Key Takeaways
- Youth sports participation dropped from 58% to 54% between 2017 and 2022 among children ages 6-17, according to federal data
- Three golf organizations commit to shared goal of reaching 63% participation by 2030 through coordinated access initiatives
- Collaboration centers on 2026 facility access theme and adoption of Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports framework
- PGA of America commits to tracking and reporting progress metrics to inform future decision making
- Partnership demonstrates cross-organizational alignment model advocated by Aspen Institute’s backbone approach
Addressing a Five-Year Decline in Team Sports and Lessons
Federal data reveals a troubling trend: fewer American children are playing organized sports. Just 54% of kids ages 6-17 participated on a team or took lessons in 2022, down from 58% in 2017. The PGA of America, First Tee, and Youth on Course announced Monday they will work together to reverse this decline through golf.
The three organizations are backing Project Play 63X30, an initiative led by the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program. The goal aligns with a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services target: achieve 63% youth sports participation by 2030.
Coordinating on Facility Access and Rights-Based Framework
The golf partnership focuses on three shared commitments. First, the organizations will align activities with Project Play’s annual themes, starting with facility access in 2026. Second, they will promote the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports among coaches, golf facilities, and donors. Third, they will coordinate efforts to remove barriers preventing kids from accessing golf.
“By joining forces with the First Tee and Youth on Course, we aspire to set a positive example within our industry and underscore the power that collaboration holds in increasing and sustaining the game,” said Steve Tanner, PGA of America Senior Director of Player Engagement. “We are also committed to tracking and reporting our progress toward these goals, providing valuable metrics to shape future decision making.”
Each Organization Brings Established Youth Access Infrastructure
First Tee operates through a network of 150 chapters, 12,000 schools, and 2,000 youth centers, having reached millions of young people over 27 years. The organization builds character and life skills through golf programming.
Youth on Course has provided access to more than 5 million subsidized rounds since 2006, allowing members 18 and under to play for $5 or less at thousands of partner courses across the United States, Canada, and Australia. The organization also offers career development, leadership programs, and college scholarships.
The PGA of America comprises more than 30,000 golf professionals working in coaching, facility operations, and business leadership roles across the country.
Testing a Model for Cross-Sport Collaboration
The Aspen Institute designed Project Play 63X30 as a cross-sector initiative requiring coordination among multiple organizations. Tom Farrey, executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Society program, called the golf partnership an example of what the model can produce.
“Golf is showing what it means to be a team sport,” Farrey said. “Leading organizations are working together in service of youth, creating a common language and set of aligned activities that holds the key to getting and keeping more kids in the game.”
Greg McLaughlin, CEO of First Tee, noted that game development has been a byproduct of character-building work. “Aspen Institute’s Project Play is engaging an array of organizations involved in youth sports to work together,” he said. “First Tee is proud to come alongside PGA of America and Youth on Course to support this initiative.”
Adam Heieck, CEO of Youth on Course, framed the collaboration as a responsibility. “The benefits of youth playing sports are immense, for their own development, and our society as a whole,” he said. “We have a collective responsibility in golf, to ensure our sport is accessible for any kid who wants to play, and that’s what this collaboration is about.”
What the Partnership Signals for Youth Sports Access
The golf sector’s coordinated approach offers a test case for whether aligned activities and shared metrics can move participation numbers. The commitment to track and report progress publicly creates accountability for the stated 2030 target.
Whether this model produces measurable results will depend on execution around facility access and barrier removal. The framework exists. Implementation over the next five years will determine if collaboration translates to more kids playing.
via: PGA
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