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.
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