Sports play an important role in the physical, mental, and overall well-being of youth. Getting active through sports can help kids and teens get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity — and support the development of essential life skills while boosting confidence and self-esteem. ODPHP is committed to increasing youth sports participation through its various initiatives.
Whether you're a coach, community organization, or policymaker, you can use the resources on this page to promote youth sports participation and engagement.
Explore the National Youth Sports Strategy
The National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) outlines actionable strategies to increase participation in youth sports. Whether you’re working at the individual, community, or organizational level — everyone can play a role in creating opportunities, improving access, and motivating youth to play sports.
You can also use this NYSS Partner Promotion Toolkit to help spread the word and encourage others to get involved.
Become an NYSS Champion
NYSS Champions are organizations that work to promote youth sports in their communities. Discover current NYSS Champions and find out how your organization can apply to become an NYSS Champion.
See NYSS Champions in action! Explore these webinar clips and learn about strategies and resources that youth sports coaches can use to make sports safe and fun for all young athletes:
Prioritize Health with the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition (PCSFN) is a federal advisory committee with the goal to promote the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.
Explore these youth sports resources from the President’s Council:
- 10 Actionable Tips: Support Youth Mental Health Through Sports [PDF – 2.3 MB]: Download this fact sheet to get tips on how to support the mental and emotional health of young athletes.
- Benefits of Youth Sports [PDF – 1.9 MB]: Explore this fact sheet to learn about the immediate and long-term benefits of youth sports.
Set Goals for Youth Sports Participation with Healthy People 2030
Healthy People 2030 sets measurable national objectives to improve the health and well-being of all people. Check out Healthy People’s youth sports participation objective to monitor national progress, set your own youth sports participation targets, and access evidence-based resources.
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play has used the Healthy People target of getting 63 percent of youth involved in sports by 2030 to unite youth sports leaders around a common goal. Learn about the 63X30 initiative.
Use Move Your Way® to Promote Physical Activity
Move Your Way is the promotional campaign for the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and it provides a variety of resources to promote physical activity — including sports-specific materials for parents of children and teens ages 6 to 17 years. Use the free resources below (available in English and Spanish) to help families learn about the many benefits of youth sports that go beyond physical health.
Fact Sheet and Posters
Video
Explore the full suite of materials for parents — and be sure to check out these materials for kids and teens!
Working in a school environment? Browse the Move Your Way® Toolkit for Schools for tips and resources to support school professionals in promoting physical activity among students.
