State of Play Central Ohio was released March 30, 2021, as the Aspen Institute’s latest community report. The report analyzes the state of youth sports in the Central Ohio region and offers recommendations to grow quality access to sports, physical activity and outdoor recreation for all children, regardless of race, gender, income or ability.

State of Play Central Ohio, guided by an advisory group of local leaders, is the product of a 13-month analysis of the greater Columbus area centered on Franklin County, which ranks 49th in overall health outcomes and 50th in health factors among all Ohio counties (RWJF, County Health Rankings 2018). On average, nearly 75% of young people did not meet the recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to be active for 60 minutes daily (YRBSS, 2013).

The report shows a divide based upon race and income in youth sports experiences for some children in Central Ohio. Twenty percent of youth surveyed in Central Ohio said they do not play sports more often due to financial costs associated with participation. Costs affected Black youth (28%) more than White youth (18%). Also, White youth (86%) reported feeling safer than Black youth (71%) in accessing play areas within their neighborhood.

The report’s main recommendation is to direct Central Ohio’s collaborative power into a coalition focused on health and inclusion through youth sports. The coalition could inspire systemic changes by focusing organizations and partnerships throughout the region on five key areas – knowledge sharing and communications, family empowerment, coach development pipeline, equity and inclusion, and quality assurance among funders.

Our youth survey aligned with Play #1, Ask Kids What They Want, asking young people to share the sports they are playing, want to play, and their reasons for engaging or not engaging in sport and play. Youth identified volleyball (girls) and basketball (boys) as sports they most want to try. Football ranked No. 2 for boys, with Black youth twice as likely to have ever played tackle football as White youth. Ohio State University Athletic Director Gene Smith said tackle football should be eliminated for kids until age 13 to reduce the risk of brain injuries. Read Smith’s support of flag football here.

One of our partners and advisory group members, LiFEsports, conducted a coaches survey to learn more about the background, experiences, and coaching philosophies of the adults coaching youth sports.  Coaches identified funding and facility space as the most important needs for youth sports teams, with urban communities needing more help than suburban and rural areas. All coaches listed children with disabilities as the population most in need of more sports opportunities.

Since the release of the report, the following developments have occurred:

• Members of the State of Play Central Ohio task force launched the Central Ohio Youth Sports Collaborative to ensure continued coordination among key providers, including greater collaboration between schools, parks and recreation departments and community providers.  

• The Columbus Youth Foundation made significant investments in youth sport providers aligned with the findings in the report. Investments included the Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Chica Sports and Fitness Camp and Niños en Acción summer youth soccer programs.

• Ohio State University’s LiFEsports conducted a regional coaches survey to learn more about the background, experiences, and coaching philosophies of the adults coaching youth sports. This effort helped result in the National Coaches Survey, which surveyed more than 10,000 coaches.

• In light of the need for more sport sampling, Greater Columbus Sports Commission launched a weeklong youth camp with 16 sports to provide equitable opportunities for kids ages 6 to 12 to sample. The camp leverages many providers, including pro sports teams and universities.

• Ohio State University’s LiFEsports, in partnership with the Ohio High School Athletic Association, was awarded a grant through the Million Coaches Challenge to create Coach Beyond. It’s a series of 10 education sessions designed to ensure coaches and athletic directors are ready to “coach beyond” X’s and O’s and teach life and leadership skills through sport. Offerings include in-person and online trainings, free webinars, and community events on topics such as supporting athlete mental health, fostering a positive team environment and managing stress.

• Findings from the State of Play report were used in testimony to support Ohio’s legislative efforts to receive funding from sports betting for youth sports. 

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