Children’s sports in the United States are being shaped by unexpected influences, according to the Aspen Institute’s recent annual ‘National State of Play 2024’ report, to be released this week and previewed by ‘USA Today’. Sports figure Caitlin Clark, artificial intelligence, name, image and likeness (NIL) contracts, private equity and alternative sports such as pickleball have emerged as trends impacting youth participation in sports. These influences have encouraged both girls’ participation and interest in less conventional sporting activities, although they have also accentuated certain barriers.
One of the main observations of the report is the increase in girls’ participation in sports, while that of boys has fallen significantly. The data show that 39.8% of children ages 6 to 17 played team sports regularly in 2023, the highest rate since 2015, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA). However, participation in nine of the sixteen sports assessed by the Project Play report declined, posing a complex reality for children’s sports in the United States.
THE NUMBERS AMONG BOYS AND GIRLS
In 2023, only 41% of children ages 6 to 17 participated regularly in sports, a significant drop from the 50% recorded in 2013. Tom Cove, senior advisor to SFIA, stresses that this decline could be related to increased competition on teams: “It seems to me that it’s getting harder and harder for boys to get on a team, which discourages them from continuing to play. In general, girls don’t face the same problems, which could explain the increase in their participation.”
The participation gap between boys and girls, which was 15.4 points in 2013, has narrowed to 5.4 points in 2023. Linda Flanagan, author of ‘Take Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids’ Sports,’ suggests that this trend also reflects “the widespread decline in performance among men and boys,” as well as pointing to the negative influence of cell phones, which proliferated since 2012, coinciding with the adolescent mental health crisis.
AFRICAN AMERICANS AND HISPANICS
The report also notes that African American children’s participation in sports has declined significantly, from 45% in 2013 to 35% in 2023. Joseph Cooper, co-author of the ‘National Black Sport Participation and Physical Activity Report,’ notes that this trend is due to multiple factors, “Black youth sports participation is intimately related to socioeconomic conditions stemming from historical, political and cultural complexities.” The COVID pandemic also played a key role, affecting the confidence and resources of African American communities to safely return to sports activities.
On the other hand, Hispanic youth participation in sports has grown. SFIA data shows that regular participation by Hispanic children ages 6-12 increased 14% from 2022 to 2023, reaching its highest level since 2016. Patty Godoy, co-founder of ELLA Sports Foundation, says this trend is due to an “increase in parents’ understanding of the value of sports, seen as an investment in social capital and an opportunity to improve their children’s economic future.”
COMMERCIALIZATION OF SPORTS
Another trend highlighted in the report is early sports specialization, with an average number of sports played per child in 2023 of 1.63, down from more than two sports played a decade ago. This decline has been driven by the commercialization of youth sports, which fosters a pressure to specialize in a discipline at an early age. Burnout and injury are common consequences of this specialization, leading to the abandonment of sports at an early age.
Michele LaBotz, medical director of the athletic training program at the University of New England, recommends an individualized approach to deciding whether early specialization is appropriate. “It’s important to focus on what athletes can do to optimize their development and not what they should avoid,” said LaBotz, who suggests that injury prevention should be part of the youth sports development process.
THE INFLUENCE OF CAITLIN CLARK ON WOMEN’S SPORTS
The report also looks at the influence of new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, on children’s sports. AI platforms now allow families to create highlight videos almost instantly, adding new pressure to stand out on social networks and attract the attention of recruiters. Jon Solomon, director of community impact at the Aspen Institute, warns that “this could intensify the unhealthy aspects of youth sports while increasing costs.”
Basketball star Caitlin Clark has been an inspirational figure for many young athletes and stands out as an example of how the popularity of female figures in sport can have a positive effect on girls’ participation. As SFIA’s Cove commented, “It’s similar to the increase in participation in the 1990s when Mia Hamm shined in soccer; Clark could be generating a similar effect in youth women’s basketball.”
PRIVATE CAPITAL AND NEW SPORTS
It also highlights how private capital has burst into the youth sports arena, highlighting the acquisition of popular sports facilities. In 2021, billionaires David Blitzer and Josh Harris paid $116 million for the Cooperstown All Star Village, a renowned venue for children’s baseball tournaments. These investments in children’s sports infrastructure reflect the magnitude of the market and present challenges about the costs and accessibility of these experiences for families with fewer resources.
In terms of emerging sports, pickleball and flag football have emerged as popular alternatives. Flag football, supported by the NFL, is already a school sport in 13 states. At the same time, pickleball has become a team sport in some schools, noted for its inclusion of students with disabilities, which promotes a more accessible and diverse sports environment for all.