Americans see major benefits to children playing organized sports, but higher-income families are more likely to participate. Learning teamwork and reducing screen time are among the perceived benefits of youth sports.

Benefits of Youth Sports

About half of U.S. parents with K-12 school-aged children say their kids play a structured sport, but participation is higher among more affluent families. About 7 in 10 K-12 parents with a household income of at least $100,000 annually say their children play organized sports, compared to about 4 in 10 parents with a lower household income.

Despite the challenges, the vast majority of sports parents feel good about their children playing organized sports. About 8 in 10 sports parents say “proud” describes how they feel “extremely” or “very” well, and a similar share say that about “happy.”

Financial Burden

The out-of-pocket expenses for youth sports can be significant, particularly for lower-income families. About two-thirds of K-12 parents with at least one child playing sports estimate spending up to $2,000 annually on equipment, fees, training, and travel for youth athletics.

Original reporting: WTVQ (Lexington) — read the source article.