This is just a tiny glimpse of the data available to CivicScience clients. Discover more data.
Professional and college sports have recently commanded the spotlight of the sports world. But college and pro sports are only pieces of the overarching sports world puzzle. Youth sports, depending on how active a child is, can be a year-round commitment for families. CivicScience has fresh consumer data on youth sports participation trends as we head into the warmer months. The latest data show that 63% of those with children under 18 report that their child plays sports — here are three quick-hitting data points to know about American youth sports participation today:
- Multi-sports athletes: Most parents with children under 18 playing in an organized sports league say their child is playing in at least two different sports (65%). Thirty percent of them say their child is playing in organized leagues in three or more different sports.
- Top seasons for sports: Fall is the most common season for youth sports participation (58% say their children under 18 play in the fall), followed by summer (51%), winter (48%), and spring (44%).
- Most common sports: Basketball, football, baseball/softball, and soccer are the most commonly played sports.
Take our Poll: Have you ever volunteered or donated to any local youth sports teams?
Equipment is essential for many youth sports, but recent CivicScience tracking shows a notable decline in spending so far in 2025. The latest ongoing tracking data through March show that 59% of parents with children under 18 who play sports reported spending $0 on sports equipment—up from 50% in January 2025. While the drop is a bit sharper this year, it still aligns with the seasonal slowdown that was observed last year, before picking back up in May 2024. That said, a summer rebound in spending could face new headwinds this year amid the latest wave of tariffs.
At the other end of the spectrum, an increasing percentage of those with kids who have been spending on gear say they’ve spent $200 or more for gear in the past three months, a trend that has been ongoing since December. With much of the sports equipment sold in the U.S. either being imported or made with imported materials, tariffs may serve as an accelerant for this trend among spenders.
Tariff impacts could also deepen the financial pressure many families already feel when it comes to youth sports. When asked whether they agreed with the statement, “Since the start of this year, I have made financial sacrifices to keep my child(ren) enrolled in youth sports,” 47% of respondents agreed—including 23% who ‘strongly’ agreed (excluding ‘does not apply’).
Weigh In: How would you rate the quality of youth sports leagues in your area?
When they do need equipment, families with children participating in sports are most likely to purchase gear from sporting goods chain stores such as Dick’s Sporting Goods (37%). Local stores (21%) follow as a distant second while online-only retailers (15%) and big-box stores like Walmart or Target (11%) are less common. Borrowing from family or friends (4%) is also very uncommon but could gain prominence amid the tariffs. Thirteen percent, meanwhile, acquire their gear by another method.
Those who most frequently purchase their child’s sports gear from local sports stores are the most likely to say they’ve had to make financial sacrifices this year to keep their children enrolled in youth sports. Frequent online gear shoppers and those who most often shop for children’s sports gear at sporting goods chain stores are also likely to be feeling the pinch to keep their kids in the game.
Use this Data: CivicScience clients leverage data like this to fine-tune acquisition and retention strategies as consumer needs and retail behaviors evolve.
While youth sports participation remains high, with many kids playing multiple sports, many parents are making sacrifices elsewhere to keep their children playing amid mounting financial pressure on families. As budgets get tighter and spending on equipment becomes more of a luxury, sports retailers will need to stay nimble and double down on value as tariffs and costs continue to climb.
