Fenton Upward Basketball

Youth Sport Statistics

Here are some interesting statistics when it comes to youth sports. Keep these in mind when you are a coach, referee, volunteer, and most of all a player and parent.

More than 65% of children say they participate in sports to be with friends

Source: Athletic Footwear Association, 1990

One top reason why children say they participate in sports: to have fun and to improve their skills

Source: Athletic Footwear Association, 1990

Top reasons children quit playing organized sports include:

Not having fun
The coach played favorites
Too much emphasis is placed on competition
Frustration with not getting to play

Source: Institute for the Study of Youth Sports, Michigan State University, 2004

64% of parents say their children have been dissatisfied with their sports experience

Source: National PTA Convention Survey, 2003

Some 41 million boys and girls play organized sports in the U.S.; 70% will quit playing by age 13.

Source: CNN, July 10,2006
Source: National Alliance for Sports

44% of parents say their child has dropped out of an activity because it made them unhappy

Source: National PTA Convention Survey, 2003

72% of boys and girls would rather play on a losing team than sit on the bench for a winning team

Source: The Josephson Institute of Ethics, 2004

71% of children say they wouldn’t care if no score were kept in their games

Source: USA Today, September 9, 1990

Only 1 in 5 athletes feel they have to win in order to enjoy their sport

Source: The Josephson Institute of Ethics, 2004

Nearly 1 in 10 young athletes acknowledge cheating