Youth sports offer benefits, including better health, stronger academics, and deeper social connection. The good news is that the participation of girls in sports has increased in recent decades. The bad news is that boys’ involvement has stagnated, and perhaps even declined, while the cost and time commitment of travel sports seems to go up every year.
For boys who start later, develop later, or want a less intense experience, the options can be limited. We have recreational leagues for young children, intramurals in college, and adult leagues. But what happens in between?
In this week’s episode, I speak with Vince Minjares and Zach Moo Young about Boys in Sports, a report from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play and the American Institute for Boys and Men. Drawing on survey data and conversations with boys, their research explores what young people want from sports and what gets in the way.
We begin with our own experiences as players and coaches, including the adults whose belief in us mattered—and those whose judgment we took too seriously. We also discuss:
How early specialization and differences in physical development can leave interested boys on the sidelines.
What intramurals, additional teams, and school-community partnerships could offer students who aren’t on a school team.
How highlight reels—and the possibility of becoming someone else’s highlight—can deter effort and make mistakes feel more consequential.
What video games offer in autonomy, friendship, and opportunities to fail and try again, and why some boys say gaming actually increases their interest in sports.
How to support coaches, especially teacher-coaches, in responding to boys’ lives on and off the court.
Policy ideas to expand options and participation, including by tapping into money from social media settlements, sports betting revenue, and digital ad taxes.
Their first recommendation sounds almost too obvious: ask students what they want to play.
You can listen to the audio above or watch the video below. As always, we appreciate your feedback in the comments or via a direct message.
