We all know the power of statistics in sports. The statistical data on the referee and game official shortage is stark. Worst of all, it’s negatively influencing the fundamental benefits of kids’ youth sports experiences. · 50,000 high school basketball referees have quit since 2018 · Nearly 9 out of 10…

The LA84 Foundation and the Play Equity Fund recently released the results of their commissioned research — the 2022 Los Angeles County Youth Sports Participation Survey for the Play Equity Fund — to assess youth sports, childhood health, and community well-being. Originally launched in 2016, this year’s edition of the…

Sports Business Journal recently reported that basketball was again the country’s most popular major participatory sport, according to its analysis of the 2022 State of the Industry Report. “A total of 27.1 million people age 6+ played basketball at least once in 2021” The 2022 State of the Industry Report, from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and Sports Marketing Surveys USA, surveyed 18,000 respondents.

The National Federation of State High School Associations, led by CEO and PLAY Sports Coalition board member Dr. Karissa Niehoff, recently released its annual High School Athletics Participation Survey for the first time since 2018–19. The outlook of this year’s NFHS survey is reflected in the mission of the…

The National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA) recently unveiled online resources to “support agencies in increasing engagement with youth sports offerings.” “Park and rec youth sports give kids a welcoming place to have fun — the #1 reason kids say they play sports in the first place.” The NRPA’s resources include: An interactive website that demonstrates the benefits of park and recreation youth sports;

APPLICATION DEADLINES A key part of the PLAY Sports Coalition’s action plan in driving fair access to play experiences is mobilization. …

Renata Simril, president & CEO of the LA 84 Foundation and PLAY Sports Coalition board member, wrote a guest column on EdSource, a source of education information, research and analysis. “Our children need all of us to speak up for greater access and opportunities for school-based and community sports because the road to rebuilding this generation’s emotional and social well-being begins on your local field and playground.”

Program leaders across the country facing more pandemic-induced issues Several trends have combined that are making it harder and more expensive to hire and retain youth sports program staff. For different reasons, these challenges are pronounced for lower compensated roles and tech workers. In a recent survey of Coalition members: …

Coalition unites youth sports industry to ensure equity, accessibility to sports programs across the country NBC Sports Next, the sports technology division of NBC Sports and home to the sports software platform, SportsEngine, announced it has formed a new partnership with the PLAY Sports Coalition. The PLAY Sports Coalition is…