going going gone : the decline of youth sports

• Anestimated$1.5 billionwascutfromschoolsportsbudgets duringthe2010-2011schoolyear.Thiswasontopofthe estimated$2 billioncutduringthe2009-2010year.

• Currently,40 percentofschooldistrictsnationwidearecharging feestoparticipate,knownas“pay-to-play”.

• Schoolsportsparticipationissuffering: more than 80,000 fewer girls participatedbetween2009and2010;boys’sports participationgrewslightly,butatasubstantiallysmallerratethan inpreviousyears.

• In2010-2011,fourkeytrendsemergedillustratingthestateof schoolsports:slashed budgets, increasing fees, eliminated opportunities,andgrowinginequities.

• Emergingdataforthe2011-2012schoolyearindicatesthatthese trendswillworsen.

• Cutsarebeingfeltinallareasofthecountry,whether traditionallyaffluentordisadvantaged.

• Low-incomecommunitiesandfamiliesaredoubly impactedby feesandbudgetcutsasthereisoftenlessmoneyavailablefor districtstotrimandfewalternativeopportunitiesforyouthto playsports.

Report at a glance:

Likecountlessothercommunitiesacrossthecountry,theschoolboardinPayson,AZ,recentlyfounditselffacingseverebudgetcuts.Intheprocessofattemptingtokeepcutsfrombeingfeltintheclassroom,thedistrictintroduceda$200sportsfee,whichrequiredallparticipantsto“pay-to-play.”Asaresult,severalstudentsfromlow-incomefamiliescouldnolongeraffordtoplay,andonlythreepercentofparticipatingstudentsreceivedscholarshipstooffsetthefees.SchoolboardmembersacknowledgedthedifficultiessuchpoliciescreateforfamiliesbutassertedthattheywerenecessarytoprotectsportsatPaysonfrombeingeliminatedcompletely1.Similarscenariosareplayingoutalloverthecountry,contributingtoanestimated$1.5billionincutsforthe2010-2011schoolyearandanestimated40percentofschooldistrictschargingfeestoplaysports,or“pay-to-play”fees.

Atatimewhenanestimated80percentofschooldistrictsareeliminatingjobsandmakingcutstoothervitaleducationalprograms,manywillarguethatsportsmustalsotakeahit.Thisviewpointisshortsighted.Sportsprogramsareoneofthemostcost-effectiveactivitiesthatpromotepositiveyouthdevelopment;infact,extracurricularactivitiestypicallycomprisejust1to3percentofschoolbudgetswhileengaging60to70percentofstudents2.Sportsprogramsarealsouniqueintheirabilitytoimpacthealth,educational,andbehavioralbenefitsonyouth.

Up2Usbelievesthatsportsareafundamentalcomponentofpubliceducationandthatfurthercutstosportsprogramsandorincreasesinpay-to-playmustceaseoroursocietycouldfacesevereandcostlyconsequences.Thedeclineinschool-basedsportshasimplicationsforthenonprofitandfaith-basedcommunities,whicharequicklybecomingthelastresortprovidersforyouthsports,especiallyinlow-incomecommunities.

Thefollowingreportdemonstratesthelatestdataonthetrendsimpactingyouthsportsinschooldistrictsacrossthisnation.Byallowingsportstobecutand/oreliminatedfromourschoolswithoutraisingourcollectivevoice,werisktheramificationsofacontinuingdownwardspiralforpublichealth,alessproductiveworkforce,andapubliceducationsystemthatignoresthefullpotentialofeachchildthatitserves.

Introduction:

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Health, Education and Social Benefits of Sports

Tounderstandtheimpactofthetrendsthatareoutlinedinthisreport,itisfirstnecessarytosummarizethehealth,educationandsocialbenefitsofsportsparticipationonthisnation’syouth.

HealthBenefits It is widely known that childhood obesity has reachedappallinglevelsandisfastbecomingapublichealthemer-gency.Thehealthcaresystemisbeingsqueezedbytheris-ing costs of obesity and preventable diseases like diabe-tes,which claims 20 percent of the healthcare billwhileafflicting only 8 percent of the population. Currently, 30percent of youth in theU.S. are overweight or obese bythirdgrade,andtheincidencerateishigheramongyouthin low-income communities3. Among racial and ethnicminority communities, children are disproportionatelyaffectedby Type2diabetes4. Childrenwhoareobesebyageeightare10timesmorelikelytobeobeseadults5.

Sports are an effective solution to childhood obesity andotherhealthdisorders.Studentswhoplaysportsareeighttimes more likely to be active later in life, and physicalfitness isastrongpredictorofcardiovascularhealth6.The2009 National Survey of Children’s Health showed thatnon-athletesare60percentmore likely tobeoverweightthan athletes7. Students involved in sports also havestatistically higher levels of healthy self-image and are atlowerriskforemotionaldistress8.

EducationalBenefitsThe current national high school dropout rate hovers at30 percent and approaches 50 percent in many urbanareas9.Sportsareaneffectivesolution foraddressing thisacademic crisis afflicting our public schools. For manystudents,sportsprovidethemotivationtostayengagedin

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academics since student-athletes must maintain a certain GPA to participate.However, sports domuchmore than encourage students to perform at simply aminimum academic level; student-athletes report higher achievement in schooland improved grades in bothmath and English10; and youthwhoplay sports feelmore connected to their schools, attend school more regularly, and have highereducational aspirations11. Studies have also shown that student-athletes areless tardy, have fewer absences12, increased levels of effort13, increased sense ofbelonging14,higherrateofhomeworkcompletion15,andreducedlevelsofdroppingout16.Ifanadolescentconsistentlyparticipatesinactivitiessuchassportsfrom8ththrough12thgrade,heorsheisthreetimesmorelikelytovolunteerandfourtimesmorelikelytoattendcollegethanapeerwhoneverparticipated17.

Development of Pro-social and AvoidanceofAnti-socialBehaviorsWith more than 750,000 youth reporting that they are members of a gang18,the need for an intervention that helps youth avoid violent and otherwisedestructive activities and promotes positive behavior is great. Sports programsare often one of the few safe alternative activities for low-income youth duringafternoonhours, inwhichmost juvenile crimesoccur19. In a studyof LosAngelescounty, school communities with more extracurricular sport activities haddrastically lower crime rates than school communities with fewer programs(approximately1:18)20.Youthwhohavearelationshipwithamentor,likeacoach,are46percentlesslikelytostartusingdrugsand27percentlesslikelytostartdrinkingalcohol21.Sedentaryadolescents,thosewhodonotparticipateinsports,aremorelikely to get pregnant and are less likely to use contraception during sexualintercourse22.Not only do youth who participate in sports avoid negative behaviors, they arealsomore likely to develophealthy habits and skills thatwill help them succeed.Sportscanhelpchildren improvetheir self-esteem23anddevelop importantsocialand leadership skills24. A 2-year study of The First Tee, a sports-based youthdevelopment organization, found that participants scored higher than theircomparison peers in a wide range of social skills: managing emotions, meetingand greeting, resolving conflicts, appreciating diversity, setting goals, perceivedacademiccompetence,moralconduct,andself-efficacytoresistpeerpressure25.

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Snapshot of Trends in Youth Sports in 2010-11The following are descriptions of four trends that have impactedschool sports programs during this past academic year: budget cuts,increasedfees,programelimination,andgrowinginequities.Each description includes examples of districts and schools fromthroughout the country experiencing these issues firsthand.Because decisions about budgets and policies that set schoolsports fees are made at the local level, local newspaperarticles are often the only source of data on the extent towhichopportunities for youth to participate in sports are disappearing.The following data have been aggregated from more than 500articlesreportingschoolsinstitutingbudgetcutsand/orpoliciesforneworrisingathleticsfees.Theyprovideasnapshotofthesituationthatisimpactingcommunitiesacrossthenation.

1. Slashed BudgetsSchooldistrictsandindividualschoolsthroughoutthecountryhavebeenforcedtocutsportstomeetbudgetrequirements.Whilethecutstoathleticbudgetsvary inscopebasedondistricts’sizes,thetrendofslashingbudgetsfromathleticdepartmentshas impactedallschoolsinallsocioeconomicbrackets.• $1.5 billion in cuts to youth sports programs have taken placeduringthe2010-2011schoolyear26.Budgetcutstoschoolsportsrange from $7,747 in the Canandaigua School District in NewYork27 to $1.25 million in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg SchoolDistrictinNorthCarolina28.

Otherexamplesofcutsfollow:• ElkGroveUnifiedSchoolDistrict (CA),hometo62,172students29,cut$800,00030


• Mendon-UptonSchoolDistrict(MA)cut$250,000,affecting2,888kids31

• ClarkstownCentralSchoolDistrict(NY),with9,305students,cut$600,00032

• ToledoCitySchoolDistrict(OH)has26,516studentsandcut$900,00033• OrangeCountySchools(NC),hometo7,150students,cut$330,00034• HudsonCountySchoolsofTechnology(NJ)cut$368,000forits1,209students35

2. Increased FeesAthleticsfeeshavebeeninstitutedorincreasedinmanydistrictstoreplacemoneylostinbudgetcuts.Thesefeesareleviedagainststudentsatboththehighschoolandmiddleschoollevels.

Dataonparticipationfeesduringthe2010-2011schoolyearrevealthat40percentofschooldistrictsnationwidearechargingsometypeoffeefortheirstudentstoparticipateinsportsandthatthesefeesareincreasing.Examplesofspecificdistrictsimplementingincreasesinfeesarethefollowing:• Wellesley School District (MA) increased fees from $125 to $150 in middleschoolsandfrom$230to$250inhighschools36

• Center Grove School District (IN) increased fees to $85 per sport in middleschoolsand$170persportinhighschools37

• Community Unit School District 205 (IL) increased fees for high school sportsfrom$110persporttotieredfeesrangingfrom$125to$200persport38

• JeffersonCountySchoolDistrict(CO)planstoraiseathleticsandtransportationfeesforhighschoolsports39

3. Programs Being EliminatedSome schools and districts have eliminated athletics and/or extracurricularactivitiesentirelyasalastresortforaddressingbudgetcuts.Examplesofdistrictsaffectedincludethefollowing:

• Hadley-Luzerne School District (NY) eliminated funding for JV sports forthe2010-11yeartosave$63,90040

• Round Valley School District (AZ) suspended funding for allextracurricular activities for spring 2011 and the 2011-12year41

• Howell Middle School, Brick Middle School, Bogota MiddleSchool, & Red Bank Middle School (NJ) eliminated schoolsportsforthe2010-11year42

• HollisterSchoolDistrict (CA)cutmiddleschool sports for thesecondsemesterof2010-1143

• Teachers’MemorialMiddleSchool(CT)cutitssportsfor2010-2011,andsomearenowfundedthroughagrant44.

4.GrowingInequitiesBudget cuts and pay- to-p lay d i sproport ionate ly a f fectunderservedcommunitiesanddistricts.Compoundingtheissue,low-income families areoftenunable to fund theirchildren’sparticipation in other out-of-school programs to make up forlostplayingtimeinschool.

Data available from schools districts in low-income communitiesreveals how these cuts are adversely affecting youth in thesecommunities.Examplesinclude:

• Riverside Unified School District (CA) cut $300,000 fromathletics45, and includes neighborhoods in which 60 percentof households earn less than$30,000annual ly 46

• Toledo City School District (OH) cut $900,000 from athleticsandnearly30percentof familiesearn less than$25,000

• Columbia School District (MO) cut $400,000 from athletics47;andnearly20percentof residents inColumbia livebelow thepovertylevel,wherethemedianhouseholdincomeis$33,729

• The Tulsa School District in Oklahoma cut $80,000 from thesportsbudget48,adverselyaffectingthe26percentoffamilieswhose income fa l l s under $25,000

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1. Slashed BudgetsOngoing Budget CutsSchooldistrictsarefacingfurtherbudgetcutstotheirathleticsprogramsfor2011-2012.Theconsequencesofsuchcutsarecounterintuitivewhentakingintoaccountsports’relativelysmallimpactonoverallbudgetsandtheirsignificantbenefitsforparticipants.• Atleast123additionalschooldistrictshavealreadyproposedcutstoathleticsfunding• Over 2,048,051 students in these districts will be affected by decreased access tosportsandphysicalactivity

Certain States Hit HarderCertainstatesarehitharderthanothersbythecontinuingeconomiccrisisandarenowfacingthecutstheymayhavebeenhesitanttomakeinpastyears.Forexample,Texasschooldistrictsareholdingemergencybudgetmeetingsanddiscussinghowtoprioritizesportsinaclimateofausterity.ExamplesofhowthesecutsareimpactingTexasincludethefollowing:• Austin School District has proposed cutting $500,000 from athletics throughreducing travel, limiting number of tournaments, and having coaches lead morethanoneteam49

• Ector County Independent School District plans to cut $200,000 from athletics byimplementing travel limits and reducing coaches’ opportunities for professionaldevelopment50

• Keller School District has proposed reducing sub-varsity high school sports andeliminatingmiddleschoolCteamstosave$725,00051

Toexploreemergingtrends,Up2Uscollecteddataonpendingbudgetproposalsinschooldistrictsthroughoutthecountry.

Thesedatarevealthatthetrendscitedabovearelikelytoworseninthe2011-2012schoolyear.

Emerging Trends for 2011-2012


• Grapevine-Colleyville School District faces a $25million deficit and plans to cutmiddleschoolCteamsandlimitteams’travelto52miles52

• Leander Independent School District has over 32,000 students and plans to cutmiddleschoolgolfandtennis53

Raising Taxes/Levies. While parents and students nationwide continue to protest cuts to sports,schooldistrictscontinuetofacediminishedfundingandareexploringotheroptions to maintain sports programming, including raising taxes to offsetthecost.Because raising taxesor leviesoften involvespublic referendums,manyschoolboardsarenowdraftingtwoormorebudgetstoaccountfortheuncertaintyoftheupcomingschoolyear.Examplesofthedirechoicesfacingtheseboardsincludethefollowing:

• WestClermontSchools(OH)mayincreasefeesfrom$50to$495persportiftheirlevyfails54

• LickingHeightsSchoolDistrict(OH)willcutallextracurricularactivitiesif itslevydoesnotpass;if itdoes,thedistrictwill instateparticipationfeesof$100(highschool)and$75(middleschool)persport55

• MokenaSchoolDistrict(IL)willeliminatesportsandallotherextra-curricularactivitiesunlessanAprilreferendumpasses56

• NordoniaHillsSchoolDistrict(OH)will increasetheirathleticsparticipationfees;eliminatefreshmanvolleyball,freshmanboysandgirlsbasketball,freshmanwintercheerleading,weightlifting,freshmanbaseball,andfreshmansoftball;andreduceofferingstooneteameachformiddleschoolgirlsandboysbasketball,football,andvolleyball ifthelevydoesnotpass57

Other Cost-Cutting Methods

Schools are considering combining teams, cutting coaches’ stipends, limitingtravelandreducingthenumberofgames.Combiningteamsreducesthenumberof students who can participate in sports. Reducing coach stipends createsanotherchallengeforschoolslookingtoretainqualifiedanddedicatedcoaches.

• Hauppauge School District (NY) will combine 7th and 8th gradeteams,eliminateJVtennis,andfireeightassistantvarsitycoaches58.

• Alexandria Central SchoolDistrict (NY)may eliminate basketball,JV baseball, softball, and girls soccer to save $28,360. It mayalso combine hockey and football teams with a nearby district,potentiallysaving$25,00059

• ChampaignSchoolDistrict (IL) is consideringeliminating stipendsandsomecoaches60

• DallastownSchoolDistrict(PA)mayreducethenumberofgamestoavoidlargecutsinathleticsfunding61

2. Increased FeesRising Participation FeesNext year, districts will continue to face the issue of increasingparticipation fees in order to raise the funds necessary to savetheirsportsprograms.• Newton School District (MA) may introduce fees of $60 for

middleschooland$125forhighschoolsports62

• MadisonSchoolDistrict (NJ)plans to increase itsactivities feeby50percentto$15063

• Berkeley County School District (SC) may introduce a $100sportsfee64

• JanesvilleSchoolDistrict(WI)hasproposedraisingtheathleticsfeefrom$50to$7565

3. Programs Being EliminatedEliminating Individual SportsSome schools are considering eliminating individual sports to savemoney for overall athletics budgets. This usually affects smallersportsteamsorlesstraditionalsportsinanefforttopreservethe


football team (despite being the most expensive sport and only open to one gender)because of its potential to generate revenue. This trend limits the potential of schoolsto develop multi-sport athletes and well-rounded students; it also paves the way forspecialization and overtraining. Much research has illuminated the dangers of athletesspecializingattooyounganage,asitfostersburnoutandagreaterlikelihoodofinjuries66.• In PA 3/4th of schools report that they are planning to reduce or eliminate extra-

curricularactivities,includingsportsprograms.Thisisnearlya10percentincreaseoverthelastschoolyear67.

• NordoniaHillsSchoolDistrict(OH)iseliminatingmiddleschoolgirls’andboys’soccer68• AguilarSchoolDistrict(CO)mayeliminatejuniorhighandhighschoolfootballaswellas

trackandvolleyball69• ChillicotheCitySchoolDistrict(OH)hasproposedeliminatingfreshmanbasketballand

football70• ValleyFallsUnifiedSchoolDistrict (KS)maycutcross-countryandmiddleschool track

andreducesub-varsitygamestosave$10,00071• Jordan-ElbridgeCentralSchoolDistrict(NY)isconsideringeliminatinggolf,tennis,indoor

track,andmodifiedsportstosave$134,00072

Eliminating Grade-level Sports Becausetheprospectofeliminatinghighschoolsportsissocontentiousforcommunitiesaccustomedtolocalsportingevents,districtsareconsideringcuttingsportsinlowergradelevelsandmiddleschools.A2003studyreportedthatmorethan60percentofmiddleschoolstudents(9-to13-year-olds)didnotparticipateinanystructuredphysicalactivityafterschool73.Thisstatisticisalarmingaschildrenwhodon’tparticipateinanactivityinmiddleschoolarelesslikelytoparticipateinhighschool74.

Withoutmiddle school teams toengageyouth inwhatmaybe their first schoolsports experience, high school sports will be limited to those students whoseparents could afford recreation league fees for them at an earlier age. Suchconditionsfueleliteathleticismand limitthebenefitsofyouthsportstoasmallnumberofthehighestperformingathletes.

The followingdistrictsareproposingsignificantcuts tomiddleschoolsports:

• Charlotte-MecklenburgSchoolDistrict(NC),thesecondlargestdistrict in the state, with 135,064 students, is consideringeliminatingtheirprograms75

• Prince George’s County School District (MD), the secondlargestdistrictstatewide,isconsideringcuttingallteamsforits127,977students76

• FortWorth School District (TX),which follows onlyHoustonand Dallas in highest enrollment, may eliminate severalteamsforits79,285students77

• TintonFalls SchoolDistrict (NJ)hasproposedeliminatingallteams78

• Berkeley Heights School District (NJ) has proposed cuttingthem79

• Trenton School District (MI) has suggested replacing themwithintramuralscoachedbyvolunteers80

• Also, San Benito High School (CA) has decided to eliminatefreshmansportstosave$35,00081

Eliminating Entire Sports Programs

For districts facing severe budget cuts, eliminating entireathletic programs is an increasingly proposed option. Thisextreme step poses the ultimate death knoll to youth sports.Examplesnationwidearealarming:

• Duval County SchoolDistrict (FL) faces a $97millionbudgetshortfallandwill likelyeliminatesports in itspublicschools,whichinclude17high-schoolsand122,606students82

• Salem-Keizer School District (OR) is considering eliminatingitssportsprograms,affecting40,200students83


• Salem-KeizerSchoolDistrict(OR)isconsideringeliminatingitssportsprograms,affecting40,200students83

• NorthridgeSchoolDistrict(OH)mayeliminateallextracurricularactivitiesforits1,469studentstosave$203,00084

• LeeCountySchools(NC),hometo9,873students,mighteliminateallsports85

• SoudertonAreaSchoolDistrict(PA),with6,782students,hasproposedcuttingallathleticsandextracurricularactivities86

• WarrenLocalSchoolDistrict(OH)mayeliminateitsathleticsprogramsforits2,656students87.

4. GrowingInequitiesLow-Income Youth Hit HardestLow-incomefamiliesarecontinuingtobearthebruntofathleticscutsbecausetheyreside inschooldistricts thatsimplydonothavethemoneytomaintaintheir athletic programming. Pay-to-play policies in these communitiescontinue to shut out students who are not able to afford participation fees.Trends that link low-income children with poorer health outcomes willonly continue to worsen because of the growing elitism of school sports.• InEctorCountyIndependentSchoolDistrict(TX),whichanticipates$200,000

inathleticscuts,nearly25percentoffamiliesearnlessthan$25,000

• DuvalCountySchoolDistrict (FL),where50percentof studentsare in freeandreducedlunchprograms,mayeliminatesportstosave$6.3million88

• Aboutone infivefamilies living intheAustinSchoolDistrict (TX)earns lessthan$25,000.Thedistrictrecentlyproposedcutting$500,000fromathletics.

• About one in five families living in the Austin School District (TX) earnsless than $25,000. The district recently proposed cutting $500,000 fromathletics.


Impact of Cuts on Participation Rates

Overall, school districts face diminished participation rates insportsasaresultofthetrendslistedabove.Beingpartofaschoolteamsimply becomes impossible for some and significantlymore challenging for others. Families who cannot afford to payparticipationfeesoftenmovetodistrictswithlowerornofees,andchildrenwhosefamiliescannotaffordtomovesimplystopplaying.• In the Reynoldsburg School District (OH), sports participationdropped50percentafterfeeswereintroducedandJVgirlssoccerandfreshmangirlsvolleyballwereeliminated89

• Washington Township School District (NJ) introduced a $150pay-to-play fee in 2011 and saw an “extreme” drop in fall andwinter sports participation, continuing the general downwardtrend;in2009,552highschoolstudentsplayedasport,whilethisnumberhaddroppedto467byfall2010,388bywinter2010,and308by201190

• Parma School District (OH) recently reduced its sports feesintroducedtwoyearsago(whichaveragedbetween$800-$1000per sport) by 50 to 60 percent after facing a similar decline inparticipationandlosingstudentstodistrictswithlowerfees91.

Nationwide, girls’ interscholastic sports participation dropped by86,720 students between 2009 and 2010. In stark contrast to the50,000to100,000additionalboyswhojoinedsportsteamseachyearfrom2005to2009,onlyanadditional2,371participatedbetween2009 and 201092. A study conductedby theMichiganHigh SchoolAthleticAssociationof558highschoolsrevealedthatathleticsfeesupto$100causea10percentdecreaseinparticipation,


and fees up to $200 lead to a 20 percent decline93. A surveytaken by more than 600 high school students in State College,PA found that 47 percent would limit their extracurricularinvolvement if a fee were imposed94. Recreational sports havealso facedsignificant drops in overall participation over the pastdecade,includingbaseball(downnealy13percent),basketball(over8percentdecrease), football (down17percent),andsoftball (de-creasednearly40percent)95.School sports are used here as a marker for demonstrating theoverall decline in youth sports participation. Data is not readilyavailable on the impact of the economic downturn on otherproviders of youth sports. While nonprofits, faith-based agen-cies and parks and recreation programs are struggling to fill thegaps leftby thepublic schools, they are alsoexperiencing severebudgetcutsandprogramcutbacksbecauseofrecentdecreasesinphilanthropy.Inaddition,youthwhodonothaveaccesstosportsprograms in schoolsmayfind it difficult to access theseactivitieselsewhere in their communities. Transportation to non-schoolproviders,especially in low-income communities, may not beavailable. Many parents and caretakers also prohibit youth fromtraveling far from school grounds because of safety issues. Somefamiliesmaynotevenknowthattheseprogramsexistbecauseofpoorcommunication between schools and other community provid-ers. Thenext sectionof this reporthighlights theneed forbetterdatacollectionsystemstoprovideaclearerpictureofthescopeofoverall funding cuts on youth sports across all sectors. In themeantime,support fornonprofits, faith-basedagenciesandparksand recreational programs is critical as a stopgap measure tosaving youth sports in the immediate future, as the number ofopportunitiesforyouthtoparticipatearebecomingperilouslyfew.

Implications for Action

Toreversethesetrends,Up2Usproposesanationalefforttosaveyouthsportsthatinvolvesthefollowing:

1. Increase public knowledge and awareness of the current and ongoing crisisfacing youth sports because of budget cuts, participation fees, andsport/programeliminations.

2. Develop formal systems for collecting information and providing greatertransparency on budget cuts to youth sports and their implications on thewellbeingofaffectedyouth.

3. Advocate for policies that define sports as a core component of publiceducation.

4. Advocateforpoliciesthatusesportsasaninterventionstrategyforyouthtoachievepositiveoutcomesinhealth,educationandpro-socialbehavior.

5. Engagefederalandlocalpolicymakersinsupportingeffortsthatpromoteyouthsports including funding, facilities development, joint usage of recreationspaces,andtransportationforafterschoolprograms.

6. Preventfurtherbudgetcutstosportsprogramsthatendupsavinglittlemoneyat thecostofeliminatingvaluableopportunities foryouthdevelopmentandimportantsourcesofcommunityandschoolpride.

7. Support immediate interventions to provide low-income communitiesresources to maintain their sports programs before they are closedpermanently.ThesemayincludeexpansionofCoachAcrossAmerica,anUp2Usprogramthatprovidesyoungadultsopportunitiestoserveasathleticcoachesincommunitiesofneed;and/ordevelopmentofnationaldonationdrivesthatenabledonorstogetunusedsportsequipmentintoprogramsthatdesperatelyneedthemtokeeptheiryouthactive.

8. Increasetheuseofvolunteersbydevelopinganationalvolunteercoachingsitethatprovidescoachrecruitment,trainingandplacementinprogramsthatneedthem.

9. Organize, coordinate and/or streamline local efforts toprovide youth sportsprograms outside of the school environment by supporting nonprofits,churchesandotheragenciesthatengageyouthinsports.

10. Engagethemedia,professionalsportsleaguesandteamsinanefforttoraisepublic awareness of the critical role that sports play for the future ofAmericanyouth.


Thestatisticsspeakforthemselves.Thefutureofyouthsportsasatoolforpositiveyouthdevelopmentisinjeopardy.The“levelplayingfield” glorified in so many sporting events which unite individu-alsofalleconomicbackgroundsisfastdisappearingandbeingre-placedbytheprivilegedplayingfieldofthosewhocanaffordtopay.Thepersonal success stories toldby somanyadults thatpoint tosportsparticipationasthemostsignificantimpactontheircharacterdevelopmentmaybecomerareratherthancommonplace.

1. Aleshire,P.(2011,February4).Parentslamentimpactofschoolsportsfees.PaysonRoundup. Retrievedfromhttp://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2011/feb/04/parents-lament-impact-schoolsports-fees/2. SuffolkUniversityLawReview.(2006)Pay-to-play:ariskyandlargelyunregulatedsolutiontosave highschoolathleticprogramsfromelimination.Retrievedfrom:http://www.law.suffolk.edu/ highlights/stuorgs/lawreview/documents/Rausch_Note_Final.pdf3. Ogden,C.,etal.(2005).PrevalenceofOverweightandObesityintheUnitedStates,1999-2004. JAMA,295,1549-1555.4. Daniels,D.Y.(2008).Examiningattendance,academicperformance,andbehaviorinobese adolescents.TheJournalofSchoolNursing,24(6),379-388.5. TaskForceonChildhoodObesity.(2010).Solvingtheproblemofchildhoodobesitywithina generation.Retrievedfromhttp://www.letsmove.gov/pdf/TaskForce_on_Childhood_Obesity_ May2010_FullReport.pdf6. VanMechelan,W.,Twisk,J.,&Kemper,H.(2002).Therelationshipbetweenphysicalactivityand physicalfitnessinyouthandcardiovascularhealthlateroninlife.InternationalJournalofSports Medicine,23,1-507. Terzian,M.,&Moore,K.A.(2009).PhysicalinactivityinU.S.adolescents:Family,neighborhood,and individualfactors(Researchbrief).Washington,DC:ChildTrends.Retrievedfrom http://www.childtrends.org8. Harrison,P.A.,&Narayan,G.(2003).Differencesinbehavior,psychologicalfactors,andenvironmental factorsassociatedwithparticipationinschoolsportsandotheractivitiesinadolescence.Journalof SchoolHealth,73(3),113-20.9. Laird,L.,Lew,S.,Debell,M.,&Chapman,C.D.(2001).DropoutratesintheUnitedStates:2002,2003. NCES2006-062.U.S.DepartmentofEducation,NationalCenterforEducationStatistics.Retrieved fromhttp://nces.ed.gov/pubs2006/2006062.pdf EditorialProductsinEducation.(2009).NationalGraduationBrief2009.Besthesda,MD:Editorial ProjectsinEducation.10. Castelli,D.M.,Hillman,C.H.,Buck,M.,&Erwin,H.E.(2006).Physicalfitnessandacademic achievementinthirdandfifthgradestudents.Manuscriptsubmittedforpublication11. Rosewater,A.(Feb2009).Learningtoplayandplayingtolearn:Organizedsportsandeducational outcomes.PreparedforTeam-UpforYouth.12. Schwimmer,J.B.,Burwinkle,T.M.,&Varni,J.W.(2003).Health-relatedqualityoflifeofseverely obesechildrenandadolescents.JAMA,289(14),1818.13. Trudeau,F.&Shepard,R.J.(2008)Physicaleducation,schoolphysicalactivity,schoolsportsand academicperformance.InternationalJournalofBehavioralNutritionandPhysicalActivity,5(10).14. Eccles,J.S.,Barber,B.L.,Stone,M.,&hunt,J.(2003).Extracurricularactivitiesandadolescent development.JournalofSocialIssues,59(4),865-889.15. Broh,B.A.(2002).Linkingextracurricularprogrammingtoacademicachievement:Whobenefitsand why?SociologyofEducation,75(1),69-95.16. Mahoney,J.L.,&Cairns,R.B.(1997).DOextracurricularactivitiesprotectagainstearlydropout? DevelopmentalPsychology,33,241-253.17. Zaff,J.F.,Moore,K.A.,Papillo,A.R.,&Williams,S.(2003).Implicationsofextracurricularactivity participationduringadolescenceonpositiveoutcomes.JournalofAdolescentResearch,18(6), 599-630.18. Egley,A.(2002).NationalYouthGangSurveryTrends.USDepartmentofJustice,OfficeofJustice andDelinquencyPrevention.Retrievedfrom:http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200203.pdf19. Fredricks,J.A.,&Eccles,J.S.(2006).Extracurricularinvolvementandadolescentadjustment:Impact ofduration,numberofactivitiesandbreadthofparticipation.AppliedDevelopmentalScience,10, 132-146.20. Cohen,D.A.,Taylor,S.L.,Zonta,M.,Vestal,K.D.,&Schuster,M.A.(2007).Availabilityofhighschool extracurricularsportsprogramsandhigh-riskbehaviors.JournalofSchoolHealth,77(2).80-8621. Riley,R.,Peterson,T.,Kanter,A.,Moreno,G.,&Goode,W.(2000).Afterschoolprograms:Keeping childrensafeandsmart.Washington,DC:ChildTrends22. Miller,K.E.,Sabo,D.F.,Farrell,M.P.,Barnes,G.M.,&Melnick,M.J.,(1998)Athleticparticipationand sexualbehaviorinadolescents:Thedifferentworldofboysandgirls.JournalofHealthandSocial Behavior,39(2)108-12323. McHale,J.P.,Vinden,P.G.,Bush,L.,Richer,D.,Shaw,D.&Smith,B.(2005).Patternsofpersonaland socialadjustmentamongsport-involvedandnoninvolvedurbanmiddle-schoolchildren.Sociologyof SportJournal,22(2).119-136.

24. Dobosz,R.,&Beaty,L.A.(1999)Therelationshipbetweenathleticparticipationandhighschool students’leadershipability.Adolescence,34(133),215-220.25. Weiss,M.,Bhalla,J.,Bolter,N.,Price,M.,Stuntz,C.,Markowitz,E.,Wilf,G.(2005).TheFirstTee2003- 2006ImpactReport.Retrievedfromhttp://www.thefirttee.org/club/scripts/view/ view_insert.asp?pg=TFTLSGE&GRP=0&IID=58648&NSTFTLSGE&APP=10626. ResearchconductedbyUp2UsstaffwithconsultationfromBrianGreenwood,PhDofCalifornia PolytechnicStateUniversity,usingasampleofreportedafterschoolsportsbudgetsfromover 100schooldistrictsin22statesrangingingeographiclocation,size,population,etc.Fromthe averageofthesample,theaverageofthepopulationwasestimatedwitha95%confidenceinterval tofallbetween$104,410.67and$158,953.63.Multipliedbythe14,556schooldistricts(National CenterforEducationStatistics,CommonCoreofData,http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/)createdanestimated rangeof$1,519,801,754.51and2,313,728,996.29.Limitationsofthedataincludesamplesizeand reportingbias.Researchonbudgetcutsison-going.27. Johnson,J.(2010,August15).RougheconomyaffectingSectionVathleticteams. DemocratandChronicle.Retrievedfromhttp://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20100815/ SPORTS08/8150357/1007/SPORTS28. Green,Jr.,R.(2010,August29).MichaelJordanlendsschoolsahand.CharlotteObserver. Retrievedfromhttp://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/08/29/1650739/michael-jordan-lends- schools-a.html#ixzz1395ZCmCJ29. Allschooldistrictenrollmentdatacomefrom:NationalCenterforEducationStatistics.(2010).Total Enrollment[Datafile].Availablefromhttp://nces.ed.gov/ccd/elsi/quickFacts.aspx30. Herburger,R.(2009,November).Solving$42millionschooldistrictbudgetshortfall.ElkGroveCitizen. Retrievedfromhttp://www.egcitizen.com/articles/2009/11/03/news/doc4af0cb8cdedb6050433144. txt31. Balise,J.(2010,September19).Feesincreaseforhighschoolstudentstomakeupforbudget cuts.TheMetroWestDailyNews.Retrievedfromhttp://www.metrowestdailynews.com/top_stories/ x1177408686/Fees-increase-for-high-school-students-to-make-up-for-budget-cuts32. Demarest,W.(2010,July28).ParentsofferhelptomaintainClarkstownschoolsportsprograms.New CityPatch.Retrievedfromhttp://newcity.patch.com/articles/parents-offer-help-to-maintain-clark stown-school-sports-programs33. Junga,S.(2011,January1).Yearinreview:Annalsoflocalsportsseeminglyunequaled.ToledoBlade. Retrievedfromhttp://toledoblade.com/article/20110101/SPORTS12/12310367/-1/sports1734. Sampson,Z.C.(2010,October2).SchoolbudgetcutsforceVa.parentstodigdeep.AssociatedPress. Retrievedfromhttp://wjz.com/wireapnewsva/New.school.year.2.1943216.html35. Arrue,K.L.(2010,April).Nofundingforathleticsinnextyear’sbudgetforHudsonCountySchools ofTechnology.TheJerseyJournal.Retrievedfromhttp://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/index.ssf?/base/ news-4/1272090318279660.xml&coll=336. WellesleyPublicSchools.(n.d.)FY12specialtuition,transportationandinclusionbudgetfinancial summary.Retrievedfromhttp://www.wellesley.k12.ma.us/schoolcom/pdfs/ FY12SCBUDGETvoted1-24-2011.pdf37. Kirschner,K.(2011,February23).CenterGroveparentspreparetopay-to-play.EyewitnessNews. Retrievedfromhttp://www.wthr.com/story/14086907/center-grove-parents-prepare-to-pay-to-play38. ElmhurstCUSD205.(2011,March2).Boardapproves$3.85Mincuts/$857Kin enhancements.Retrievedfromhttp://www.elmhurst205.org/cms/news_ item?d=x&id=1298973455027&group_id=1234751321630&return_url=129987357497839. KDVR.(2011,March11).Closures,paycutsannouncedasJeffcoSchoolDistrictslashesbudget. Retrievedfromhttp://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-school-closures-pay-cuts-announced- as-jeffco-schools-slash-budget-20110311,0,972973.story40. Aquije,O.R.(2010,September21).Hadley-Luzerneschoolboardrestrictsfund-raisingtorestore sports.ThePost-Star.Retrievedfromhttp://poststar.com/news/local/article_80897d80-c5bf- 11df-a859-001cc4c002e0.html41. Bordow,S.(2011,January22).RoundValleyHighSchoolfearseliminationofsportsteams.The ArizonaRepublic.Retrievedfromhttp://www.azcentral.com/sports/preps/articles/2011/01/22/ 20110122round-valley-high-school-elimination-sports-teams.html42. Nee,D.(2010,December20).Schoolboardhopingtorevivemiddleschoolsportsbyspring.Brick Patch.Retrievedfromhttp://brick.patch.com/articles/school-board-hoping-to-revive-middle-schoolsports-by-springAlex,P.(2010,September20).TenpercentofBergen,Passaicschoolschargefor activities.TheRecord.Retrievedfromhttp://www.northjersey.com/news/ education/103260994_10__of_local_schools_charge__pay-to-play__fees.html

Racioppi,D.(n.d.)ReturnofRBMSsportshingesonvotes.RedBankGreen.Retrievedfrom http://www.redbankgreen.com/2010/10/return-of-rbms-sports-hinges-on-votes.html43. CentralCoastNews.(2010,November4).HollisterSchoolDistrictcutssports.Retrievedfrom http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=1344940044. Bessette,C.(2010,October3).Norwichmiddle-schoolsportsgetnewleaseonlife.TheDay.Retrieved fromhttp://www.theday.com/article/20101003/NWS01/310039853/101845. Murphy,J.(2010,March).Areaathleticprogramsadjustingtobudgetcuts.ThePress-Enterprise. Retrievedfromhttp://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_W_hsgt_ budget_21.4902bef.html46. AlldataonincomecomefromtheU.S.CensusBureau’s2005-2009AmericanCommunitySurvey: U.S.CensusBureau.(2009).Incomeinthepast12months.Retrievedfromhttp://factfinder. census.gov/servlet/STTable?_bm=y&-context=st&-qr_name=ACS_2009_5YR_G00_S1901&-ds_ name=ACS_2009_5YR_G00_&-CONTEXT=st&-tree_id=5309&-keyword=ector%20county%20 independent&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=97000US0633150&-format=&-_lang=en47. Vlahos,C.(2010,March).ColumbiaPublicSchoolsfacemorebudgetcuts.KOMU.Retrieved fromhttp://www.komu.com/satellite/SatelliteRender/KOMU.com/ba8a4513-c0a8-2f11-0063- 9bd94c70b769/40940665-80ce-0971-018d-67ce2cfc911448. Baker,M.(2010,July26).Highschoolathleticdepartmentsabsorbbudgetcuts.WorldSportsWriter. Retrievedfromhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/highschool/ article.aspx?subjectid=227&articleid=20100726_227_B1_Fwrbss56949649. Taboada,M.B.(2011,March11).Austindistrictlaysoutathleticbudgetcuts.American-Statesman. Retrievedfromhttp://www.statesman.com/news/local/austin-district-lays-out-athletic- budget-cuts-1315546.html?viewAsSinglePage=true50. Erickson,J.A.(2011,March10).Athletics:ECISDathleticdepartmentsprepareforbudgetcuts. OAOnline.Retrievedfromhttp://www.oaoa.com/articles/budget-8063-oavarsity-cuts-school.html51. KellerIndependentSchoolDistrict.(n.d.)2011-2012budgetreductionoptions.Retrievedfrom http://www.kellerisd.net/district/finance/deficit/Documents/BudgetCut_Master_11_03March08.pdf52. Shirley,B.(2011,February24).Athleticdepartmentstightenupforcomingbudgetcuts. Star-Telegram.Retrievedfromhttp://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/23/2872520/area-athletic- departments-tighten.html53. Fowler,A.(2011,March23).LeanderISDplanningtocut250positions.NorthLakeTravisLog. Retrievedfromhttp://northlaketravislog.com/2011/03/23/leander-isd-planning-to-cut-250-positions/54. WLWT.(2011,April6).Studentscouldpay$500persportiflevyfails.WLWT.Retrievedfrom http://www.wlwt.com/money/27455804/detail.html55. Lee,C.(2011,March7).LickingHeightsfacesbudgetcutsdespiteMaylevyresults.NBC4i. Retrievedfromhttp://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2011/mar/07/7/licking-heights-faces-budget-cuts- despite-may-levy-ar-416117/56. Lewis,T.(2011,February24).MokenaSchoolDistrictmakesseverebudgetcuts.FOXChicagoNews. Retrievedfromhttp://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/education/mokena-school-district-makes- severe-budget-cuts-2011022457. WEWSStaff.(2011,March3).NordoniaHillsSchoolDistricttolayoff54,cutsports.WEWS5. Retrievedfromhttp://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/education/nordonia-hills-schooldistrict-to-lay-off-54,-cut-sports58. Walsh,S.(2011,March9).$97mdraftbudgetcutsteachers,combinessportsteams.Hauppauge Patch.Retrievedfromhttp://hauppauge.patch.com/articles/ 97m-draft-budget-cuts-teachers-combines-sport-teams59. Lee,J.(2011,March10).Districtmaycutsportsteams.WatertownDailyTimes. Retrievedfromhttp://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20110310/NEWS03/30310998360. Heckel,J.(2011,March12).10jobsmaybelostunderproposedChampaignschoolcuts. TheNews-Gazette.Retrievedfromhttp://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/ 2011-03-12/10-jobs-may-be-lost-under-proposed-champaign-school-cuts.html61. Harrington,J.(2011,March10).Dallastownbudgetproposalcuts80full-timestafferstopart-time. TheDailyRecord.Retrievedfromhttp://www.inyork.com/local/ci_1758770162. Thomas,S.(2011,April4).Newtonschoolcommitteememberslamenthighschoolcuts.TheBoston Globe.Retrievedfromhttp://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2011/04/newton_school_ committee_lament.html63. Chirls,S.(2011,March23).BoardofEdspreadscutsinnewbudgetproposal.MadisonPatch. Retrievedfromhttp://madison.patch.com/articles/board-of-ed-spreads-cuts-in-new-budget-proposal

64. Rogenmoser,S.(2011,March29).Schoolbudgetoptionsdisputed.BerkeleyIndependent.Retrieved fromhttp://www.berkeleyind.com/news/School-budget-options-disputed2011-03-29T09-08-4865. Schultz,F.(2011,March29).Committeeproposesmoreschoolbudgetcuts.TheJanesvilleGazette. Retrievedfromhttp://gazettextra.com/news/2011/mar/29/committee-proposes-more-school- budget-cuts/66. Brenner,J.S.(2007).Overuseinjuries,overtraining,andburnoutinchildandadolescentathletes. Pediatrics,19(6),1242-1245.67. Hardy,D.(2011,May20).SurveysshowPa.schoolsexpecttomake‘severe’cuts.Philadelphia Inquirer.Retrievedfromhttp://www.philly.com/philly/education/122281964.html68. WEWSStaff.(2011,March3).NordoniaHillsSchoolDistricttolayoff54,cutsports.WEWS5. Retrievedfromhttp://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/education/nordonia-hills-school-district-to- lay-off-54,-cut-sports69. Woock,R.(2011,March11).Aguilarschoolfacing$224,000incuts.TheTrinidadTimesIndependent. Retrievedfromhttp://trinidad-times.com/aguilar-school-facing-in-cuts-p1653-1.htm70. Berman,D.(2011,March15).Chillicotheschoolsopentalksonbudgetcuts.ChillicotheGazette. Retrievedfromhttp://www.chillicothegazette.com/article/20110315/NEWS01/103150302/ Chillicothe-schools-open-talks-budget-cuts71. Davis,C.(2011,February7).USD338schoolboardseesanotherlistofcutsunveiled. JeffCountyNews.com.Retrievedfromhttp://www.jeffcountynews.com/2011/02/07/usd-338-school- board-sees-another-list-of-cuts-unveiled/72. Voll,K.(2011,March30).Jordan-Elbridgeschooldistrict’sbudgetsituationcalled‘severe.’TheCitizen. Retrievedfromhttp://auburnpub.com/news/local/ article_bf964210-5a7f-11e0-9928-001cc4c03286.html73. Rosewater,A.(2010).Organizedsportsandthehealthofchildrenandyouth.PreparedforTeamUp forYouth.74. McNeal,R.B.(1998).Highschoolextracurricularactivities:Closedstructuresandstratifyingpatterns ofparticipation.TheJournalofEducationalResearch,91(3),183-191.75. Helms,A.D.(2011,March19).PushontokeepCMSmiddleschoolsportsalive.CharlotteObserver. Retrievedfromhttp://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/19/2147790/push-on-to-keep-cms- middle-school.html76. CBSBaltimore.(2010,December17).P.G.schoolsheadproposespayfreeze,sportscuts.Retrieved fromhttp://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2010/12/17/p-g-schools-head-proposes-pay-freeze-sports-cuts/77. Shirley,B.(2011,February24).Athleticdepartmentstightenupforcomingbudgetcuts.FortWorth Star-Telegram.Retrievedfromhttp://www.ongo.com/v/463264/-1/2332BEAAB70314E0/athletic- departments-tighten-up-for-coming-budget-cuts78. Byrnes,A.(2011,March4).TintonFalls2011-2012budgetbringsreductioninstaffingandprograms totheschools.Eatontown-TintonFallsPatch.Retrievedfromhttp://eatontown.patch.com/articles/ tinton-falls-2011-2012-budget-brings-reduction-in-aid-and-programs-to-the-schools79. Ness,T.(2011,February27).BerkeleyHeightsdebating$2millioninschoolbudgetcuts.Independent Press.Retrievedfromhttp://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2011/02/berkeley_heights_ debating_2_mi.html80. Stemen,N.(2011,March14).SuggestedbudgetcutsforTrentonPublicSchools.TrentonPatch. Retrievedfromhttp://trenton.patch.com/articles/suggested-budget-cuts-for-trenton-public-schools81. Matheson,A.(2010,November23).SBHS:Athleticdepartmentfeelingeconomicwoes.Hollister FreeLance.Retrievedfromhttp://www.freelancenews.com/sports/270650-sbhs-athletic- department-feeling-economic-woes82. Frenette,G.(2011,March12).Duvalschoolsfacenightmarescenarioofcuttingsports.TheFlorida Times-Union.Retrievedfromhttp://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400617/gene- frenette/2011-03-12/gene-frenette-duval-schools-face-nightmare-scenario83. Knowlton,S.(2011,February22).Salem-KeizerSchoolsconsidercuttingupto400teaching positionsnextyear.StatesmanJournal.Retrievedfrom http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110222/NEWS/110222037/Salem-Keizer-Schools- consider-cutting-up-400-teaching-positions-next-year84. Jarman,J.(2011,March20).Northridgeschoolshopetoswayvoterstorestoreincometax. TheColumbusDispatch.Retrievedfromhttp://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/ stories/2011/03/20/copy/northridge-schools-hope-to-sway-voters-to-restore-income-tax. html?sid=101

85. Sbraccia,S.(2011,March31).LeeCountyparents,studentsfeareducationalbudgetcuts.NBC. Retrievedfromhttp://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/mar/31/lee-county-parents-and-students-fear- educational-b-ar-909937/86. Keeler,B.(2011,April1).SoudertonAreaSchoolDistrictconsideringdeepcutstobalancebudget. SoudertonIndependent.Retrievedfromhttp://www.montgomerynews.com/articles/2011/04/01/ souderton_independent/news/doc4d9623912f730577426297.txt?viewmode=fullstory87. York,K.(2011,January11).Warrenboardweighs$1.8Mincuts.TheMariettaTimes. Retrievedfromhttp://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/532776/Warren-board- weighs--1-8M-in-cuts.html?nav=500288. News4Jax.(2011,March15).Pay-to-playsportsinDuvalCounty? Retrievedfromhttp://www.news4jax.com/news/27204589/detail.html89. Lane,M.B.&Boss,C.(2011,March27).Paying(alotmore)toplay.TheColumbusDispatch. Retrievedfromhttp://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2011/03/27/paying-a-lot- more-to-play.html?sid=10190. Beym,J.(2011,February4).‘Paytoplay’takingitstoll.TheGloucesterCountyTimes.Retrievedfrom http://www.nj.com/gloucester/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1296779118193700.xml&coll=891. Ketchum,S.(2011,March16).ParmaSchoolBoardhopestoenticemorestudentswithnewpay-to- playrates.SunNews.Retrievedfromhttp://blog.cleveland.com/parmasunpost/2011/03/parma_ school_board_hopes_to_en.html92. NationalSportingGoodsAssociation.(2010).InterscholasticSportsParticipation.NationalFederation ofStateHighSchoolAssociations.93. Hoff,D.,&Mitchell,S.(2006).Pay-to-play:Fairorfoul?PhiDeltaKappan,88(3),230-234.94. Smeltz,A.(2011,May19).Extracurricularfeespanned,taxincreaserethoughtinStateCollege. StateCollege.com.Retrievedfromhttp://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/extracurricular- fees-panned-tax-increase-rethought-in-state-college-754201/95. SportingGoodsManufacturingAssociation.(2010).2010SGMAsports&fitnessparticipationtopline report:Fullreport.SilverSpring,MD:SGMAResearch.

About Up2Us Up2Usisleadinganationalmovementtoadvancesportsasatoolforaddressingthecriticalissuesfacingyouthinthisnation,includingchildhoodobesity,academicfailureandanti-socialbehavior.Up2Usaccomplishesthisbysupportinganationalnetworkofnearly500memberorganizationsoperatinginallfiftystates.Together,theseorgani-zationsserve20millionyouththroughbothtraditionalandnon-traditionalsports.InjoiningUp2Us,thesememberspledgetosharebestpractices;advanceinitiativesthatextendopportunitiestonewplayers;anddeliverqualityprogramsinunderservedcom-munitieswherethereisatremendousneedforconstructiveoutletsforkids.

About the Center for Sports-Based Youth DevelopmentTheUp2UsCenterforSports-BasedYouthDevelopment(SBYD)isthepremierresearchandtrainingcenterforsports-basedyouthdevelopmentinthenation.TheCentercon-ductstrainingforcoachesonhowtousesportstodeliverqualityyouthdevelopmentoutcomesinareassuchashealthandnutrition,conflictresolution,academicsuccessandcommunityleadership.TheCenteralsostudiestheimpactofsportsontheoverallwellnessofyouth.

Acknowledgements:Up2Uswouldliketothankmembersofthestafffortheirimportantcontributions:PaulCaccamo,TerriLakowski,KelseyPullarandMeganBartlett.AspecialthankstoBrianGreenwood,Ph.D.,ofCaliforniaPolytechnicStateUniversityforhisyearsofon-goingsupportandexpertguidanceinthecreationofthisreport.

WearealsogratefultothemembersoftheUp2UsAdvisoryBoardwhoconsistentlyprovideuswiththoughtleadershipandinspireusthroughtheirexample:

•NicholasCutforth,Ph.D., •Ellen Markowitz, Ph.D., University of Denver PowerPlayNYC

•LisaDelpyNeirotti,Ph.D., •John McCarthy, Ph.D., George Washington University Boston University

•Don Hellison, Ed.D., •Gil Noam, Ed.D., Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago Harvard University

•JackieJenkins-Scott, •Maureen Weiss, Ph.D., Wheelock College University of Minnesota

Up2Us 520 8th Ave, 2nd Floor New York, NY 10018

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