Youth Sports Statistics (2025): Key Data & Trends

The table below captures the current state of youth sports across six dimensions — a snapshot that contextualizes the detailed breakdowns in the sections that follow.

These numbers represent the broadest credible measures available. Organized participation (55.4%) counts children on teams or in lessons; the SFIA's "tried at least once" figure (65% in 2024) includes anyone who played a sport for even a single day. For year-by-year trends and state comparisons, see our participation statistics analysis. For health and economic impact data, see our benefits statistics guide.

How Many Kids Play Sports Worldwide?

A study by the International Olympic Committee and Allianz(opens in new tab) found that 72% of young people worldwide consider playing sport important. While exact global participation numbers are harder to pin down than U.S. data, the pattern is consistent: interest in sport is high everywhere, but access barriers — cost, facilities, coaching — prevent that interest from translating into regular activity in many countries.

Age is the single strongest predictor of whether a child plays sports. Participation peaks between ages 9 and 12, then declines sharply through the teenage years. The table below shows how participation shifts across four age brackets.

The 9-12 Peak

Children ages 9-12 represent the sweet spot for youth sports: old enough for organized competition, young enough that specialization pressure hasn't yet pushed many out. At 68% "tried at least once," this age group shows the highest overall engagement. Programs that make this window positive and multi-sport oriented have the best chance of retaining athletes into their teens.

The Teenage Cliff

By ages 15-17, regular participation drops to roughly 35%. The gap between "tried once" (52%) and regular play (35%) widens significantly, suggesting more teens are sampling sports without committing. Year-round demands, rising costs, academic pressure, and competing interests all contribute. This age-based dropout pattern is explored further in our section on the biggest problem in youth sports.

For a breakdown of which sports are most popular within each age group, see our guide to the most popular youth sports in America.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) tracks participation across all 50 states and D.C. Their 2023-24 survey(opens in new tab) shows continued growth, particularly in girls' sports.

Girls' Flag Football: The Standout Trend

Girls' flag football has grown 283% since the 2018-19 school year (from 11,209 to 42,955 participants), making it one of the fastest growing high school sports for girls. The combination of NFL-backed league expansion, 2028 Olympic inclusion, and state athletic association adoption has created a new participation pathway that didn't exist a decade ago.

The Gender Gap Is Narrowing

Girls now represent 42.5% of high school athletes — 3.4 million participants out of 8 million total. Title IX's long-term effects continue to expand opportunities, and emerging sports like flag football, wrestling (girls'), and competitive cheer are adding thousands of new roster spots annually.

For data on how injuries vary across these high school sports, see our youth sports injuries statistics breakdown.

A systematic review of 43 peer-reviewed studies(opens in new tab) on youth sport dropout identified five factors that consistently drive children out of organized athletics. The top answer: the experience stops being enjoyable. Not injuries, not cost, not time.

Why "Not Fun" Is the Core Issue

When researchers ask children why they quit, lack of enjoyment is the most commonly reported intrapersonal factor — the intrapersonal category appeared in 38 of the 43 studies reviewed. Children want quality experiences, not necessarily less structure or easier practices. Over-emphasis on winning, excessive criticism, repetitive drills without context, and pressure from adults all erode the intrinsic motivation that brought children to sports in the first place.

The Coaching Factor

Social pressures — including coaching behaviors — fall within the interpersonal category, which appeared in 28 of the 43 studies reviewed. Children who experience negative coaching behaviors — yelling, favoritism, ignoring developmental needs — are significantly more likely to leave. Conversely, coaches who prioritize skill development and positive relationships see higher retention rates. For more on the research behind youth sports benefits, including what keeps athletes engaged, see our complete guide to youth sports benefits.

Cost as a Barrier to Entry and Retention

While "not fun" is the top reason children leave, cost is what prevents many from starting. At $1,016 per child per year — and significantly more for travel and club sports — the financial barrier disproportionately affects lower-income families. The income-based participation gap has widened to 20.2 percentage points, meaning children from the wealthiest families are nearly twice as likely to play organized sports as those from the poorest families.

The short answer: not exactly. Gen Z (born roughly 1997-2012) isn't less interested in sports — they engage with athletics differently than previous generations.

What the Data Shows

The SFIA's 2024 data shows that casual participation ("tried at least once") hit a record 65% among youth ages 6-17, suggesting broad interest. But regular, sustained participation tells a different story. Core participation among teenagers (ages 13-17) dropped 3% year-over-year. Older Gen Z members — now in their late teens and twenties — appear to gravitate toward fitness activities (gym, running, yoga) alongside or instead of organized team sports.

The Sampling Generation

Gen Z tries more activities but commits to fewer. This pattern shows up across the data: higher "tried once" rates alongside lower regular participation. Several factors contribute:

• Digital competition: Screen time, gaming, and social media compete for the same hours that previous generations spent at practice
• Cost sensitivity: Rising sports fees push many toward free or low-cost alternatives
• Flexibility preference: Gen Z gravitates toward activities they can do on their own schedule — individual fitness, pickup games, skateboarding — over fixed team commitments
• Mental health awareness: This generation is more willing to quit activities that cause stress or anxiety, including sports with toxic cultures

What This Means for Youth Sports

Gen Z still wants to play — they reject the rigid, expensive model, not the sports themselves. Programs that offer flexible scheduling, lower barriers to entry, positive coaching environments, and multi-sport sampling align better with how Gen Z engages. The growth of sports like flag football, pickleball, and fitness-based activities reflects this preference for accessible, less time-intensive options.

Youth sports is one of the largest segments of the U.S. sports economy. The numbers below show the scale of family spending, tourism impact, and industry growth.

Where the Money Goes

The $1,016 average annual spending per child masks significant variation. Project Play's 2025 survey(opens in new tab) breaks down spending across registration fees, equipment, travel, private coaching, and facility costs. For families in travel or club sports — roughly 17% of participating families — annual costs run significantly higher than the $1,016 average.

The Tourism Engine

Amateur sports tournaments — including youth, adult recreational, and college events — are a major driver of local economies. The $52.2 billion direct spending figure covers all amateur sports tourism (excluding professional and collegiate regular season) and includes hotel stays, dining, and transportation. Cities and regions actively compete for tournament hosting rights, building dedicated sports complexes to attract this revenue stream.

Cost Growth vs. Inflation

Family spending on youth sports has risen 46% since 2019, roughly double overall U.S. inflation. For the full cost breakdown and its effect on participation gaps, see our participation statistics analysis.

Population-level statistics are most useful when coaches translate them into program-level decisions. Here's how the data in this article connects to practical coaching choices.

Prioritize Fun and Development Over Winning

The dropout research is clear: lack of enjoyment is the most common intrapersonal reason children leave sports. Coaches who structure practices around skill development, varied activities, and positive experiences address the #1 reason athletes quit. This doesn't mean avoiding competition — it means ensuring competition serves learning rather than replacing it.

Design for the Dropout Window

The age-group data shows that the sharpest participation decline happens between ages 13 and 15. Programs that make deliberate retention efforts during this window — flexible scheduling, reduced travel demands, multi-sport encouragement — can counteract the natural attrition curve. Understanding evidence-based coaching helps coaches design practices that keep teenagers engaged through this critical period.

Know Your Community's Economic Reality

At $1,016 per child per year and rising, cost is a barrier that coaches can influence through program design. Equipment sharing programs, sliding-scale fees, reduced travel schedules, and partnerships with community organizations expand access without requiring additional funding. The data shows demand exists at every income level — cost is what prevents it from becoming participation.

Track Individual Development

The statistics on this page describe populations. Coaching happens one athlete at a time. Striveon's athlete evaluation tools let coaches log skill assessments, flag workload changes, and compare an athlete's trajectory against age-group benchmarks — connecting the macro trends above to each athlete's development path.