Date
Spring 2018
Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Exercise, Health, and Sport Sciences
Advisor
Elizabeth Dodge, MFA
Second Advisor
Lisa Hibl, PhD, MFA
Abstract
Nationally, since 2008, participation in youth sports (ages 6-17) has dropped significantly. The declining trend--from 45% down to 37%-- can be attributed to many factors
- The rising cost associated with general participation in programs, especially at the middle and high school levels
- Early specialization in one sport along with the introduction of hypercompetitiveness in younger age groups
- The need for coaches to have much more training and certification to get a foot in the door at schools and recreation programs around the country.
These factors cause a significant divide between underprivileged and privileged youth, creating a situation of haves and have-nots with respect to youth participation in sports.
My 30-hour service learning project afforded me hands-on experience instructing youth martial arts classes at the Greater Portland Branch YMCA, where I worked directly with youth from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Specific information on participation trends was acquired through interviews with management, and a review of recent literature in Sports Medicine and Recreation and Leisure Studies journals provided data on national trends.
Start Date
4-20-2018 9:00 AM
Recommended Citation
Allen, Ian, "The Y Can’t Do It All: Examining the Decline of Participation in Youth Athletics" (2018). Thinking Matters Symposium Archive. 134.
https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/thinking_matters/134
