Vol. 5, September 2024
Hi , welcome to the August issue of the Lineup! In this month’s issue, we’re going to explore:
- How youth sports participation has risen over the past 60 years but with growing class disparities, and learn what can be done to make sports more inclusive for all.
- The controversial trend of “reclassing” in youth sports, where students repeat a grade for athletic advantages, and understand the pressures and challenges families face.
- Scotts partnership with Every Kid Sports, which helps underserved kids access natural green spaces and organized sports.
- How Every Kid Sports is helping Houston children overcome financial barriers to participate in youth sports.
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An opportunity to get involved with the “Meet Joy” campaign, a movement aimed at providing kids the opportunity to experience the joy of sports.
Enjoy this content and please don’t hesitate to reach-out with suggestions on anything you’d like to see in future issues.
– James Suri, Marketing Director, Every Kid Sports
Field notes.
Youth sports participation is on the rise…but there’s a catch.
A new study on youth sports participation over the past 60 years highlights a significant rise in kids playing organized sports, especially among more privileged families. While participation has grown, the study also reveals widening class disparities and a concerning trend of kids dropping out due to pressure and high costs. Learn more about the impact of these shifts on youth sports and what can be done to make sports more inclusive and enjoyable for all children:
Don’t hold back?
Should parents hold their kids back a year to help them succeed in sports? Reclassing, where students voluntarily repeat a grade to gain a competitive edge, is becoming more common—but it comes with significant challenges. This NPR piece dives into the pressures young athletes and their families face in this high-stakes world. Learn more about the growing trend and the hidden costs behind it here:
The Score.
Organized youth sports are increasingly for the privileged.
A sweeping study of U.S. youth sports participation over the past 60 years has found that there has been a significant increase over time in kids playing organized sports—but particularly among more privileged, educated families.
Every Kid Sports helps Houston kids play.
Relief is being brought to Houston families sidelined by the cost of youth sports participation. “Soccer is one of the things I looked forward to the most because it’s one thing I love doing,” say’s 8th grader Alona Workman.
Every kid deserves a chance to “Meet joy!”
Joy is an emotion that we can all relate to and one we believe everybody deserves to experience. That’s why we’ve launched our Meet joy! campaign. Our goal is simple—to give kids the chance to experience the pure joy of playing sports. Help a kid ‘meet joy’ by sharing our campaign, making a donation, or both!
Player profiles.
A brotherly love for soccer.
Access to sports changes lives. Read our latest testimonial starring Cassian and Ozilas who were introduced to soccer thanks to support through the Every Kid Sports Pass!
Get in the game.
Interested in helping kids develop through sports?
The Mission and Vision of Every Kid Sports
Our mission is to find and facilitate the funding that helps kids from income-restricted families participate in youth sports so they, too, can experience the positive benefits of playing.
Our vision is to widen the current youth sports participation model so it includes kids from income-restricted families, providing every kid an equal opportunity to play youth sports, regardless of socio-economic status.
