National Council of Youth Sports

Study of Trends in Youth Sports

This study was conducted by the NCYS and was made possible through a grant from the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA). NCYS thanks the SGMA for its continued support and funding of this critically needed study.

The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) is a multi-sport corporation established to foster the continued education of youth sport administrators, and to support the growth and development of youth through participation in organized youth sports.

The NCYS membership comprises the who's who in the youth sports industry representing over 60 organizations and 45 million participants. They rose to the occasion by providing detailed information of tremendous value to the entire youth sports and sporting goods industry. The quality of data is unparalleled and indispensable. We now have a unique opportunity to provide real data to the news media, the general public, educators, youth sports organizations, corporate America, and the entire sports industry.

A previous survey conducted by the NCYS produced fascinating results and surfaced even more questions. The need to receive more information was evident. The collection of this data was facilitated by a two-page survey sent to all NCYS members in August 1997. The perseverance and follow-up telephone calls proved worthwhile. By September 1997, we had an incredible 98% membership response!

This project truly puts the National Council of Youth Sports on the cutting edge of importance to the world of youth sports and the sporting goods industry. It demonstrates the ability of NCYS to acquire and share information that has been much sought after for many years.

The magnitude of this project far exceeded all expectations. An extraordinary 98% response from a growing group of dedicated youth sports leaders is something none of us could have ever predicted. The compilation process has been time consuming and technical in order to have available upon request all the data in the many forms required by a large variety of interested parties for various needs. The information received has sparked many questions regarding the trends in the youth sports market and sporting goods industry.

Thank you to the NCYS Board of Directors for their determined vision and dedicated leadership. Thank you to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association for their confidence and financial support. And above all thank you to the entire NCYS membership for their interest and inclusive desire to be recognized as the premier resource organization for all youth sports.

SURVEY STATISTICAL RESULTS

Special Notes:

NCYS Member Participation Numbers:

Total number of youth participants
44,962,126

Total number of coaches
2,453,607

Total number of volunteers
7,609,794

Total number of participants involved in organized youth sports
55,025,527

Total overall participation breakdown by gender:
Boys 63%, Girls 37%

As a result of this survey, an observation can be made that boys begin participating in youth sports 3-4 years earlier than girls. This might suggest boys are provided with more opportunities at an earlier age or that perhaps it is sociological and boys are encouraged to participate sooner. It can further be noted that participation by girls increases when they reach high school. This seems to indicate that when given an opportunity in organized youth activities, girls do participate and that Title IX has had an effect on increasing participation.

What time of year are your programs offered? (check all that apply)

Year-round - 74% (year-round program percentages will be duplicated in the seasonal breakdown)
Winter - 76% Spring - 95% Summer - 93% Fall - 93%

Many youngsters participate in more than one activity and in multiple seasons.

How long does the average youngster stay involved in your program?

The average length of time youth participate in each sport/activity is five (5) years.

What geographic areas do you cover?

Virtually all organizations conduct programs in all 50 states. Many, approximately one-third, provide international programs as well.

In what type of facilities are your programs most often played? (check all that apply)

We learned there is much needed advocacy for "open space" recreation facilities. Its importance is evident when 97% of the youth organizations conduct outdoor programs that provide young people with fun, healthy activities. America?s youth need valuable after-school, community based recreational opportunities under adult supervision. Sports programs that provide a place for children to play, learn, and join others in healthy activities after school are imperative. It is vital that we ensure the availability of fields, courts, rinks and playgrounds for today's children and for future generations.

Does your organization have a:
registered lobbyist:
6% yes 94% no
government relations department:
9% yes 91% no

We believe there is clearly a need to involve the youth sports administrators more directly in the political process. They represent parents, school districts and a large block of interested and involved voters who have tremendous value and a hard-hitting impact on governmental issues that directly affect the sporting goods industry as well as the future direction of this country. Knowing this now, we strongly advocate a team approach with the NCYS and SGMA to harness incredible lobbying power in the future.

The cause and effect of youth participation in organized youth sports has a vital, direct link to the entire sporting goods industry and its legislative power particularly at the federal level with the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), and the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Program (UPARR). SGMA needs the hard data to effectively backup and give merit to its lobbying efforts. NCYS needs a voice in DC to speak out on policy affecting grassroots youth programs. We believe our joint efforts will put both organizations effectively on the leading edge of related legislation.

THE CAUSE, THE EFFECT, THE FUTURE

The object and purpose of the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) is to develop and share among members and others education, information and leadership skills; encourage members to promote the participation by all youth in fun and healthy physical activities according to their interests and abilities; and to promote universal recognition that organized youth sports can develop positive attributes including healthier lifestyles, self-esteem, fair play and good citizenship.

NCYS represents 53 national youth organizations and nearly 45 million youth participants in multi-sports/activities. Our observations, based on outside sources tell us that there is clearly a trend toward more girls participating in athletic activities and a trend toward an increase in non-traditional sports. This shift to non-traditional / non-high profile / non-school sports is not only intriguing but challenging and certainly worthy of further analysis.

Possible questions the survey raises for future research are:

We believe this survey is the beginning of an unprecedented and ongoing Annual Report on Trends in Youth Sports. With 44,962,126 youth participants in organized sports programs there is a natural link here of influence on the entire sports industry. This impact reaches deep into the industry - sporting goods and apparel sales, facility & land usage, lifetime health & fitness, risk management training for coaches & volunteers, as well as potential sport & tort liability.

This survey is just the tip of the iceberg regarding far-reaching results we can learn from the NCYS membership. Future studies will help us pinpoint other answers and undoubtedly raise additional questions. Maintaining and solidifying youth sports participation obviously has a strong impact on, and is of great interest to, the sporting goods market - present and future. Active youth participation forms the core of our "heroes" of today and is the future of healthy children as well as the sporting goods industry of tomorrow. Please join us in making athlete opportunities open to all youth according to their interests and abilities.