Access to Youth Sports is About Much More Than Fun and Games

While 70% of kids from wealthier families participate in youth sports, a recent New York Times article reports that less than a third of kids from low-income household do so. ?Make no mistake: This divide between have and have not in youth sports is about far more than missing a chance for fun and games.

Participation in youth sports and the associated physical activity are essential to maintaining and improving the health and well-being of children – something that has taken on a greater sense of urgency as the negative impacts of the pandemic ?on our children become more apparent. A few things to consider when it comes to youth sports participation.

• Children who lack access to sports and other meaningful physical activity are at increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and obesity.
• ?Children who regularly participate in youth sports are shown to be more engaged in school and achieve better academic outcomes. Sports participation also helps children develop critical life skills – leadership, teamwork, perseverance, resilience -- skills that will aid them as they move into adulthood and the workforce.
• ?Youth sports can also promote mental health by providing resources and support for young people who may be struggling with stress, anxiety, and other mental health problems.

Indeed, youth sports are about much more than fun and games. They are an essential learning platform. And when children do not have the opportunity to participate, they miss out on developmental opportunities that can provide the foundation for healthy and productive lives.

The financial barriers to participation in youth sports and the resulting consequences have been known for some time. However, it has yet to stimulate the level of government and corporate support required to ensure that children in poverty and low-income households have access to the many positive health and youth development outcomes associated with participation in youth sports. The consequences of this neglect are significant.

The U.S. Soccer Foundation and many other non-profit organizations have been working to address this problem. However, to address this problem at scale requires the commitment and meaningful investment of corporations, government agencies, foundations, and individuals.?We are deeply grateful for the many supporters who believe in the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s mission and who have enabled us to provide more than 500,000 children from poverty and low-income households no- or very-low-cost opportunities to participate in our sport.?Our supporters have also enabled us to install more than 500 safe places to play right in the under-resourced communities where children live and go to school. We are working to double our impact by 2026.

Eliminating barriers to sports participation for children in the programs we support has led to 83% showing statistically significant improvements in health outcomes.?Our work with the support of the U.S. Department of Justice has shown that training youth coaches to be effective mentors improves engagement in school and the avoidance of negative social behaviors such as fighting. For 81% or participants in under-resourced communities, it also improves their outlook for the future. In other words, sports participation in well-designed programs instill hope.

Yet despite the many documented societal benefits, only a tiny fraction of corporate, foundation, and government funding supports providing children from low-income households access to sports participation. Despite a growing body of evidence to the contrary, many of these entities still too often view youth sports as simply fun and games – too trivial for serious financial investment.?It is way past time for that mindset to change. It’s time to embrace youth sport as a powerful tool to improve the health and well-being of children, particularly those in under-resourced communities. Please join us in this effort.