Are fewer kids playing sports?
Although youth sports participation has generally declined over time, recent data suggests the trend may be starting to shift.
In 2023, the percentage of children participating in sports increased for the second consecutive year.
According to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), playing sports can improve a child’s physical and mental health. This includes improvements in bone health, cardiorespiratory and muscular health, and a reduced risk of depression. Sports can also help children develop confidence and self-esteem, as well as social and interpersonal skills.
How many kids play sports?
The National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) found that an estimated 55.4% of children aged 6 to 17 played on a sports team or took lessons as of 2023 — up from 53.8% in 2022.
Youth sports participation has been rising steadily since 2021.
Participation in sports teams or sports lessons after school or on weekends, age 6-17 years
In 2023, this amounted to 27.3 million children participating in some form of sports while 22.1 million did not.
What ages of children are participating in sports?
In 2019, sports participation was higher among youth ages 12–17 (56.7%) than among children ages 6–11 (53.5%). By 2023, those patterns had nearly reversed: participation among older youth fell by 2.8 points to 53.9%, while participation among younger children rose by 3.5 points to 57.0%.
Long‑term trends from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey show a broader decline in high school sports participation, down 6.5 percentage points from its 2011 peak. However, there are signs of a recent rebound, with the share of students playing on at least one sports team increasing from 49.1% in 2021 to 51.9% in 2023.
High school sports participation is up 2.8 points from its 2021 low.
Percentage of high schoolers who played on a community or school sports team in the year before the survey
Which groups participate in youth sports the most?
In all available survey years, girls have participated in sports at lower rates than boys. From 2018 to 2023, boys’ involvement in sports decreased from 61.0% to 60.3%, while girls’ involvement dropped from 53.0% to 50.3%.
The largest decreases in participation rates among racial and ethnic groups were among Asian children, whose participation dropped 5.2 points from 59.6% to 49.7%, and Black children whose participation fell 4.1 points from 49.1% to 45.0%. Meanwhile, participation among children identified as ‘other’ rose by 4.1 points.
Although the cost of playing sports can be a barrier to involvement, kids from families of all income levels have been playing sports at lower rates. Participation rates among children from families below the federal poverty level dropped 1.6 percentage points, while those between one and two times the federal poverty level dropped 2.1 points, and those between two and four times that level fell 5.0 points.
Sports participation rates for girls and Asian and Hispanic kids have decreased more than the general youth rate.
Percentage-point change in youth sports participation rate from 2018 to 2023
Youth sports by state
In 2023, the states with the highest percentage of kids playing sports were Vermont (71.5%), South Dakota (68.8%), New Hampshire (67.6%), Massachusetts (65.3%), and Iowa (64.8%).
Meanwhile, Nevada had the lowest percentage of kids involved in sports at 43.3%, more than four percentage points lower than any other state. Nevada was followed by Delaware (47.7%), Florida (48.4%), West Virginia (48.6%), and Texas (49.0%).
Forty-three states had youth sports participation rates of at least 50%.
In 2023, youth sports participation was highest in Vermont and lowest in Nevada.
Participation in sports teams or sports lessons after school or on weekends, ages 6–17
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