Pickleball Sees Unprecedented Growth: Will Require 25,000 Courts Built, $900 Million Investment to Keep Up with Demand

(August 10, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and Pickleheads today have released the 2023 State of Pickleball: Participation & Infrastructure Report, which provides an in-depth analysis of pickleball participation and facilities in the United States. By overlaying detailed participation and facility data, this report highlights the investment needed to keep up with pickleball’s meteoric rise, leveraging data never available before.

As cited in SFIA’s Topline Participation Report, pickleball has continued its incredible rise in America, increasing by 85.7% year-over-year and by an astonishing 158.6% over three years. With 8.9 million participants in 2022, the number of new participants in pickleball exceeded the total number of pickleball participants in 2021. This highlights the unprecedented growth and increased awareness of the sport, leading to the importance of leveraging facility data in addition to more detailed participation breakdowns.

“We are excited to collaborate with Pickleheads to create this first-of-its-kind report – leveraging an even more detailed and expansive overview of the fastest growing sport in America,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “This partnership and new research product will help inform the conversation around pickleball and enable the industry and community to address the opportunities and challenges.”

Counter to some preconceived perceptions of the sport, the average age of a pickleball participant is 35, while the age group with the most participants is 25-34. The 18- 24 and 65+ age groups were tied for the second highest most participated age group.

Pickleball participation grew in every region in the United States in 2022 with the South Atlantic region (including DE, FL, GA, MD, NC, SC, VA) leading the way with 1.9 million pickleball players. The Pacific (1.5 million) and East North Central (1.4 million) regions were the second and third most participated regions. The Mountain region (including AZ, CA, UT) had the highest number of dedicated courts per 1,000 participants (4.6), over twice the national average. The Middle Atlantic region (NY, NJ, PA) had the lowest court coverage with 1.0 dedicated courts per 1,000 participants.

“The SFIA has been at the forefront highlighting pickleball’s rise as the fastest growing sport in America. Now, leveraging our facility data, we can see this impressive growth has created an exciting challenge for the industry – addressing the court shortage in the U.S.,” states Brandon Mackie, Co-founder and COO, Pickleheads. “With over $900 million of investment needed in court infrastructure, the coming years should be very exciting for the pickleball industry.”

Many of America’s largest metropolitan cities are far behind in satisfying pickleball demand for court infrastructure, with New York and Los Angeles both 98% below national averages for dedicated courts per 10,000 people. With over 70% of pickleball courts currently temporary in nature, there remains a large opportunity to build dedicated facilities, especially in America’s core metropolitan areas.

The 2023 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.

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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.

ABOUT PICKLEHEADS: Pickleheads is the #1 online platform for pickleball. Players can find courts, organize games and connect with nearby players. Pickleheads has created the industry’s most comprehensive database of pickleball courts. As of June 2023, Pickleheads data includes 51,937 courts across 12,081 facilities in the U.S. For more information, please visit pickleheads.com.

Industry Leaders in Sports Research and Business Trends Combine Forces to Benefit Members

(July 20, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and Running USA today announced an exciting strategic partnership that will benefit the members of both organizations.

As the premier trade association for the sports and fitness industry, with a mission to promote participation and industry vitality, the SFIA serves its members through four pillars: thought leadership, advocacy and public affairs, member services, and industry-leading research. Running USA is dedicated to improving the status and experience of distance running and racing in the United States. The two research leaders will offer their members reciprocal discounts on reports and collaborate on upcoming new research.

“We’re elated to partner with SFIA and create new research initiatives for brands and events in the running space,” said Christine Bowen, Chief Operating Officer of Running USA. “For more than 20 years, Running USA has been the running industry research leader and we feel this partnership heightens both organizations’ reach, range and efficacy as data providers.”

“This partnership with Running USA provides an incredible opportunity for both organizations to leverage what we do best and improve the insights and actionable intelligence we provide to our respective members and stakeholders,” said Tom Cove, President and CEO, SFIA. “We look forward to working with Running USA to enhance the vitality, sustainability and growth of the sport of running and the running industry.”

Current members of SFIA and Running USA will receive personal communications regarding research discounts within the next few days. Running USA members can also find their SFIA discount code by logging into their account at RunningUSA.org.

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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.

ABOUT RUNNING USA: Running USA is a tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization devoted to improving the status and experience of distance running and racing in the United States through collective marketing and promotions, information and communications within the industry and to the national media, services to events and industry members, and the development of American world class stars. It seeks the advancement of the sport and the provision of value to each of its members’ events and businesses. For more information, visit RunningUSA.org.

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

SILVER SPRING, MD (July 11, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its third and final batch of 2023 Single Sport Reports. A total of 91 sport-specific reports for a variety of sports and fitness activities are now available for purchase. Each report provides a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics for each individual activity.

As reported in our 2023 Topline Participation Report, the number of Americans who engaged in some type of sport or fitness activity grew in 2022 for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, the cumulative measure of “CORE” participant rates, which is a frequency measure used to capture those who participate in an activity enough times to reflect commitment and passion, increased for the fifth straight year – up 10.1% since 2017. This is critical as CORE participants are most likely to be consistent, knowledgeable customers and appreciate brand and technology differentiations, which helps the industry remain strong.

“We are excited to add three new reports to SFIA’s library of Single Sport Reports for 2023 – Trail Running, Hiking (Day), and Camping,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, 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.”

Final batch of 35 Single Sport Reports now available:

This is the third and final batch of Single Sport Reports released for 2023. All 91 Single Sport Reports are all available for purchase.

All 2023 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are $100 each 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.

 

24 Individual Fitness Reports Are Now Available for Purchase

SILVER SPRING, MD (June 15, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its second of three batches of 2023 Single Sport Reports, including 24 individual reports from the fitness activity category – including conditioning, strength, and aerobic activities.

As reported in our 2023 Topline Participation Report, facility-based fitness activities like elliptical, group stationary cycling, and weight resistance machines, which struggled as clubs were closed during COVID, have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels. However, we have seen positive change, as yoga grew more than 10% in that same period of time, and trail running and day hiking participation grew for the fifth straight year.

“Overall fitness participation rates grew consistently through the unprecedented disruption of last three years, which is very encouraging,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “At the same time, our research indicates dramatic movement up and down across fitness-specific activities. This batch of Single Sport Reports will provide an in-depth breakdown of participants in 24 different fitness activity categories and the participation trends over a 5-year period.”

Each report provides a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics for each 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 batch of Single Sport Reports released for 2023. 32 Single Sport Reports are also available for purchase from the team, racquet, and action sports categories.

All 2023 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are $100 each 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.

SILVER SPRING, MD (June 2, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has officially launched the SFIA Excelerator Program, an emerging leaders program for young professionals from diverse communities employed in the sports and fitness industry.

The pilot program is a six-month initiative that will run from May through November 2023 involving seven high-performing young professionals (“Associates”) from SFIA member organizations, including Clarks, BSN Sports, Brooks Running, Nevco, New Balance, Rawlings, and Riddell.

The Associates will participate in an immersive program that includes various SFIA industry events, professional development workshops, a “Lunch ’N Learn” series, career coaching sessions, and a collaborative webinar presentation to the industry. The Venn Collective, a Preferred Partner of SFIA that works with organizations to build healthy cultures, strong leaders, and high-performing teams, will help facilitate the Excelerator program content.

“SFIA is committed to working with our member companies to accelerate the careers of exceptional young professionals from diverse backgrounds,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “We must invest in the next generation of emerging talent and empower them to be the future leaders in this industry. I’m proud of our DEI Committee’s leadership in forging this opportunity.”

The SFIA Excelerator Program Associates for the first cohort include:


Left Photo by: Dustin Satloff, Pottheiser Photography

“The NFL is proud to be an SFIA member and support the development of the next generation of industry leaders from diverse communities. We all are responsible for engaging, mentoring, and developing future leaders in the sports business,” said Roman Oben, Vice President of Football Development Strategy, National Football League and an SFIA Executive Board Member and the Chairperson of the DEI Committee.

Jacqueline Leamer, Co-Founder, Head of Strategy, The Venn Collective said, “We couldn’t be more proud to energize and support SFIA’s Excelerator program and to develop and raise up leaders. The industry will only benefit from the cohort’s growth.”

Click here to learn more about the Excelerator Program and the 2023 Associates.

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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.

ABOUT VENN COLLECTIVE: The Venn Collective connects business and people to energize peak performance so that business is better for people and people are better in business. They create customized solutions for individuals, teams, and organizations that tap into the potential of all talent levels. Their work spans coaching leaders to clarity and energy, training managers and teams for performance, and designing solutions for organizations that enable sustainable change and growth. For more information, please visit thevenncollective.com.

32 Individual Single Sport Reports Are Now Available for Purchase

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 18, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its first batch of 2023 Single Sport Reports, including 32 individual sport reports from the team sports, racquet sports, and action sports categories. These reports provide a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics and by specific sport or fitness activity.

As reported in our 2023 Topline Participation Report, more Americans participated in at least one sport, fitness exercise, or outdoor recreation activity in 2022 than in any of the five previous years. We also saw activity in the U.S. increase for the fifth consecutive year.

“In 2022, SFIA saw the overall physical participation rate in America continue to rise, and the team sports rates overall approached 2019 levels for first time since the pandemic hit,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “Our Single Sport Report series provides actionable, drill-down data on every team sport including basketball, outdoor soccer, and flag football, which all saw increases, and of course we anticipate pickleball being one of the most highly requested Single Sport Report as it continues to be the fastest-growing sport or activity in the United States.”

Each report provides a detailed analysis and breakdown of participation by various demographics for the specific sport or 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 32 Single Sport Reports are now available:

All 2023 SFIA Single Sport and Fitness Participation Reports are $100 each 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.

Industry Experiences Second Largest Single Year Growth since 2010

SILVER SPRING, MD (April 18, 2023) – The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) has released its 2023 State of the Industry Report, featuring an in-depth analysis of the trends and issues affecting the sports and fitness products business, including participation, economic performance, and the industry environment.

The industry reported 4.3% revenue growth in U.S. wholesale sales of athletic footwear, apparel, sports and fitness equipment, and licensed products in 2022, totaling over $116 billion dollars. This represents the second-largest percentage growth since 2010, but a pullback from the record performance of 15.8% in 2021. Of note, the 2022 industry growth rate was lower than the current-dollar GDP of 9.2%, where traditionally, they track very closely. The dollar figures of both GDP and industry revenues were undoubtedly affected by inflation, which influenced raw material inputs, labor and logistics costs, and final product pricing.

“Last year was a difficult year to categorize. Sports and fitness companies continued to meet strong demand for their products and collectively realized healthy annual growth,” states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “At the same time, many SFIA member companies reflected high concern around uncertainties in the marketplace that lasted much longer than anyone anticipated at the beginning of 2022.”

The SFIA report, which was released today at the SFIA/NCAA/NFHA Team Sports Conference in Indianapolis, IN, reflects executive surveys on a variety of industry-specific indicators. In 2022, 55.2% of companies who responded said they increased profitability, while 28.4% said they decreased profitability last year. The 55.2% number is the second largest since 2015, reinforcing the resilience of the sports and fitness industry through the pandemic and supply chain disruptions. For a third consecutive year, the number of respondent companies that decreased profitability (28.4%) declined.

Inventory management was a big story in 2022. After historically low inventory levels previously, 67% of companies increased their inventory levels in 2022 – the highest number of companies that have increased their levels in the last decade. 57% of companies increased their R&D investments, which is a slight decrease from 2021, but still is the second-highest number in the last five years.

The State of the Industry Report includes a number of attitudinal and forecasting responses from the industry, including the current state of the sports and fitness industry (Around 85% say strong or average), the future state of the sports and fitness industry (around 95% say strong or average), and top concerns facing the industry going forward (potential economic recession affecting domestic sales growth, and inflation impacts affecting profitability).

In terms of sports and fitness participation rates, more Americans reported doing some physical activity, at both the CORE and casual levels, but team and fitness club activity rates have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels.

The 2023 State of the Industry Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here.

The report is provided free of charge to members of the media. If you are interested in a copy, 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.

SILVER SPRING, MD (March 23, 2023) – Product sales in the sporting goods, fitness, and related recreation markets grew 4.3% last year, building on record sales growth in 2021, according to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s (SFIA) 2023 Manufacturers’ Sales by Category Report. The report, released today, tracks U.S. wholesale revenues in sporting goods and fitness equipment, athletic footwear, sports apparel, and licensed products, further broken down into more than 30 categories, and provides comparisons to revenues from previous years.

“Maintaining a better than 4% growth rate across all industry categories in 2022 after the huge year we saw in 2021 is a good performance,” says Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “It has been a crazy three years, obviously, but to maintain healthy growth rates as our industry dealt with pandemic restrictions, supply chain disruptions, and soaring inflation speaks both to the sustaining demand Americans have for active lifestyle products and the resilience of our industry.”

Nearly every single category tracked in the report grew in 2022. Total sports equipment saw a 4.1% increase, with snow sports (11.5%), golf (8.3%), scuba and skin diving (7.5%), and water sports (7.4%) leading the way. In addition to growth this year, golf equipment sales are up 70% since 2019 – which in large part has to do with the increase it saw during the pandemic as a COVID-friendly activity.

Total sports apparel and total licensed merchandise also were two categories that saw increases, at 6.4% and 7.1% respectively. Every single item tracked in these categories went up in 2022, with the one exception of a minor 1.8% decrease in branded activewear. Total athletic footwear saw an increase of 2% in 2022, now up 18.1% since 2019, with football (9.1%) and baseball (8.8%) leading the way. In addition to growth this year, the fitness/workout footwear category is up 71.7% overall since 2019.

Total exercise equipment was the only major category that showed a decrease last year. The 3.7% decrease is due in large part to the decline in consumer exercise equipment sales in 2022. However, it should be noted that 2021 was the greatest year in sales in fitness equipment history – at 52.7% growth over 2019 numbers – so naturally, it had to decline. Free weights are still up 150% since 2019, followed by exercise benches at 106.7%. While consumer figures are down, institutional exercise equipment saw 3.5% growth after a decline the previous year.

“The impact of inflation on this year’s sales numbers was critically important,” states, Cove. “This report details annual sales figures and presents a trend comparison. At the same time, we note the importance of unit sales analysis to understand the ‘big picture’ in terms of overall industry growth.”

The 2023 Manufacturers’ by Sales Category Report is free to SFIA Members and is available to the public for purchase by clicking here for $250.

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 a member of SFIA, 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.

 

WASHINGTON, DC (March 15, 2023) – The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act was re-introduced in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives yesterday, Tuesday, March 14. Supported by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) and a broad coalition of sports, health, business, and community organizations, the PHIT Act allows pre-tax flexible and medical savings accounts to cover physical activity expenses, effectively reducing the out-of-pocket expenses for American families and individuals for youth sports fees, health club dues, training costs and much more.    

Senators John Thune (R-SD) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) are leading the Senate effort to pass PHIT and Congressmen Mike Kelly (R-PA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) are spearheading the House campaign. Senators Baldwin (D-WI), Capito (R-WV), Cramer (R-ND), King (I-ME), Marshall (R-KS), Scott (R-SC), Sinema (I-AZ), Tillis (R-NC), and Wicker (R-MS) joined in introducing PHIT. In the House, Congressmen Boyle (D-PA), Fitzpatrick (R-PA), LaHood (R-IL), and Sewell (D-AL) are original co-sponsors of this bipartisan bill.

“As a lifelong athlete and fitness enthusiast, I understand the value of and feel grateful to have access to gyms and fitness equipment,” said Sen. John Thune. “For some Americans, though, certain gym or athletic league membership costs can be prohibitive, keeping them from pursuing healthy habits like exercising or participating in other physical activities. By giving Americans greater flexibility with their HSAs and FSAs, we can empower people to make healthy choices, get active, and hopefully avoid the onset of costly chronic conditions.”

“Joining a local gym or signing your kids up for little league are great ways for families to get healthy and connect with their community, but those fees can be really expensive,” stated Senator Chris Murphy, “This bipartisan legislation would allow people to use their pre-tax medical accounts to cover those expenses. It is a smart investment that would help more Americans prioritize their health, lead active lives, and connect with others.”

“With families tightening their belts, gyms, youth sports leagues, and other exercise classes have become less and less affordable and accessible,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta. “I am proud to reintroduce the PHIT Act alongside Rep. Kelly to provide financial incentives for families to really invest in physical activity for their kids and themselves. An active lifestyle is the best preventative medicine, and by encouraging these habits we can promote healthier communities.”

“As a former college football player and youth football coach myself, I have seen young Americans greatly improve their lives because they were able to join a team and play sports,” commented Rep. Mike Kelly “This bill gives kids, especially those in underserved or low-income communities, a real chance to play the sport of their choice. This isn’t just about athletics; it is about gaining critical team-building and character-building traits that stay with kids for the rest of their lives. I thank the National Football League, National Hockey League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball for supporting our efforts.”

“Physical activity is key to preventing numerous diseases and fostering healthier lives and communities,” added Rep. Terri Sewell. “We in Congress must do what we can to ensure that America’s families are empowered with the tools they need to live healthy and active lifestyles. That is why I am proud to be co-leading this bipartisan legislation to make it easier for Americans to afford things like gym memberships and fitness equipment and participate in youth sports.”

The bill also has drawn support from a number of national governing bodies in the sports and fitness industry, including from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, MLB Commissioner Robert Manfred, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, and more.

“The National Football League is pleased to support the PHIT Act, which is sensible, bipartisan legislation that makes participation in youth sports and physical activity more accessible and affordable for more Americans. Encouraging youth to adopt active lifestyles and healthy habits has been a cornerstone of the league’s commitment to community, and the PHIT Act helps to further advance that important goal,” said Brendon Plack, NFL SVP of Public Policy and Government Affairs. “We look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors in Congress, as well as other stakeholders in the sports community, to move the bill across the goal line. Enacting the PHIT Act into law will mark a victory in the ongoing effort to promote and support healthy and active families across the country.”

“At the NHL, we believe that hockey is for everyone, and that is why we support efforts in Congress to advance the PHIT Act, which would help make sports more affordable for all who have a passion and love for the game, regardless of socio-economic status,” said Kim Davis, NHL Senior Executive Vice President of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. “Data consistently shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term physical, mental, and economic benefits for players, their families, and their communities. The PHIT Act would directly help countless American families access these invaluable sports opportunities.”

“Every child deserves the right to be healthy,” said Wayne Moss, Executive Director, National Council of Youth Sports. “Youth sports is a fun pathway to healthy lifestyles and leads to positive physical, social, and emotional outcomes. Sports also serve as a protective factor for risky behavior. The PHIT Act will reduce participation barriers and allow more young people to participate. This bipartisan legislation will help mitigate the physical and mental health challenges created by COVID-19.”

“Americans, especially our children, need to be more active, and studies have shown that children who are physically active do better academically in school,” said Jon Butler, President of Pop Warner Little Scholars. “Being active is also a good means of enhancing mood elevation and self-esteem. Passing the PHIT Act to lower activity costs will help families with youth sports expenses to increase participation in sports.”

SFIA is a leading advocate on Capitol Hill for promoting physical activity in America and is committed to finding solutions to the cost, access, and other barriers to participation. SFIA believes physical activity is key to a healthy life and the U.S. needs to make it a bigger priority. The long-term benefits of a more active America will not only improve the health of our citizens but also contribute to the national priority of lowering overall healthcare costs.

“The pandemic gave us a new appreciation for the physical and mental health benefits of activity,” said Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “The PHIT Act is a common sense solution to allow more Americans to participate in sports, exercise, and recreate in the outdoors by making such activities more affordable and accessible. SFIA applauds Senators Thune and Murphy and Congressmen Kelly and Panetta for their strong commitment to improving the health of every American, and we pledge to work worth with our congressional champions to pass the PHIT Act.”

For questions regarding the PHIT Act, 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.

Pickleball Remains Fastest Growing Sport in America — 124 Activities Tracked in Report

SILVER SPRING, MD (February 22, 2023) – More Americans participated in at least one sport, fitness exercise, or outdoor recreation activity in 2022 than in any of the five previous years, according to the newly released Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) Topline Participation Report. Considered the sports and fitness industry’s essential reference document for sports participation, the 2023 SFIA Topline Report tracks participation rates of Americans aged six and older, across 124 different sports, fitness, and outdoor activities, including a section dedicated to the impact of COVID-19 on participation rates.

For the fifth consecutive year, activity in the U.S. continued to increase. In 2022, 77.6% of all Americans, or 236.9 million people, participated in at least one activity during the 2022 calendar year. Based on trend analysis into and out of the pandemic disruption, the United States saw a 9.2% increase in total participation rates from 2017 and a 1.9% increase from 2021.

“This year’s report reinforces that Americans are prioritizing physical activity as they establish habits and routines in a post-pandemic environment,“ states Tom Cove, President & CEO, SFIA. “But, we will make a mistake if we take some good signals for granted. Looking forward, sports and fitness delivery systems must commit to providing accessible, reasonably priced, and high-quality experiences to keep athletes engaged.”

Pickleball continued its incredible rise in America and remains the fastest-growing sport. Participation nearly doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7% year-over-year and by an astonishing 158.6% over three years. But pickleball is not the only racquet sport to see continued growth. For the first time since 2015, every racquet sport increased its total participation number compared to the previous year.

In terms of team sports, the overall participation rate approached, but did not exceed, the 2019 rate. Basketball, outdoor soccer, and flag football all posted three-year increases of over 4.5%, with basketball leading the way with a 13% increase since 2019. Notably, evidence that “CORE participation” cumulatively across all team sports (a frequency measure to capture those most active) continues to lag suggests while athletes are playing, they may not be playing as much as they used to.

Lifestyle activities generally remained very popular. Golf and tennis have grown more than 20% since 2019, and yoga grew more than 10% in that same time period. Trail running and day hiking participation grew for the fifth straight year. However, facility-based fitness activities like elliptical, group stationary cycling, and weight resistance machines, which suffered as clubs were shuttered during COVID, have struggled to return to pre-pandemic levels.

The report also includes 10-year trend analyses by activity category, data dives into inactivity, and surveys of Americans’ aspirations to take on new activities in 2023.

The 2023 Topline Participation Report is free to SFIA members and is available for purchase for $350 to non-members.

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 a member of SFIA, 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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