2025 Data Indicates Slight Decrease in Participation Trends; Costs Cited as Top Concern
(August 21, 2025) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) today released its inaugural First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report, marking the first time SFIA has put out a mid-year update of sports and fitness participation data. This new report reflects SFIA’s commitment to delivering timely, actionable insights with up-to-date analysis that helps our members stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry.
“SFIA is excited to introduce our first mid-year participation report – a fresh way to share timely insights into how Americans are engaging with sports and fitness,” said Alex Kerman, Senior Director, Head of Research for SFIA. “While some categories show modest declines, the data also reveals areas of resilience and growth. By delivering these insights mid-year, we’re helping companies better anticipate market shifts, fine-tune their planning, and make smarter, data-informed decisions for the remainder of the year and beyond.”
As part of this inaugural report, SFIA is introducing a new activity definition designed to better reflect meaningful engagement in physical activity. Under this updated framework, individuals are considered “active” if they engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week.
In 2024, 22.6% of Americans were entirely inactive. First half of the year indicators for 2025 show that inactivity levels have increased to 22.9%. This equates to roughly one million more Americans not actively participating in sports or fitness activities of any kind. This increase is likely driven by ongoing market and economic uncertainty surrounding tariffs and a natural post-Olympic participation slowdown.
Several sports prominently featured in the Paris Olympics last year are seeing modest declines, including Swimming on a Team, down by 2.7%, Skateboarding by 2.4%, Soccer (Outdoor) by 1.7%, Surfing by 5.8%, and Track and Field by 3.6%.
Despite the declines in rates of participation, there were positive takeaways from the data for the first half of 2025. Winter Sports saw the largest activity growth from July 2024 to June 2025, increasing by 1.7%, followed by modest gains in Fitness Activities (0.3%) and Racquet Sports (0.1%). Additionally, among the 30 sports with updated participation data, Pickleball remains the fastest-growing sport, with a 14.7% increase in participation.
In 2025, there is a move towards more wellness-oriented activities, with preferences varying notably by age group. Fitness dominated the intended activities, with Running/Jogging emerging as the most intended among younger age groups, while for the older age groups, Working out with Weights and Treadmill use showed strong appeal.
With the current economic uncertainty – especially around tariffs – it is not surprising that the report revealed that increased costs remain the most significant barrier to youth sports participation, with 41% of parents citing it as the primary barrier to their children participating in sports.
The 2025 First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report is free to SFIA members and available for purchase for $300 to non-members. Additionally, this report can be purchased as a bundle with the 2026 Topline Participation Report (pre-order) for $700 total – a 10% discount – by clicking here.
The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of this report or an interview with an SFIA representative, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].
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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is the leading trade association for the sports and fitness industry, representing over 700 brands, manufacturers, retailers, and governing bodies who collectively employ more than 375,000 people and generate $150 billion in domestic sales. With a mission of increasing sports and fitness participation and promoting industry vitality, SFIA provides thought leadership, advocacy, research, and membership services that empower its members and drive industry growth. SFIA’s leading research and comprehensive insights help members make informed decisions, while its advocacy efforts champion physical health and economic impact. To learn more about joining SFIA’s network dedicated to advancing the sports and fitness industry, please visit sfia.org.