C7Kj

While everyone seems to be focused on youth sports... There is 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 that may have even more upside: 📈 𝐀𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐬. Just like youth sports, adult rec is 𝘧𝘳𝘢𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 across organizations, software, facilities, and technology. Hence the opportunity... ───────── I'm talking about softball leagues, basketball 3on3 tourneys, triathlon training, volleyball/pickleball/kickball/esports/soccer, and just about every activity. 𝗦𝗼 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘀𝗮𝘆? 📊 20% of Americans are 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 in a recreational sports league this summer. That jumps to 31% for millennials and 47% for GenZ adults! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘵? 𝘋𝘢𝘵𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘩... 258 million US adults x 20% x $90 (avg. cost of a league) = $𝟰.𝟲𝟰 𝗕𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻. ───────── 𝟱 𝙆𝙚𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝘿𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙩𝙝 𝙤𝙛 𝘼𝙙𝙪𝙡𝙩 𝙍𝙚𝙘 𝙎𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙨: ❶ increasing disposable incomes ❷ growing emphasis on healthy living and fitness ❸ technological advancements helping to gamify activities ❹ collaborations and partnerships with traditional sports organizations ❺ sports as an avenue for stress relief, mental health, and meeting people Don't sleep on the adult recreational market! 👀 It's just getting started.

🚨 **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 Importance of Youth Sports: A Growing Concern Youth sports are more than just a game—they’re essential for physical, mental, and social development. Yet, the accessibility of these opportunities is under threat. 🔸 14% Income Disparity Families earning under $25,000 are 14% less likely to afford sports than those earning $100,000 or more. This inequality limits opportunities for many young athletes. 🔸 1.2 Million Fewer Youth Between 2019 and 2022, 1.2 million fewer kids are participating in team sports. The pandemic and financial pressures have compounded the problem, and the impact is visible. 🔸 49% of Adults Struggle to Pay for Youth Sports Nearly half of U.S. adults face financial barriers in providing sports opportunities for their children, leaving many kids without access to the benefits of sports. 🔸 25% of Non-Active Youth Face Depression Physical inactivity is linked to mental health challenges, with 25% of non-active youth experiencing depression. Sports can be a key factor in promoting well-being. Youth sports foster discipline, teamwork, and resilience. As we confront these financial and social barriers, it’s more important than ever to advocate for affordable and inclusive sports programs. Let’s ensure every child has a chance to play, grow, and succeed. #YouthSports #Accessibility #MentalHealth #PhysicalActivity #SportsForAll #YouthDevelopment

🚨 Basketball is for Everyone—But This Message Applies to All Sports 🚨 I recently spoke about a major pet peeve of mine in youth sports, and I wanted to share it here. Too often, we limit who can play, telling kids they're not good enough, not the "right" fit, or not at the right level. For some reason, we feel entitled to decide who belongs and who doesn't. And that simply isn't true. Sports are meant for everyone. They're a lifetime deal. Whether you're young or old, experienced or a total beginner, able-bodied or differently abled—if you want to play, there should be a place for you. As caretakers of the games, we need to stay wide awake and deliver the right messages. We must be advocates for inclusion, for growth, and for keeping the joy of the game alive at every level. Some of the best moments in sports are not the polished highlights on TV—they're the rec games, the playground battles, the pickup games where competition is pure and joy is real. This video shares my perspective on what we, as coaches, parents, and community leaders, need to remember. Sports belong to everyone, and it's our job to make sure no one feels left out. Let's keep the game open, welcoming, and lifelong. #YouthSports #BasketballForAll #CoachWinn #InclusionInSports #LifetimeOfSports #EveryonePlays The Youth Sports Toolkit is coming January 2025! Stay tuned for a resource designed to make sports accessible, inclusive, and fun for every kid out there. Lets go coaches -let everybody play!

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