Nearly four in five U.S. adults agree it is important that youth sports providers offer all children and young adults opportunities to learn about and play sports, regardless of their skill or ability to pay, according to the latest National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) Park Pulse poll.
Park and recreation professionals and the local park and recreation agencies they support are leading providers of sports opportunities for all. According to NRPA’s Youth Sports at Park and Recreation Agenciesreport, one-third of park and recreation agencies offer adaptive or inclusive sports activities so people of all abilities may participate. Additionally, two in three agencies offer reduced or discounted fees for lower-income residents.
Key findings include:
- 78% of U.S. adults believe it is important that youth sports providers offer all children and young adults opportunities to learn about and play sports, regardless of their skill or ability to pay.
- Nearly 3 in 5 U.S. adults believe it is very or extremely important that youth sports providers offer all children and young adults opportunities to learn about and play sports, regardless of their skill or ability to pay.
- Parents (64%) are much more likely to think it is very or extremely important for kids to be offered these opportunities, regardless of their skill or ability to pay than those without children in the household (56%).
“Equity is at the heart of access in youth sports,” said Kevin Roth, NRPA vice president of research, evaluation and technology. “Park and recreation professionals and their agencies are major providers of both organized and unorganized sports program facilities across the nation, helping to address disparities in who has access to sports.”