Youth sports help kids grow stronger, healthier, and more confident, but rising costs are making participation harder for families nationwide. To better understand how affordability is impacting youth sports today, Good Sports partnered with The Harris Poll to conduct national research, published in our new Cost of Play White Paper. The findings reveal a clear tension: families deeply value youth sports, yet the cost of participation is increasingly putting access out of reach.

The Value of Youth Sports Remains High

Parents overwhelmingly believe in the benefits of sports. Ninety-five percent say children benefit from playing sports, and 89% report positive physical and emotional impacts. Youth sports support mental health, physical well-being, teamwork, and confidence…benefits that extend far beyond the years spent on the field. Participation is still widespread, with 84% of parents reporting their child currently plays a sport. But strong participation rates mask growing challenges behind the scenes.

Rising Costs Are Limiting Access

As the price of youth sports continues to rise, families are feeling the strain. Fifty-eight percent of parents say paying for sports equipment has become a financial stress. For some, that stress translates into difficult sacrifices: 23% have taken on additional work, and 18% have taken on debt to afford sports-related expenses.

These pressures are not evenly shared. Income increasingly determines who gets to play, turning youth sports affordability into a growing equity issue.

Why This Moment Matters

When cost becomes a barrier, kids miss out. Not due to lack of interest or ability, but because families are forced to make impossible choices. Without action, rising costs will continue to sideline children who deserve the benefits of play.

At Good Sports, we believe play is a right, not a privilege. Since 2003, we’ve helped remove equipment barriers by donating brand-new sports gear to youth organizations serving high-need communities—making it easier for kids to play confidently and cost-free.

Explore the Full Cost of Play Findings

The Cost of Play White Paper dives deeper into the data on youth sports access, affordability, and equity—and outlines why action is urgently needed. Explore the full findings and data here.

Together, we can help ensure every child has the opportunity to play, grow, and thrive.

Every kid deserves sports.