Youth Sports and America’s New Caste System

Youth sports is a nearly $17 billion industry, which makes it about the same size as the National Football League. But, children ages six to 12 who play a team sport on a regular basis declined from 41.5 percent in 2011 to 37 percent in 2017, according to a recent report from the Aspen Institute. Going back to 2008, participation is lower across categories, including baseball, basketball, flag football, and soccer.Baseball is down about 20 percent.Like me, most are quick to blame video games or youtube or tv. Some think that sports just can’t compete for attention anymore, like church or bowling leagues.

There is more to the story.

Among wealthier families, youth sports participation is actually rising, while in the poorest households, it’s trending down. Just 34 percent of children from families earning less than $25,000 played a team sport at least one day in 2017, versus 69 percent from homes earning more than $100,000. In 2011, those numbers were roughly 42 percent and 66 percent (Aspen).Kids from the Shore, when they experience camps or clubs from outside, become keenly aware of this dichotomy, and as parents, we watch in dismay at the explosion of travel-team culture, where rich parents are writing a $3,000 check to get their kids on super teams from across the bay. As expensive travel leagues sign up talented young athletes from well-off families, that leaves behind desiccated local leagues with fewer players, fewer involved parents, and fewer resources.

As Chris Moore, the executive officer of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association, told the New York Times, “if you can’t make a travel team some kids may say, ‘what’s the point,’ and quit playing altogether.”

The American system of youth sports system has become a pay-to-play enterprise.

Declining athletic participation is a prime example of how the choices even benevolent rich households make can hurt poorer families—especially their children.

The lure of good colleges sweetens the bargain. Currently, D1 and D2 schools spend over $3 billion in athletic scholarships. Parents from this pedigree get that sports matter–they see it as another way to improve their kid’s college application. looking to enhance their eventual application: Sports matter. As early as possible, parents try to get kids on youth travel teams which will set them up for high school athletic excellence, which will make them more competitive for admissions and scholarships at select colleges.

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