The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) issued its first mid-year update on sports and fitness participation data, showing that pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport, while Winter Sports delivered the strongest gains among categories. However, participation overall was down in many major sports, resulting in a rise in inactivity rates.

Under an updated framework, individuals are considered “active” if they participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. In the first half of 2025, 31.3 percent of Americans met this threshold, a decrease of 0.6 percentage points from 31.9 percent in 2024. The proportion of Americans considered inactive rose to 22.9 percent during the first half of 2025, up from 22.6 percent in 2024.

The industry trade association attributed the decline in part to ongoing market and economic uncertainty surrounding tariffs. SFIA said in the study that the uncertainty “has created hesitation among families and organizations about the real costs for participation. With new tariff rates announced, but specific details not confirmed, budgeting has become a guessing game – one that is clearly influencing consumer purchasing decisions.”

Cost was found to be the primary reason parents do not enroll their kids in team sports, cited by 40.9 percent of participants in the study. Other barriers included lack of interest or motivation, 34.5 percent; time constraints, 28.2 percent; risk of injury, 17.2 percent; and lack of access to sports programs, 12.4 percent.

A second factor possibly reducing activity rates was the natural cooling-off period following the global spotlight of the Paris Olympics. Several Olympic-featured sports, including team swimming, skateboarding, and track and field, experienced modest declines, consistent with a post-Olympic dip in visibility and public engagement.

SFIA’s report stated, “Every four years, the Olympic Games spark a surge of enthusiasm and inspire millions to try new sports. But once the spotlight fades, that excitement naturally recedes. While participation rarely drops below pre-Olympic levels, the year following the Games often sees a modest pullback. 2025 appears to be following that historical pattern – two steps forward, one step back.”

Winter Sports Leads Category Growth
Winter Sports led the growth in participation among the seven categories tracked by the SFIA, showing a 1.7 percent increase in participation from July 2024 to June 2025 compared to the previous year. This category is the only one to show an increase above 1 percent, driven primarily by a strong season in cross-country skiing.

Looking back at 2024, Racquet Sports posted the highest year-over-year growth, increasing by over 9 percent compared to 2023. In the first half of 2025, however, the category has remained flat, with a marginal growth of 0.1 percent. The Fitness Activities category also saw a modest gain, up 0.3 percent.

On the declining side, Water Sports experienced the largest drop, down 2.0 percent, although the Association noted in its report that this category could rebound depending on participation levels during the peak summer months.

Individual Sports and Outdoor Sports both saw declines of approximately 1 percent. Like Water Sports, Outdoor Sports figures may shift as those activities typically peak in participation during warmer months.

Team Sports, which had the second-highest year-over-year growth among categories in 2024 at over 8 percent, are currently projected to remain flat or decline slightly, with early estimates showing a 0.4 percent dip.

Pickleball Paces Individual Sports Participation Gains, Although Growth Slows
Pickleball remains the fastest-growing individual sport, with a projected participation growth rate of 14.7 percent for 2024/25. However, that’s down from a 45 percent gain in 2024, “potentially signaling a new phase of stabilization for the sport,” SFIA noted in its report.

In other racquet sports, such as Tennis, rose 2.4 percent in the first half and continued its steady upward trajectory.

In the Team Sports category, Lacrosse and Softball (Fast-Pitch) are showing encouraging signs, each with growth rates exceeding 4 percent. Football (Tackle) and Volleyball (Beach/Sand) are the only other team sports in the mid-year update with positive figures. On a positive note, Core Football — both Flag and Tackle — is experiencing growth in 2025, with participation increasing by over 2 percent, outpacing the overall figures for the sport.

For the Run/Walk/Hike category, most activities are showing slight increases. Treadmill use is projected to grow by 2.2 percent. Trail Running is also on the rise, with a projected 1.1 percent increase, continuing a decades-long upward trend. Walking for Fitness is expected to remain flat, growing at 0.3 percent, while Running/Jogging and Hiking are both projected to decline slightly, each down by less than 1 percent.

Lastly, several sports that were prominently featured in the Paris Olympics last year are seeing modest declines. Despite this, most remain above pre-Olympic participation levels. Basketball is down by 0.3 percent, Running/Jogging by 0.7 percent, Skateboarding by 2.4 percent, Soccer (Outdoor) by 1.7 percent, Surfing by 5.8 percent, Swimming on a Team by 2.7 percent, Track and Field by 3.6 percent, Volleyball (Court) by 1.0 percent, and Wrestling by 0.6 percent.

Other findings in the SFIA mid-year study:

  • Reasons to Play Sports: Fun is the leading reason people choose to participate in a sport, with 58.4 percent of respondents identifying it as a primary motivator. Other top reasons include (1) staying active (50.8 percent), (2) doing something with friends (39.1 percent), (3) being part of a team (35.5 percent), and (4) becoming more physically active (34.2 percent). Among genders, one notable difference is that nearly 30 percent of males play to participate in competition, compared to just over 20 percent of females. On the other hand, a greater share of females, 24.1 percent, participate in sports to develop life skills such as leadership and communication, compared to 21.0 percent of males.
  • Intention by Age: By the halfway point of 2025, Running/Jogging emerged as the most intended activity among the younger age groups, including individuals aged 6-12, 13-17, 18-24, and 25-34. SFIA believes the trend “reflects a broader interest in wellness-oriented pursuits among active participants.” Among older age groups, fitness-focused activities, such as weight training and using treadmills, continue to be the most popular. Inactive participants tend to favor outdoor activities, such as camping and fishing, while active individuals are more inclined toward wellness and fitness activities, like running/jogging, and working out with weights.

SFIA’s “First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report” marks the trade association’s first mid-year update on U.S. sports and fitness participation data.

Alex Kerman, senior director and head of Research at the SFIA, said, “While some categories show modest declines, the data also reveal areas of resilience and growth. By delivering these insights mid-year, we’re helping companies better anticipate market shifts, fine-tune their planning and make smarter, data-informed decisions for the remainder of the year and beyond.”

Image courtesy Joola