Summary Overview
- Work with youth sports organizations and schools to make participation in sports available and affordable for all children
- Help low income families to pay fees and expenses and to acquire equipment and apparel so that their children may play organized youth sports
- Heighten public awareness of the importance and benefits of youth sports and encourage increased public support for youth sports programs and facilities
High Costs Prevent Participation: Families with incomes less than $60,000 are 4X more likely to decrease participation in sports due to costs
Detailed Plan
- Encourage and assist youth sport leagues and teams to provide affordable playing options for all children
- Provide information and guidance to youth sports leagues and teams on how to support and provide for the equipment and travel requirements of low-income participants
- Work with school districts to provide affordable sports participation options for low-income students
- Advocate the importance of maintaining adequate budgets for school sports
- Raise money to directly assist low-income children to meet the costs of playing youth sports
- Work with the travel industry to provide affordable travel options for low-income families
- Enlist equipment and uniform manufacturers to contribute gear to low-income children
- Ask professional, collegiate and amateur sports organizations and associations to provide financial and equipment support for youth sports, as well as, sponsorships, endorsements, media exposure and branding
- Educate public officials about the significance of youth sports in the non-school lives of youth. Dedicated revenues for sports programs are an uncommon, but necessary, means to avoid the fluctuations in aid from private and public funding.
- Increase public and governmental financial support of youth sports programs so that they might provide affordable participation by all children
- Design programs that revitalize communities as partners in the delivery of sports programs
- Help communities improve the condition and maintenance of facilities and sites so that they are affordable, attractive and safe for children and families
