Washington, D.C. (July 9, 2024): Youth sports is a sleeping giant in Washington, but that is about to change. SFIA applauds Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) on securing language in the Commerce Department Appropriations for a comprehensive study on the economic impact of youth sports in America (page 16). Layering the economic data on top of the social and health benefits of youth sports will move policies through Congress.
Everyone in Congress supports active kids and youth sports for a variety of social and health reasons, yet many policies to address the cost and access barriers remain stalled. The pandemic disrupted youth sports like never before and the physical and mental health fallout is well documented. The benefits of team sports and activity for children have never been more evident; Congress needs to help families get kids in the game.
SFIA identified the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) as the perfect government agency to collect data from the Departments of Education, Labor, Health & Human Services, and Interior on the total economic impact of youth sports in the U.S. SFIA is the gold-standard for industry research and this new government study on the economic impact of youth sports will be a valuable resource for the industry and complement SFIA’s ongoing research.
Any new government study needs funding and SFIA found the right champion in Congressman Fleischmann. The Congressman was SFIA’s top choice; an athlete, playing on the Congressional Baseball, Football, and Basketball teams, a regular in the House gym, and an Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman. The Congressman took on the challenge of funding the study with passion and commitment and delivered the language in the Commerce Appropriations bill to launch the study:
Youth Sports Economic Impact Study — The Committee directs the Secretary to report to the Committee, no later than 90 days after the enactment of this Act, on the feasibility of entering into a joint memorandum with the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Secretary of Labor to assess the youth fitness and sports economy of the United States by identifying the total revenue generated from youth fitness and sports businesses and facilities on a national and State level; the total jobs created by youth fitness and sports businesses and facilities; and the total dollar value of the youth fitness and sports economy.
The study will be funded in 2025 with the first report released in 2026. A similar BEA study for Outdoor Recreation found a total economic output of $1.1 trillion in 2023 or 2.4 percent of U.S. GDP. SFIA believes the youth sports figures will be even bigger. Youth sports exist in every community in America and have more participants through school, community, and club sports programs than outdoor recreation.
Active Americans are healthier and spend less on preventable medical conditions; capturing the economic impact of activity in America will boost federal investments in youth sports and adult fitness. SFIA thanks Congressman Fleischmann for his vision and leadership.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].