The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2024 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report, which examines participation and market trends in team sports from 2023 and features an in-depth analysis of age group participation and key takeaways. The report breaks down data for 24 team sports by youth and young adult team participation and includes information on coaches, training and trends to watch for in 2024.
SFIA data for the team sports category shows that there were roughly 8 million more team sports participants in 2023 than in 2022, an 11 percent increase. This participation number is the highest since 2014 and is the third straight year of positive gains. From 2022 to 2023, 20 of 24 team sports that SFIA tracks increased their participation figures, with only four sports not seeing increases.
Core team sports participation and overall play times remain down from 2019 levels; however, most team sports (14 of 24) increased Core participation numbers from 2022 to 2023, and the SFIA expects that number to grow in 2024. While play occasions were also down for 18 of 24 sports since 2019, 18 of 24 sports had one-year increases, which appears to be on its way to recovery.
“The 2024 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report highlights a remarkable resurgence in team sports participation, with an 11 percent increase from 2022 to 2023, marking the highest number of participants since 2014. This growth underscores the resilience and enduring appeal of team sports in our communities,” said Alex Kerman, senior director of Research & Business Operations at the SFIA. “While we celebrate these gains, the industry needs to continue to focus on converting casual players to CORE players so we can strive towards a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels.”
In 2023, sport per participant continued declining. On average, the SFIA reported that participants aged six and older played 1.73 sports, the lowest figure in the last decade and the first time this number went below 1.80. Alternatively, the sport per participant number for participants in the 6 to 12 and 13 to 17 age groups increased slightly from 2022 to 2023. While youth sports participation for ages 6 to 17 remained flat from 2022 to 2023, team sports participation did grow for those 18 years and older.
To read the full report, go here.
Image courtesy TESC
