While 31.6 million U.S. children (age 6-17) participate in team sports
on a frequent, regular, or casual basis, nearly 19 million U.S.
children do not participate in team sports at all. Thats one of many
findings in U.S. Trends in Team Sports (2007 edition), produced by the
SGMA. According to the SGMA, team sports participation has consolidated
among the most serious players, with a decline seen casual and pick-up
play.
That participation continued to shift to serious players is backed up
by data gathered by SportScanINFO, which shows a mid-singles increase
in average selling price for team sports equipment in the retail year,
but more telling shows a mid-teens increase in sales over $90.
A few of the interesting facts from the report show Basketball as one
of the few sports to remain popular amongst non-league play with 45% of
all basketball players are mainly playing pickup/casual games. Touch
/Flag Football found an older demographic with 40% of all players
between the ages of 18 and 44, suggesting parents are playing with
their children. Finally, baseball, more than nearly any other
sport focuses on the core participants and youth. 76% of all players
were considered core, having played more than 13 days per year, while
73% of those core participants were 17 or younger.
