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How Kids Sports Became A $ 15 Billion Industry

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The Ugly Truth Behind Youth Sports There's a problem that exists within the youth sports economy in the United States. The pressure to succeed in sports at a young age has led to a focus on elite travel teams and a neglect of recreational and community based programs. The focus on winning and success so young can lead to a lack of emphasis on sportsmanship, fun, and skill development which are the main objectives in youth sports. Therefore, the youth sports economy in the United States is negatively impacting children of all skill levels and parents. It is not only draining the financial resources from parents of children who are possibly unlikely to become elite athletes, but it also perpetuates a system in which the emphasis is placed on …show more content…

But for the children themselves, the pressure can be even more intense. The Time article “How Kids Sports Became a $15 Billion Industry '', delves into these issues and explores the driving factors behind the rapid growth of the industry. “Families can spend more than 10% of their income on registration fees, travel camps and equipment” (Gregory). It's crucial to understand the financial incentives that are showing the industry and the implications it has on children and families, as well as to find the balance between encouraging children to participate in sports and ensuring that their well being is not compromised. In the NPR interview “The Call-In: Kids’ Sport,” Lula Garcia-Navarro the host and parents shared their thoughts and experiences on youth sports as they are interviewed. A parent stated that “[We] spend about $10,000 a year to support each kid” meaning that this high cost can put tension on the family budget. It may even cause some parents to make difficult decisions about which activities their children can participate in who probably won't even want to choose that career to succeed in the future. Youth sports companies take advantage of parents' hopes and dreams of their child making it to the big leagues which could not potentially happen, putting parents in financial stress to support their children's environment in

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