Increase the proportion of children and adolescents who play sports — PA‑12

Status: Getting worse

  
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Getting worse

Most Recent Data:
50.7 percent (2020-21)

Target:
63.3 percent

Desired Direction:
Increase desired

Baseline:
58.4 percent of children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years participated in a sports team or took sports lessons after school or on weekends in the past 12 months in 2016-17

Increase the proportion of children and adolescents who participate on a sports team or take sports lessons after school or on weekends

Target-Setting Method
Percentage point improvement

Summary

In addition to the health benefits of physical activity, playing sports can improve economic, social, and academic outcomes for children and adolescents. Programs and policies at the local, state, and national level can increase access to sports facilities, and communities can work to make youth sports programs and facilities safe, accessible, and inclusive.