1. Running Head: YOUTH SPORTS: GAME ON! 1
Youth Sports: Game On!
Mackenzie DeMuth
University of Northern Iowa

2. YOUTH SPORTS: GAME ON! 2
“Today’s kids aren’t participating in sports as actively as in the past” (Jacoby-
Garrett, 2016). Paula Jacoby-Garrett wrote an article titled Game On! in early September
2016. Youth sports aren’t as big as they used to be. This has to do with many reasons but
a couple of the big ones are poor health and lack of access to sports amenities. Sports are
so important in the building of character in children and young adults. Finding solutions,
looking at the benefits of sports in park and recreation facilities, and building parks are
just a few things communities can do in order to increase the participation in sports in
today’s life.
For many people sports were a huge part of their childhood. They loved to play
with friends and be a part of something. Team sports can give someone the respect and
work ethic that they should have in life. According to research from the State of Obesity,
“Since 1980, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled” (Jacoby-Garrett, 2016).
This is awful and something needs to be done to put a stop to the rising numbers of
childhood obesity. “As childhood obesity rates climb, less than half of children are
getting the recommended amount of physical activity per day and the percentage of
children participating in team sports has decreased” (Jacoby-Garrett). The well being of
today’s children and their health need to be more important and looked at more closely
than they are right now. Paula states that only 40 percent of children are involved in
sports. If more children were involved, more children would be more likely to continue to
be active as young adults and adults (Jacoby-Garrett).
According to Paula, “communities across the United States have capitulated to a
misinformed mentality that views the very existence of certain sports facilities—
particularly basketball courts—as encouraging the proliferation of a “bad element” in

3. YOUTH SPORTS: GAME ON! 3
neighborhoods” (2016). Some communities don’t want basketball courts in their
neighborhoods because it could potentially bring in a bad crowd. This is not a good
reason to take away sporting areas. Taking away places to be active can get kids into
trouble. They will possibly go do other leisure activities that may not be in their best
interest like underage drinking or drugs. In 2013, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play
initiative was established to better understand the impact of decreased physical activity in
childhood. (Jacoby-Garrett) Sports create opportunities for better health in all
communities.
Finding solutions to the decrease in youth sports is very important. The Project
Play program has created a framework for sport literacy that includes a model for success
(Jacoby-Garrett, 2016). Project Play has come up with a series of strategies to encourage
youth in sports. They ask kids what they want to do and let them play whichever sport
they want. Having recreation facilities in communities is so important. Health benefits are
tremendous and providing a social environment as well as economic benefits is great.
Trojan Park was built in Wellston, Missouri and it was designed to encourage community
bonding and offer opportunities for residents to improve their health (Jacoby-Garrett,
2016). More communities need to keep that in mind and do it for the people.
Leisure programs should be implemented more than they are today. Teaching kids
that sports build character and teach responsibility is a huge part of life. The article states
that participation in youth sports is on the downside. Programs could change this. Having
programs like Project Play are very important. “There are so many benefits to programs
and having sports in parks. If more communities have more places to play, more people
will use them” (Jacoby-Garrett, 2016).

4. YOUTH SPORTS: GAME ON! 4
References
Jacoby-Garrett, P., (2016). Game On! Parks and Recreation. Retrieved from
http://www.parksandrecreation.org/2016/September/Game-On/