The average annual amount a U.S. sports family spends on a child’s primary sport. Data from the Aspen Institute’s 2024 parent survey (conducted with Utah State University and Louisiana Tech University) shows a 46% increase in costs since 2019 (not factoring inflation).

Youth who drop out of sports are twice as likely to feel parental pressure than current players. Aspen’s youth survey showed that 21% of former players felt pressured by parents to play against their wishes, compared to just 9% of current players. Parent behavior remains one of the strongest predictors of whether a kid stays in the game or quits.

Ask kids why they play sports, and the answer is simple: they want to have fun and hang out with friends. Yet, the adult-driven youth sports landscape increasingly prioritizes winning and the high-pressure chase for college scholarships. Data from the Aspen Institute National Youth Athlete Survey in 2025 reveals a massive disconnect between what adults build and what kids actually value.