Congress Introduces the Youth Sports Facilities Act Following Efforts from SFIA and Industry Partners

WASHINGTON, DC (November 22, 2024) – With the support of the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and partner organizations across youth sports, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Youth Sports Facilities Act (YSFA) H.R.10221 in Congress yesterday.  The YSFA would open a new funding source for youth sports facilities and recreational spaces using Economic Development Assistance (EDA) grants.  EDAs are currently not eligible to be used for investments in youth sports infrastructure projects which is why the YSFA is so critical, as it would provide the financial support needed for communities currently lacking in facilities to receive the funding needed to develop new sports and recreation projects.

“The Youth Sports Facilities Act is a bipartisan solution designed to bring communities together, create economic opportunity, and improve the physical and mental well-being of students across the nation,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga.  “For too long, an area code has determined whether students could have access to facilities or the resources necessary to participate and compete.  I am proud to champion the Youth Sports Facilities Act because it opens the door for communities across Michigan and around the country to create new opportunities for children to develop critical skills, enhance local tourism, and foster small business growth.”

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the accessibility challenges that many Americans face when it comes to participating in sports and recreational activities.  Not being able to participate in these types of activities leads to the worsening of both mental and physical health in the U.S.  SFIA is committed to working with stakeholders to address the barriers limiting youth sports participation and has led the effort on the YSFA legislation, securing bi-partisan support in Congress.

“The access barrier to sports participation keeps youth off the playing field – denying them the opportunity to realize the mental and physical health benefits of activity and limiting the development of the social skills essential to a child’s growth,” says Todd Smith, President & CEO, SFIA.  “SFIA fully endorses the Youth Sports Facilities Act to give communities the resources needed for investments in youth sports facilities which will lower the current access barrier to participation.”

The YSFA will allow for more kids to be active and healthy, while also providing participants with important leadership, team building, and social skills.  Youth sports organizations are united in their support for YSFA and appreciate the leadership of Congressman Huizenga and Congressman Veasey on this legislation.

“As the leading nonprofit provider of youth sports programs, YMCA of the USA supports the Youth Sports Facilities Act.  Youth sports facilities often lead to growth in local economies as families attend sporting events and support local businesses, hotels, and restaurants”, says Jeffrey Britt, Chief Government Affairs Officer, YMCA of the USA.  “Youth sports programs create a space for families and the community to belong, improve health outcomes, and strengthen the fabric of the economy and the community.” 

In 2024, almost half a billion dollars in EDA grants were used to pay for small business loans, workforce training, and infrastructure projects – but no funding went to the development of youth sports facilities, which can spur additional investments in a community.  New youth sports and recreational facilities can lead to additional investments in surrounding businesses such as convenience stores, restaurants, fueling stations, and grocery stores, as well as the construction of new hotels and housing communities.

“A great many children are denied the benefits of sports and exercise due to the shortage of athletic facilities,” says Jon Executive Director, Pop Warner Little Scholars.  “In other cases, too many participants practice on limited areas which is unsafe as teams overlap.  The Youth Sports Facilities Act will provide for more facilities being available for our children, our most precious commodity. As childhood obesity numbers rise, it is our duty to get kids off their sofas and enjoy getting healthy exercise.” 

“Youth sports are a vital part of America’s fabric and a significant part of the work done by local parks and recreation departments,” says, Kyle Simpson, Director of Government Affairs, National Recreation & Parks Association (NRPA).  “On behalf of our 60,000 members, the NRPA is proud to endorse the Youth Sports Facilities Act.  This critical legislation will expand access to high-quality youth sports programs nationwide.”

With strong Congressional leadership behind the Youth Sports Facilities Act (YSFA), today’s introduction of the legislation is an important step in getting more resources for youth sports facility development in communities that lack them.  SFIA will continue to build support for the YSFA and work with stakeholders to move the YSFA through the legislative process for increased investments in youth sports and recreation facilities to get more kids active.

For more information or questions regarding the YSFA, please contact Bill Sells, SVP, Government Relations & Public Affairs, at [email protected].

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

(November 14, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and Pickleheads today have released the 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, in conjunction with the USA Pickleball National Championships taking place in Mesa, AZ. Now in its second iteration, the report provides an in-depth analysis of pickleball participation and facilities in the United States. This report highlights the investment required to sustain pickleball’s rapid growth by integrating comprehensive participation and facility data, utilizing data never before available.

For the third year in a row, pickleball is the fastest- growing sport in America, according to SFIA’s Topline Participation Report. Pickleball has grown 51.8% from 2022 to 2023, and an incredible 223.5% in three years, with every single age group seeing increased participation. While many have associated the sport with a higher age participation, the age group with the most participants, 2.3 million people, is actually the 25–34 age range. The sport added over 1 million children under the age of 18 from 2022 to 2023. This cross-generational appeal highlights pickleball’s versatility and its ability to bring together diverse groups of people. The significant increase in youth participation also suggests a promising future for the sport as young players grow and continue to engage with pickleball.

Every region in the United States in 2023 saw increased pickleball participation, with the South Atlantic region leading the way with 2.8 million pickleball players, a 50% increase compared to 2022. Given the remarkable growth trend we are seeing, this underscores the need to apply facility data alongside detailed participation data to ensure the industry is doing what it can to keep up with the unprecedented demand of the sport.

“The remarkable growth in pickleball participation highlights the sport’s widespread appeal and the enthusiasm it generates across all age groups,” states Alex Kerman, Senior Director of Research & Business Operations, SFIA. “The 2024 State of Pickleball Report showcases this surge in participation and the cross-generational excitement for the sport. As we continue to support this rapid expansion, our priority is to ensure that pickleball remains accessible and enjoyable for everyone, fostering a thriving community of players.”

Although the average number of days CORE pickleball players participated decreased from 40 days in 2022 to 31 days in 2023, this drop is largely due to the influx of new CORE players, which demonstrates pickleball’s growing appeal. This indicates a healthy, expanding sport with increasing levels of engagement, which paves the way for continued success in the future and is a positive sign.

To keep up with the explosive demand of pickleball, there is still work to be done in terms of funding for infrastructure.

“Now in our second year of this report, we can see the pickleball industry has responded to the court shortage challenge by adding infrastructure, with dedicated pickleball facilities growing 55% year-over-year,” states Brandon Mackie, Co-founder and COO, Pickleheads. “Still, there remains a long road of investment ahead with $855 million needed to construct courts over the next 5-7 years.”

While every region in the U.S. added pickleball courts in 2024, the Mountain, West North Central, and the East South-Central regions all declined in their dedicated courts per 1,000 participants metric, as new courts added were not enough to offset the drastic growth in pickleball participation in these regions.\

The 2024 report revealed that many of America’s largest metropolitan cities are catching up with last year’s laggards of New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, as they all have doubled their dedicated courts per 10,000 people. There is still a long way to go as these three major markets are on average 92% below national averages for dedicated court density.

The 2024 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report is now available for purchase for $150 for SFIA Members and $350 for non-members by clicking here.

These reports are provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of the report or an interview with an SFIA or Pickleheads representative, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected]. When sourcing data in this report, please cite both organizations and include a link to both sfia.org and pickleheads.com.

*Please note that SFIA’s participation data is for calendar year 2023 and Pickleheads data for facilities/courts is for calendar year 2024.

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

SFIA’s two-part Start-Up Challenge highlighted the latest innovations in sports and fitness technology, products, and services.

(November 5, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is excited to announce that the winner of the 2024 Annual SFIA Start-Up Challenge is MAAREE. MAAREE, founded by Mari Thomas-Welland, is a women’s sportswear company dedicated to supporting women so they can achieve their goals confidently and worry-free. MAAREE was selected as the winner after a several-month selection process, including a Live Q&A Session (Part I) and culminating in the live Main Event (Part II) on October 29 in coordination with SFIA’s Boston Super Regional.

Founder and Director Thomas-Welland leveraged her experience testing sports bras in lab conditions and designed the world’s first sports bras with Overband® Technology, an integrated curved panel that runs over the top of the chest to reduce upward motion and restrict the range of motion of the breasts – which significantly reduces upward motion during activity.

“We are thrilled to be awarded the SFIA 2024 Start-up Challenge Champions,” said Mari Thomas-Welland, Founder and Director, MAAREE. “As a female founder championing women’s sport, we are here to help make a change one step at a time and this opportunity enables us to keep progressing on our journey. We can’t wait to make great connections with organizations and investors in the USA that will assist us in reaching our full potential.”

After studying Sports Engineering at Loughborough University, Thomas-Welland went on to professionally test the performance of sports bras under laboratory conditions for some of the top sports brands in the world. Being a keen hockey player, buying a good sports bra was always high on her list, and so she decided to create a product that would not only be comfortable and supportive, but also crucial in enhancing performance.

Thomas-Welland’s personal values have always included empowering women and fighting for equality, so it felt natural for her to extend these over to MAAREE. She is proudly fighting for improved apparel, equipment, and technology, which puts women at the forefront of innovation. MAAREE’s vision is to become the UK’s top sports bra brand and close the gender gap in exercise participation by providing the necessary tools and support for women to lead healthy, active, and empowered lives.

“On behalf of SFIA, I want to congratulate MAAREE for winning the 2024 Start-Up Challenge,” said Todd Smith, President & CEO, SFIA. “This achievement highlights the vital role that innovation plays in advancing the sports and fitness industry, and MAAREE’s commitment to pioneering new solutions not only enhances the industry, but also empowers athletes, specifically women and young girls, to reach their full potential.”

In preparation for the 8th annual event, finalist entrepreneurs submitted pitch videos and investment profiles to a judging cohort made up of sports & fitness executives, venture capitalists, investors, and leaders from private equity. The 10 finalists each took part in the Live Q&A Session, that took place virtually on September 27. Four finalists were then selected to compete live at the Start-Up Challenge Main Event on October 29 in coordination with SFIA’s Boston Super Regional.

As the grand prize winner, MAAREE will receive media coverage, a spotlight in one of SFIA’s annual research reports, attendance and recognition at an SFIA event, and a judge seat for the 2025 SFIA Start-Up Challenge. All ten finalists who participated will be given personal introductions to industry decision-makers and executives as well as one year of SFIA membership.

Click here to learn more about MAAREE.

The 2024 Start-Up Challenge runner-up was Volley, followed by FabLittleBag and LZRD Tech, Inc. The other finalists who participated were Activate, Alphabeats, iPlayMe2, New Stream, Pick Fit, Prorizon, and Total Motion 360.

“We are proud to recognize all of this year’s exceptional finalists and the impactful solutions each of these innovators are bringing to the sports and fitness industry,” states Smith. “SFIA is committed to providing platforms that showcase innovative entrepreneurs who are driving progress and enhancing experiences for athletes, paving the way for the future of our industry.”

For more on the Start-Up Challenge, visit www.sfiastartupchallenge.org. If you are interested in an interview with the Start-Up Challenge winner or any of the finalists, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

Wilson’s Joe Dudy to Join Board of Directors; Four Members Re-elected to Three-Year Terms

(October 18, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is pleased to announce the election of Mike Zlaket, CEO and Member, Board of Directors for Rawlings Sporting Goods, as Chairman of the SFIA Board of Directors, effective immediately for a one-year term. Zlaket has a 30-plus-year history in the sporting goods industry, the last 10 of which have been served as the CEO of Rawlings Sporting Goods – where under his stewardship, the company has grown to be valued at more than $1 billion.

Zlaket replaces former Board Chair Jon Ram, who served three one-year terms in the Chair role and will now serve as the Immediate Past Chairman.

“I am honored to assume the role of Chairman of the Board for SFIA. Having served on this Board since 2018, I have witnessed firsthand the work we do for the sport and fitness industry,” said Zlaket. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow Board members to drive SFIA’s mission forward and am excited about the positive impact we will make on the industry.”

In addition, Joe Dudy, President & CEO, Wilson Sporting Goods, has been elected to the Board, along with four Board members who were re-elected, all for three-year terms. They join 13 additional Board members serving staggered terms. The election took place at SFIA’s Annual Meeting on October 17, 2024. The Board will support the newly installed SFIA President & CEO, Todd Smith. 

New Addition to the Board of Directors Includes:

Board Members Being Re-Elected Include:

The above new addition and re-elected members will be joining currently serving Board members:

Media Contact:
Lisa Futterman | [email protected]

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

FabLittleBag, MAAREE, Volley, and LZRD Tech Take Top Spots Following Part 1

(October 10, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) is excited to announce today that FabLittleBag, LZRD Tech, MAAREE, and Volley are the four finalists who will move on to compete in the 8th Annual SFIA Start-Up Challenge Main Event on October 29, 2024 at Babson College – in coordination with SFIA’s Boston Super Regional.

Following the completion of the Live Q&A Session on Thursday, September 27 (Part I), these four finalists had the top scores amongst eleven competitors – including a tie – after presenting virtually to an exclusive judging panel made up of sports & fitness executives, venture capitalists, investors, and leaders from private equity. Our finalists will now present their innovative products at the competition’s Main Event.

The applicant pool includes entrepreneurs from around the world, representing all segments of the sports and fitness industry, including performance and strength/conditioning products, technologies and apps powered by AI, and more.

The four finalists are:

The seven other finalists who competed in the annual challenge were: Activate, Alphabeats, iPlayMe2, New Stream, Pick Fit, Prorizon, and Total Motion 360. All finalists will receive one year of SFIA membership, a logo feature in an SFIA research report, a five-minute pitch video, real-time feedback, and personal introductions from industry executives.

“The caliber of candidates in this year’s Start-Up Challenge is truly exceptional, as each participant brings innovative ideas and a passion for advancing the sports and fitness industry, making this competition one of the most exciting and competitive yet,” states Chandler Hoffman, Director, Membership & Technology, SFIA. “We are especially thrilled to collaborate with Babson College, renowned for its entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to fostering the next generation of industry leaders, for the Main Event.”

In addition to all the prizes listed above, the grand prize winner, who will be selected on October 29 2024 at SFIA’s Boston Super Regional amongst FabLittleBag, LZRD Tech, MAAREE, and Volley, will receive a 2025 SFIA Start-Up Challenge judges’ seat, media coverage, a spotlight in an SFIA research report, and the SFIA event advantage, which includes the opportunity to network and connect with SFIA Members, a speaking opportunity, and public recognition as ‘Start-Up Challenge Winner’ at an SFIA event.

The SFIA Start-Up Challenge held its inaugural event in 2016, and since then, finalists who have participated in the annual competition have raised more than $310 million for their innovations. SFIA is proud to serve as a leader in the industry in helping support innovation and growth through this event.

For more on the 2024 Start-Up Challenge, visit www.sfiastartupchallenge.org. If you are interested in attending the Main Event, taking place on October 29, 2024 at SFIA’s Boston Super Regional at Babson College, click here.

If you are interested in an interview with one of the Start-Up Challenge finalists or a member of the SFIA team, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

(October 8, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2024 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report, which examines participation and market trends from 2023 in team sports and features in-depth data analysis of age group participation and specific takeaways. The report breaks down data for 24 different team sports by youth and young adult team sports participation and includes information on coaches, training, and trends to watch for in 2024.

SFIA data for the team sports category shows that there were roughly 8 million more team sports participants in 2023 than in 2022, an 11% increase. This participation number is the highest number of team sports participants since 2014 and is the third-straight year of positive gains. From 2022 to 2023, 20 of 24 team sports that SFIA tracks increased its participation figures, with only four sports not seeing increases.

CORE team sports participation and overall play occasions are both still down from pre-pandemic levels, however, we are seeing signs of recovery and positive developments in the data. CORE team sports participation is still significantly down from 2019 levels, but the majority of team sports (14 of 24) increased their CORE participation figures from 2022 to 2023, and we expect that number to grow in 2024. While play occasions were also down for 18 of 24 sports since 2019, 18 of 24 sports did see one-year increases in play occasions, meaning this number appears to be on its way to recovery.

“The 2024 U.S. Trends in Team Sports Report highlights a remarkable resurgence in team sports participation, with an 11% increase from 2022 to 2023, marking the highest number of participants since 2014. This growth underscores the resilience and enduring appeal of team sports in our communities,” states Alex Kerman, Senior Director, Research & Business Operations, SFIA. “While we celebrate these gains, the industry needs to continue to focus on converting casual players to CORE players so we can strive towards a full recovery to pre-pandemic levels.”

In 2023, sport per participant continued its downward trend. On average, people aged 6+ played 1.73 sports, the lowest figure in the last decade and the first time this number has gone below 1.80. Alternatively, the sport per participant number for people in the 6-12 and 13-17 age groups individually did go up slightly from 2022 to 2023. While youth sports participation (ages 6-17) remained flat from 2022 to 2023, team sports participation did in fact experience growth for those 18+.

The 2024 Trends in Team Sports Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $650.

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), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

Will Present for Judging Panel of Sports and Fitness Executives and Investors 

(September 16, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) announced today that it has selected 11 finalists to compete in the 2024 SFIA Start-Up Challenge. The Start-Up Challenge, now in its eighth year, champions innovative entrepreneurs who are revolutionizing the sports and fitness sector through cutting-edge products, technologies, and concepts.

The first part of the competition will take place on Thursday, September 26, 2024, with the Virtual Q&A Session. At the conclusion of the Q&A session, the top three finalists will be selected to move on to compete for the chance to be the Challenge Champion at the Start-Up Challenge Main Event on October 29, 2024, at Babson College – in coordination with SFIA’s Boston Super Regional.

The applicant pool includes entrepreneurs from around the world, representing all segments of the sports and fitness industry, including performance and strength/conditioning products, technologies and apps powered by AI, and more.

All finalists will receive an invite to participate in the live Virtual Q&A Session (September 26) to pitch their product or service to a panel of esteemed judges made up of industry executives, investors, retailers, and thought leaders. In addition, all finalists will receive one year of SFIA membership, a logo feature in an SFIA research report, a five-minute pitch video, real-time feedback from industry decision-makers and executives, and personal introductions.

The 2024 finalists are:

In addition to all the prizes listed above, the grand prize winner, who will be selected amongst three finalists at the Start-Up Challenge Main Event (October 29) will receive a 2025 SFIA Start-Up Challenge judges’ seat, national media coverage, a spotlight in an SFIA Research Report, and the opportunity to network and connect with SFIA Members at an SFIA event – including free event registration, a speaking opportunity, and public recognition as ‘Start-Up Challenge Winner’ at an SFIA event.

“Americans are valuing and pursuing active lifestyles more than ever before, and with that comes the need to innovate and create inspiring new products and ideas,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “As the SFIA hosts its eighth Start-Up Challenge in 2024, we are excited to again highlight next-gen advancements to help enhance the sports and fitness industry.”

For more on the 2024 Start-Up Challenge, visit www.sfiastartupchallenge.org.

If you are interested in an interview with one of the Start-Up Challenge finalists or a member of the SFIA team, please contact Lisa Futterman at [email protected].

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

Final Batch of 39 In-Depth Sports and Fitness Activity Reports Released Today

September 11, 2024 – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its third and final series of Single Sport Reports for 2024. A total of 91 sport-specific reports for a variety of sports and fitness activities over the seven categories SFIA tracks are now available for purchase.

As reported in our 2024 Topline Participation Report, 242 million Americans, or 78.8% of Americans, participated in an activity one or more times in 2023, a 2.2% increase from last year. The number of people that have participated in an activity has increased every single year for a milestone of 10 years, growing by 5 million in 2023. Inactivity also decreased to its lowest number since SFIA began tracking the metric.

“We are excited to add one new report to SFIA’s library of Single Sport Reports for 2024 – Football (7v7),” states Alex Kerman, Senior Director, Research & Business Operations, SFIA. “These reports round out our total of 91 reports, which our members find especially valuable for their deep-dive into specific ‘demographic of participant’ data, including Casual vs CORE participation, which can help organizations make better business decisions and plan for their future objectives.”

These reports provide a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics and by specific sport or fitness activity. This includes data on participation as defined by gender, participation frequency, age, geographic region, household income, education level, cross-sport/activity participation, and ethnicity.

The following 39 Single Sport Reports are now available:

This is the third and final series of SFIA Single Sport Reports released for 2024. All 91 Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are now available for purchase for $100 per report for SFIA Members and $300 per report for Non-Members.

These reports are provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of any of the reports 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), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

(September 4, 2024) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Board of Directors has appointed Todd Smith as President and Chief Executive Officer for the association, effective October 1, 2024. Smith will succeed current President/CEO, Tom Cove, who earlier this year announced his retirement after leading the organization since 2005.

“I am excited to have Todd join the SFIA,” said Jon Ram, Chairman of the SFIA Board of Directors and former CEO, C&J Clarks Shoes. “He embodies the energy and values of the SFIA and our members. It was a challenging process to find a leader capable and suitable of following in Tom’s footsteps and exceptional leadership. Todd’s leadership and strong track record will enable the SFIA to continue to excel in its work to represent our dynamic industry and our amazing members.”

Smith joins the SFIA, whose members consist of hundreds of brands, manufacturers, and retailers in the sports products industry, after serving as the Senior Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business organization. In this role, he was a leader in expanding the association’s membership network, creating new programs and resources for U.S. Chamber members, and advancing the advocacy and policy priorities of the business community.

Smith brings to the SFIA CEO role a strong knowledge and passion for the sports and fitness industry. Prior to joining the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Smith was a Director of Global Partnerships for AEG, a global leader in the sports and entertainment industry. His extensive industry experience, having worked across the professional sports sector with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, NHL’s LA Kings, and MLS’s LA Galaxy as a leader in sponsorship sales, marketing, and fan development, provides Smith with a deep understanding of the needs of SFIA’s members. He holds a master’s degree in sports management from LSU and a bachelor’s degree from UCLA. 

“I’m thrilled to have Todd coming aboard,” said Mike Zlaket, Chair of the SFIA Board Search Committee and CEO of Rawlings Sporting Goods. “Tom Cove is retiring with a long, successful legacy and leaves big shoes to fill, and Todd really checked all the boxes during the search process. I am confident he will be a tremendous leader who will represent our industry with class, creativity, and passion, and I know we have a very bright future ahead of us under Todd’s leadership.”

Media Contact:
Lisa Futterman | [email protected]

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ABOUT SFIA: The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

24 Fitness Activity Single Sport Reports Are Now Available; Join 28 Previously Released

August 13, 2024 – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its second of three series of 2024 Single Sport Reports, including 24 individual reports from the fitness activity category – including conditioning, strength, and aerobic activities. SFIA has now released a total of 52 single sport reports from the team sports, individual, racquet (pickleball), and fitness categories.

As reported in our 2024 Topline Participation Report, many health club-based activities, such as Treadmill, Stair-Climbing, Rowing Machine, and most class-based fitness activities, such as Barre, Pilates, and Yoga, saw good gains in participation in 2023, following the limited access to them during the pandemic period.

“The fitness sports category continues to have the most participants with around 208 million people participating in fitness activities – the only category that has over 200 million participants,” said Alex Kerman, Senior Director, Research & Business Operations, SFIA. “This second series of SFIA’s Single Sport Reports will show drill-down data for all fitness activities, providing an in-depth breakdown of participation and trends over a 5-year period.”

These reports provide a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics and by specific sport or fitness activity. This includes data on participation as defined by gender, participation frequency, age, geographic region, market size area, income, education level, cross-sport/activity participation, and ethnicity.

The following 24 Single Sport Reports are now available:

This is the second series of SFIA Single Sport Reports released for 2024. 28 Single Sport Reports are also available for purchase from the team, racquet, and action sports categories.

52 2024 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are now available for $100 per report for SFIA Members and $300 per report for Non-Members.

These reports are provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy of any of the reports 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), the #1 source for sport and fitness research, is the leading global trade association of manufacturers, retailers, and marketers in the sports products and fitness industry. SFIA seeks to promote sports and fitness participation, as well as industry vitality through research, thought leadership, public affairs, industry affairs, and member services. For more information, please visit sfia.org.

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