Our Annual Report on Trends
in Youth Sports and How Leaders
Can Mobilize for Action

Life was still relatively normal in late February and early March 2020. High school basketball teams dreamed of state championships. Millions of kids prepared for their spring sports season. Sports participation continued to grow, from elementary through high school ages, as another sign of progress since the Great Recession of 2008 discarded many kids.

By no means was youth sports perfect in late winter 2020. Far too many kids were still left behind due to money and competition, or not having a quality experience to entice them to stay. But sports were at least happening.

Then a global pandemic retired every child. Subsequent killings of Black people by police precipitated protests around the country – and calls for greater equity in society’s leading institutions.

Youth sports returned in starts and stops, depending on the community and the sport. Some teams rushed back in; others proceeded cautiously. No one quite knew the best approach in these unprecedented times, in part because of how fragmented the youth sports ecosystem is in the United States.

Now what? The Aspen Institute’s Project Play explores the state of youth sports in 2020 – past, present and future – during one of the most turbulent years our country has ever witnessed.

Thank you to our partner, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), sponsor of the State of Play 2020 report.