Benefits of Recreation

"When children and adolescents participate in the recommended level of physical activity—at least 60 minutes daily—multiple health benefits accrue. Most youth, however, do not engage in recommended levels of physical activity." 

By the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

"The income disparity in youth athletics has effects on health and success that stretch far into adulthood."

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By Linda Flanagan

"Our nation’s schools remain highly segregated along racial and economic lines, and schools with high concentrations of minority and low-income students generally have fewer resources for academic and extracurricular activities."

By The National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) & The Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC)

"The first purpose of this study was to examine low-income parents' and their children's perceptions of the benefits associated with participation in youth sport. The second purpose was to examine parents' perceptions of the challenges associated with providing their children sporting opportunities."

By Nicholas L. Holt, Bethan C. Kingsley, Lisa N. Tink, Jay Scherer

"Access to sport should be a universal right for kids, but unfortunately, even school sports have issues with access that are dependent on socioeconomic status. "

By Natalie Hummel, founder of Every Kid Sports

"Youth sports participation has shifted from a school-based, seasonal activity to club-based, year-round activity over the past 10–15 years. Single sport specialization has become increasingly common with a concurrent increase in injury and burnout. "

By Nirav Kiritkumar Pandya

"Youth sports participation is on the decline. According to the Aspen Project, in 2018, 38% of children participated in a team sport, down from 45% in 2008. Is the toxic culture of youth sports to blame for this decline?"

By Allison Krug, MPH

"Expensive travel leagues siphon off talented young athletes from well-off families—and leave everyone else behind."

By Derek Thompson

The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) is an essential resource for policymakers and key decision-makers in youth sports. It aims to unite U.S. youth sports culture around a shared vision: that one day, all youth will have the opportunity, motivation, and access to play sports.

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By US Department of Health and Human Services

Top 10 Things to Know About the Second Edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

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By US Department of Health and Human Services

In February, the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee submitted its Scientific Report to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. This report summarizes the scientific evidence on physical activity and health and was used to develop the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

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By Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee 

Healthy People 2030. This is the 10 year "health agenda" for the US. One specific objective related to child and adolescent sport participation. 

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In addition to the health benefits of physical activity, playing sports can improve economic, social, and academic outcomes for children and adolescents. Programs and policies at the local, state, and national level can increase access to sports facilities, and communities can work to make youth sports programs and facilities safe, accessible, and inclusive.

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By US Department of Health and Human Services

Sports programs are widely implemented as measures of crime prevention. In contrast to their popularity, there is little systematic knowledge about their effectiveness. This systematic review and meta-analysis have been carried out to fill this gap.

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By Irina Jugl, Doris Bender & Friedrich Lösel 

Sport plays a crucial role in building safer communities and combatting youth violence and crime. This was highlighted during a high-level side event organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in cooperation with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on 22 May in Vienna (Austria), as part of the 32nd UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ).

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By the INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE (IOC)