NSASS

Since distinct & recognized costs/benefits to both informal & formal sports—worth keeping an eye on trends & nurturing varied settings, if one wants to play formally org sports. Some concern that in recent years, informal sports participation has fallen by wayside. And, SES diffs more problematic.

These generational and SES trends also seemed to play out in children's most played sport-- except here the SES disparities became especially pronounced, recently. And, more invested and passionate family and community sport cultures seemed to have led to more formally org sports participation.

First, shows empirical evidence of increasing tilts toward playing more formally organized sports, vs informal sports, across generations. Second, finds that family socioeconomic status is positively associated with playing more formally organized sport, on a relative basis.

The Relative Frequencies of Playing Sports Informally Versus Formally, While Growing Up: An Analysis of Generational and Socioeconomic Status Differences in the U.S Using large-scale national data (n = 3,845), this study employed multiple regressions to analyze U.S. adults’ reports of their relative frequencies playing informal versus formally organized sports...

New research by Chris Knoester & Chris Bjork, in @leisuresciences.bsky.social, analyzes patterns of playing informal (e.g., playground, pickup) vs. formally organized (e.g., adults in charge, uniforms) sports while growing up, across past 60 yrs. doi.org/10.1080/0149... @tandfresearch.bsky.social

Democrats Forget Winning Agenda From 2025 Guest Host Charlie Hurt

@nsass.bsky.social in the news: Chris McLeod appeared on FOX News-- One Nation with Brian Kilmeade to discuss our research, in @jssisport.bsky.social, on parents' expectations for their children's athletic achievements. (tv paid link: www.foxnews.com/video/638865...) open.spotify.com/episode/4BxI...

17% of Parents Think Their Kid is 'Meant' to Go Pro—What We're Getting Wrong About Youth Sports Your young athlete may have dreams of playing in college or going pro, but you also have to be realistic about those dreams. Here's how.

@nsass.bsky.social research in the news: appreciated the engagement and commentary. www.parents.com/17-percent-o...

Episode 219: Understanding the Mindset of the Parent of a Rising Athlete Prospect

Enjoyed chance for a longform conversation with Dan Tudor, on his College Recruiting Weekly podcast, on youth sports! Featured research from recent @jssisport.bsky.social study on parents’ expectations for their children’s athletic achievements led by Chris McLeod. open.spotify.com/episode/3ILi...

YouTube video by Denton Community Television Haylie Stum The Cost of Youth Sports

Great segment on the cost of youth sports by Haley Stum for North Texas TV! Nice to see expertise from @lindaflanauthor.bsky.social & @nsass.bsky.social PI featured.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTXt...

An Ohio State University Study Says That 27% of Parents Think it's Likely Their Child Will Become a College Scholarship Athlete Ohio State News – Many children grow up dreaming – or maybe even expecting – that they will become a star in football, basketball or whatever their favorite sport may be.Most parents have more realist...

Appropriate to see @jgrabmeier.bsky.social ride off into the sunset, with final write-up going viral (at least on @barstoolsport.bsky.social twitter feed) & prominent mention in linked article. Research by Chris McLeod & Chris Knoester in @jssisport.bsky.social www.barstoolsports.com/blog/3559396...

Study: 27% of sports parents believe their child will get a college scholarship Study reveals that most American parents have realistic expectations about their child's athletic future, despite some optimistic outlooks.

University researchers found most American parents have realistic expectations about their child's athletic future, with only a small percentage believing their child will reach the professional or Olympic level.

Appreciated seeing our work on the rise of private club and travel sports, published in @jssisport.bsky.social, being summarized and relied upon in Akron Beacon Journal op-ed about Name, Image, and Likeness rules for high school athletes. www.beaconjournal.com/story/opinio...

Ohio State study reveals pitfalls of parents’ sports dreams for kids Parents of young athletes tend to have realistic expectations for their children’s athletic success, although a notable group still believes their child has a better-than-average shot at beco…

Ohio State study reveals pitfalls of parents' sports dreams for kids

The ‘travel team trap’ that’s sapping parents’ time and bank accounts A recent study found that participation in travel sports has increased over generations, and the industry is leaving many families behind.

Excellent story by Chris Francis at @san.com on the rise of private club and travel teams in the U.S., drawing from recent @nsass.bsky.social research by Chris Knoester and Chris Bjork, published in @jssisport.bsky.social, & interviews with the authors. san.com/cc/the-trave...

Will my kid be a pro athlete?

Enjoyed speaking with Sarah Crosbie about our recently published @jssisport.bsky.social research, using Nat'l Sports & Society Survey, about parental expectations for their children’s athletic achievements, on CONNECT with Sarah Crosbie on QR 770AM in Calgary! open.spotify.com/episode/0Rj6...

Will my kid be a pro athlete? Study finds what parents think Many children grow up dreaming – or maybe even expecting – that they will become a star in football, basketball or whatever their favorite sport may be.Most parents have more realistic expectations of their children’s future athletic achievement, a new study finds. But a substantial minority believe their kids will beat the odds and become...

Will my kid be a pro athlete? Study finds what parents think

Some expectations very high!! Suggests need to nurture & support multiple potential pathways & prep to shift course, as apropros. Recognize long odds. But, enjoy pursuing dreams of various sorts! Concerns remain about people taking things too seriously or overinvesting in athletic pursuits, still.

Parents who were passionate sports fans & played college sports also more + about child’s chances of becoming elite athlete. In sum, seems child's athletic skills, child's athletic identities, & responses to racial dynamics in sports and society are prominent predictors of parents’ expectations.

Parents of Black/Hispanic, vs White, kids especially optimistic of child’s chances; also, those living in neighborhoods w/ more families of color, more +. SES (-) only linked to likelihood of playing pro/Olympic sports. Parents seemingly adjusted to child’s age (-), athletic abilities (+), id's (+).

34% said somewhat/very likely their child becomes college athlete, 27% said somewhat/very likely get athletic scholarship, & 17% thought somewhat/very likely child becomes pro or Olympic athlete. Still, impt that most parents don't think likely their child will achieve these athletic feats.

New research by Chris McLeod & Chris Knoester in @jssisport.bsky.social on parental expectations (n=785) for their child’s athletic achievements. First, we find much higher expectations for achievement than will translate into accomplishment, given sport achievement stats. doi.org/10.1177/0193...

Project Play survey: Parents spend 3+ hours every day on child’s sports - Project Play If you’re the parent of a child in sports, chances are your life gets extremely hectic. It’s not just the extra costs with sports, although a 46% increase on family spending since 2019 that surpasse...

Excellent @jonsolomon35.bsky.social writeup of @aspeninstitute.bsky.social Project Play research on family commitments to youth sports!

(appreciated the integration of @nsass.bsky.social research on generational changes from Knoester & Bjork in piece)

projectplay.org/news/project...

More kids are leaving youth sports than ever before-between 60 & 70 percent drop out before adulthood. Dawn Anderson-Butcher & Chris Knoester explain why so many kids are quitting, what the data reveals & how new approaches can help keep their heads & hearts in the game. www.osu.edu/impact/now-a...

The surge of private club and travel teams in youth sports

Great to speak with Sarah Crosbie about our recently published @jssisport.bsky.social research on the rise of private club and travel sports, on CONNECT with Sarah Crosbie on QR 770AM in Calgary!
open.spotify.com/episode/52Wd...

Surge in Private Clubs and Travel Teams Transforms Youth Sports Dynamics In recent decades, the landscape of youth sports in the United States has undergone a profound transformation, marked notably by the explosive growth of private club and travel teams. A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues sheds new light on this phenomenon, revealing how participation in these specialized sports programs has surged dramatically among younger generations compared to those born in the mid-20th century.

Surge in Private Clubs and Travel Teams Transforms Youth Sports Dynamics

In recent decades, the landscape of youth sports in the United States has undergone a profound transformation, marked notably by the explosive growth of private club and travel teams. A groundbreaking study published in the…

Study theorizes bout rise of youth sport industry, intensive parenting, & purposive leisure via sports--& increasing push to offer/invest in club/travel sports. Some benefits, but ~=, lots of $, huge time & effort commits, specialization & other pressures, & dropouts. Little reason to expect change.

Some unexpected diff’s when asked bout “competitive leagues” like travel/club, in most played sport—part rates more common, presumably bc defn of “competitive leagues” is more expansive. Also, non-club/travel "competitive leagues" seem to have dried up. But, measures point to pre-teen vs teen part.

Family & community sport culture aspects that mattered included parental fandom, parental athleticism, # sports made available to play regularly, availability of affordable rec sports nearby, & community's passion for sport. Longer durations of playing sports also linked to ever playing club/travel.

In fact, parents’ education interacted with generational differences such that disparities between having a parent w/ a college degree vs no college became pronounced among children born in the 1990s, compared to older generations.

New NSASS research in @jssisport.bsky.social by Chris Knoester & Chris Bjork. Shows increases in private club & travel sports part across generations, family SES differences, & links to family & community sport cultures as well as the duration of youth sport commitments.
doi.org/10.1177/0193...

Religious attendance linked to greater support for youth tackle football, study finds Frequent churchgoers are more likely to say tackle football is appropriate for kids, according to new research. The study highlights how religious beliefs may influence support for the sport.

Religious attendance linked to greater support for youth tackle football, study finds