WASHINGTON – A recent AP-Ipsos poll reveals that a significant majority of Americans recognize the benefits of children participating in organized sports. Nevertheless, disparities exist in participation rates based on family income, with higher-income families more likely to enroll their children in these activities.
The survey highlights the perceived advantages of youth sports, which include building teamwork skills and reducing screen time. Approximately half of parents with K-12 school-aged children report their kids engage in structured sports. However, this participation is notably higher among families earning $100,000 or more annually, with about 70% of such parents indicating their children play organized sports, compared to only about 40% of parents from lower-income households.
These findings shed light on a critical issue in youth sports: while parents universally acknowledge the importance of participation for childhood development, the associated costs can be prohibitive for lower-income families. Expenses related to travel, uniforms, and meals can quickly add up, as noted by Tanisha Curry, a resident of Ohio, who manages the costs for her granddaughter’s volleyball activities. “Kids don’t go out and do things anymore,” she emphasized. “Getting them away from a screen, at least for an hour — it’s worth it.”
On average, around two-thirds of K-12 parents with children in sports estimate their annual spending on equipment, fees, and travel to be up to $2,000. Interestingly, both affluent and less affluent families report similar annual spending levels, which underscores the financial strain that lower-income households may face. Many parents hope that investing in youth sports will yield long-term benefits, such as scholarships or enhanced opportunities.
Despite the challenges associated with youth sports, most parents believe the benefits far outweigh any drawbacks. The poll indicates that nearly all U.S. adults recognize significant advantages for children involved in sports, including learning how to cope with adversity, improving physical fitness, and making friends. These insights echo the experiences of older generations, as about 75% of adults who participated in organized sports as children reported positive impacts on their childhood, with 60% noting benefits extending into adulthood.
The survey also reveals that a majority of K-12 sports parents face logistical challenges in organizing their children’s participation in sports. Approximately 80% report that scheduling and logistics present a significant challenge, while around 70% cite team fees and travel costs as obstacles. Many families prioritize sports over other expenses, as illustrated by Kathryn Stuczynski from New York, who budgets carefully to ensure her children can pursue their passions in activities like karate and wrestling. “Giving my girls life experiences, it’s priceless,” she stated, expressing willingness to forgo other luxuries to support her daughters’ interests.
Notably, while affluent families tend to spend more overall, they do not necessarily allocate more to youth sports compared to their lower-income counterparts. About 10% of higher-income households report spending over $5,000 annually on sports, which is rare among lower-income families. Nevertheless, the majority of sports parents express pride and happiness regarding their children’s involvement in organized sports, with around 80% identifying these feelings strongly.
The aspiration for athletic scholarships also plays a role in parents’ decisions to enroll their children in sports. Approximately 80% of parents believe that participation can improve their child’s chances of college acceptance. However, the reality is that only a small fraction of K-12 athletes will compete at the collegiate level. Stuczynski, whose daughter excels in wrestling, acknowledges the potential for a scholarship but emphasizes that passion and enjoyment should drive her daughter’s involvement. “We would never force it,” she affirmed. “We’ll go as hard as she wants to go, basically.”
The poll, conducted with a sample of 1,737 adults in July 2026, offers valuable insights into the landscape of youth sports in America. The results illustrate a clear divide in participation based on income, alongside a widespread recognition of the myriad benefits that organized sports offer to children, fostering essential life skills and healthy lifestyles.
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The poll of 1,737 adults was conducted July 21-26, 2026, using a sample drawn from Ipsos’ probability-based KnowledgePanel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. It included interviews with 510 parents of school-aged children who play youth sports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 2.7 percentage points for adults overall and +/- 4.9 percentage points for parents of school-aged children who play youth sports.
