Team sports participation increased 3.2 percent in 2019, largely attributed to growth in more popular team sports, such as basketball (2.9 percent), outdoor soccer (4.5 percent), flag football (3.2 percent), and lacrosse (0.8 percent).
The latest 2020 Trends in Team Sports Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)* tracks team sports participation and trends in America, including youth participation, ethnic breakdowns, gender disparities, and more.
While the report indicates healthy growth in the team sports category, 16 of the 23 team sports tracked decreased in participation. Many niche sports, such as ultimate frisbee, paintball, beach/sand volleyball, and ice hockey, experienced a decline.
“The growth in team sports participation in 2019 is encouraging, but with the pandemic, it feels as though we are taking two steps forward and one step back,” said Tom Cove, SFIA President and CEO. “Our industry, youth leagues, sports organizations must unite forces to welcome children back to the game once it is safe to do so. Team sports have suffered greatly in 2020 and America will be eager to return to play.”
In 2019, the number of sports per participant decreased to its lowest number ever at 1.84 sports per participant. This metric speaks directly to the issues of specialization in team sports. A larger number of sports per participant, especially at younger ages, suggests kids are sampling more sports which encourages the development of a variety of skills, reduces repetitive use injuries and exposes athletes to a greater variety of opportunities for a lifetime of activity. The trends highlighted in 2019 were promising for the future of team sports in the U.S., and there is optimism that the pandemic has encouraged kids across the country to experiment with new sports/activities and emerge when the pandemic is over with new skill sets.
*The 2020 Trends in Team Sports Report from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) tracks team sports participation and trends in America, including youth participation, ethnic breakdowns, gender disparities, and more.
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