Key Takeaways
- Global Market Insights values the global kids sports equipment and accessories category at USD 5.1 billion in 2025, rising to USD 8.9 billion by 2035.
- Team sports products accounted for 42.6% of the 2025 market, the leading share among sport categories in the report.
- Asia-Pacific is forecast to grow at 6.6% annually from 2026 through 2035, ahead of the 5.7% global rate, per the report.
The global kids sports equipment market was worth USD 5.1 billion in 2025 and will reach USD 8.9 billion by 2035, according to a June 2026 report from Global Market Insights distributed by Research and Markets. The report estimates a 5.7% compound annual growth rate over the forecast period.
How Big Is the Kids Sports Equipment Market?
Sports equipment is the larger piece of the category. Global Market Insights puts that segment at USD 2.9 billion in 2025, about 57% of the total, and forecasts USD 4.8 billion by 2035.
The 220-page report attributes demand to parents enrolling children in sports at younger ages and to children moving from recreational play into specialized training. That progression increases purchases of age-appropriate gear, safety equipment, and sport-specific accessories, per the report. It also cites school athletics, youth sports programs, and organized recreational activities as sources of demand.
Team Sports Hold the Largest Share at 42.6%
Team sports accounted for 42.6% of the market in 2025, per Global Market Insights. The report ties the segment’s lead to growth in school athletic programs, community sports leagues, and youth training initiatives, and says parents favor team sports gear because it supports social interaction and structured learning.
The report names 21 major players, including Nike, Inc., Adidas AG, Decathlon S.A., Puma SE, Amer Sports Corporation, Under Armour, Inc., and Mizuno Corporation. According to Global Market Insights, these companies are focusing on products designed specifically for young athletes, sustainable materials, online distribution, and partnerships with sports organizations.
A $3.8 Billion Climb to 2035, With Asia-Pacific Outpacing the Global Rate
The report’s figures imply USD 3.8 billion in added annual sales between 2025 and 2035. Regionally, Global Market Insights expects the Asia-Pacific kids sports equipment and accessories market to grow at a 6.6% compound annual rate from 2026 through 2035, citing rising disposable income, expanding urban populations, and growing adoption of organized sports.
That is nearly a full percentage point above the 5.7% global rate, and the published summary does not provide a comparable figure for North America.
Source: Research and Markets (report by Global Market Insights), June 2026, https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/6261881/kids-sports-equipment-accessories-market
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About Youth Sports Business Report
Youth Sports Business Report (YSBR) is the largest and most trusted media platform covering the business of youth sports worldwide. YSBR delivers youth sports news, market intelligence, and original analysis daily across facilities, sponsorships, private equity, NIL, sports technology, and league operations. With more than 50,000 followers, YSBR is the leading source of youth sports industry news for the investors, owners, operators, and brands shaping the future of youth sports.
How big is the youth sports market?
American families spend approximately $54 billion annually on kids’ sports and recreation, according to the YSBR and Kinetica Group Youth Sports TAM & Parent Spending Report, with organized sports alone representing a $40 billion-plus market. The average family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46 percent since 2019, per the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, and market research projects the global youth sports market will reach approximately $114 billion by 2032 (Business Research Insights).
How many kids play youth sports in the United States?
Approximately 27.3 million children ages 6 to 17, or about 54.6 percent, played organized sports in 2022-2023, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health as reported by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play. High school sports participation reached a record 8.26 million athletes in 2024-25, per the NFHS.
Who founded Youth Sports Business Report?
Youth Sports Business Report was founded by Cameron Korab, a sports marketing veteran with more than a decade in the industry and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Korab also co-founded Vertical Sports, a sports marketing advisory serving brands across youth, college, and pro sports.
What does YSBR cover?
YSBR delivers original reporting and market intelligence on youth sports facilities, youth sports technology, sponsorship and brand partnerships, private equity and venture capital deals, NIL policy, coaching development, equipment and apparel, tournaments and events, and community sports initiatives. Readers include industry executives, investors, facility owners and operators, league administrators, and youth sports parents.
Youth Sports Business Report resources
- Newsletter: Subscribe to Youth Sports HQ, the most-read newsletter on the business of youth sports, delivering curated youth sports industry news and analysis to thousands of industry leaders every week.
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- Jobs: Browse the YSBR Youth Sports Job Board, the most comprehensive destination for careers in youth sports, with hundreds of active listings across facility management, league operations, coaching, sports technology, and marketing.
- Services: Find vetted partners and solutions for your organization in the YSBR Services Hub, connecting youth sports operators, brands, and investors with verified providers across the industry.
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Check out Jr. Sports Marketing on YouTube or Spotify
Hosted by Cameron Korab, founder of Youth Sports Business Report, Jr. Sports Marketing features candid 1-on-1 conversations with the brands, athletes, leagues, and innovators building the future of youth sports. Each episode breaks down how the smartest brands are activating, building equity, and winning with youth sports families. If you’re an operator, founder, investor, or marketer trying to understand where this space is headed, this is your show.
Youth Sports Marketing Questions, Answered
Where can brands sponsor youth sports? Brands can sponsor youth sports through local leagues and clubs, tournaments and events, facilities and complexes, governing bodies, and national platform programs. Sponsoring a child’s own program is the most powerful entry point: 81 percent of parents say it captures their attention, outperforming TV, social media, and pro sports sponsorship, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study conducted by YouGov Sport.
How much does youth sports sponsorship cost? Youth sports sponsorship costs range from a few thousand dollars for a local league or team sponsorship to six and seven figures for regional facility naming rights and national platform programs. The environment is welcoming at every level: 84 percent of parents hold net positive sentiment toward brands sponsoring youth sports, with negative sentiment under 5 percent, per YouGov Sport research. Most brands start with a pilot activation, measure engagement, then scale.
What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? The data is striking: 80 percent of parents say they would choose the brand that sponsors their child’s youth sports program when comparing two similar products, per a 2026 Priority Partnerships study by YouGov Sport. A 2026 EMARKETER and DICK’S Media survey found 84 percent of sports parents say that role influences their purchase decisions, and 60 percent spend more on game and practice days, driving loyalty across categories from dining to travel to automotive.
Ready to build a youth sports strategy? Vertical Sports is an Advisory+ delivering integrated expertise across all levels of sport. Youth, College, Pro. Every Fan, Every Level. Brands and youth sports organizations can reach the team at info@verticalsports.us.
