Aspen Institute Sports & Society

08/12/2026

When research drives real action for youth sports, communities win. 👏

Our 2025 State of Play Washington D.C. report revealed that the nation's capital has one of the largest gender gaps for participation in youth sports in the country. We also found that while most D.C. youth live in Wards 7 and 8, these areas have less access to sports — resulting in lower participation outside of basketball and football.

One of our key recommendations to close the gender gap? Listen to girls about why they play or don't play. We called on focus groups and further research to dig deeper into the barriers for girls within the District.

Building off our research, Monumental Sports & Entertainment did just that, conducting in-depth interviews with middle and high school girls, coaches and teachers in Wards 7 and 8. One key takeaway: Girls are less likely to voice frustration or disclose financial hardship directly and disengage in sports quietly, meaning a lack of access can be mistaken for a lack of interest.

Now, as part of its District of Play initiative, Monumental is partnering with D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Under Armour to provide every middle school girl playing sports in Wards 7 and 8 with an essential practice gear bag (shoes, sports bras, apparel and more).

We are proud to see our data inform cross-sector action that removes systemic barriers for girls in sports.

Read our full State of Play Washington D.C. report here: https://lnkd.in/eHTMEHd7

08/11/2026

🌟Meet the Champions🌟

This week, we are celebrating Rising Phoenix Sports Program (New York) and Rush Union Soccer (Atlanta, GA) for their new and meaningful actions to grow opportunities for youth through adaptive frisbee and rec biking.

As endorsers of the , we see their commitment to those principles in the work they do.

🐦‍🔥Right #7: "A critical foundation to Rising Phoenix's work is to be treated with dignity. Because the athletes we work with are incarcerated in secure justice facilities, dignity is difficult to maintain. The athletes are not in control of any part of their days, from what they wear to their daily schedule. Tension in the residential units can often create negativity fueling bullying, put-downs, and low self-esteem. Two non-negotiable rules in Rising Phoenix practices are 'no put-downs’ and 'have good sportsmanship.' 'No put downs' means you can’t put anyone down, including yourself. These rules are upheld not just for our athletes, but also for coaches and any facility staff who may be attending practice. Having consistent accountability for both our athletes and coaches has created a culture of teamwork, support, reflection, and 'rising up' above negativity."

⚽️ Right #7: "Rush Union serves children of all ages, genders, and abilities. We provide year-round team environments alongside seasonal and winter opportunities focused on skill development, free play and coach education. Our young referees are trained in our values and approach, reinforcing respect, empathy and learning rather than fear or punishment. Coaches are supported through guided curricula and on-site mentoring, while parents are actively engaged and educated, both internally and through trusted external resources, to help keep children playing longer, in healthier, more enjoyable environments."

08/05/2026

🌟Meet the Champions🌟

This week, we are celebrating Minnesota Wind Chill (Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN) and Girls in Gear (Cook County, NV) for their new and meaningful actions to grow opportunities for youth through adaptive frisbee and rec biking.

As endorsers of the , we see their commitment to those principles in the work they do.

🥏 Right #6: "The Minnesota Wind Chill Foundation honors every child’s right to an equal opportunity for personal growth by using no-cost ultimate frisbee programming to remove barriers that disproportionately exclude underrepresented youth from sports. An example of this commitment is how we structure our Community and Adaptive Programs so that all participants, regardless of financial means, background, or ability, receive the same level of investment, resources, and encouragement."

🚴‍♀️ Right #1: "When girls learn how to ride a bike, change a flat tire, or lead a group ride, they also learn about their inner strength, self-reliance, and innate leadership potential. By offering structured, supportive, and culturally responsive biking programs, we address these disparities and provide girls with the opportunity to reclaim their sense of agency. For many girls, a bike is more than just a recreational tool--it is a vehicle for autonomy, economic opportunity, and social mobility.”

Learn more at as.pn/Champions

08/04/2026

What do kids actually want out of sports? Fun, friendship, and a place to grow. Yet so many youth programs are built around adult metrics like win counts and scholarship pipelines.

In a webinar with Jon Solomon, LeagueApps tackled why it’s time to shift our focus back to the real customer: the kids themselves. Listening to their voices is the first step toward creating sports experiences they love.

Watch the full webinar recording: https://lnkd.in/eWfn7Pia

07/27/2026

This November, the Center for Rising Generations is bringing 350 young adults to Bentonville, Arkansas for Aspen Ideas: Rising Generations. It’s a fully funded festival for accepted participants aged 18–24 built around the big ideas shaping their generation. Young people spend four days engaging with those ideas and go home ready to lead conversations about them in their own communities. If you know someone who should be there, applications are open through July 29, 2026, 11:59 PM EST. Apply Today: aspenideasrisinggen.org

07/21/2026

🌟Meet the Champions🌟

This week, we are celebrating Scheyer Kid Captain (Durham, N.C.) and CDSD Foundation + Full Circle Play (Aurora, Colo.) for their new and meaningful actions to improve play and sport opportunities for underserved youth across their communities.

As endorsers of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, we see their commitment to those principles in the work they do.

Right #1: "Across Cherry Creek School District, kids’ access to sport and enrichment varies enormously by zip code. That’s why we’ve focused on identifying 'sport deserts' across our district, places where kids have little to no access to affordable sports programming.”

Right #2: "All Kid Captain activities are designed specifically for children facing medical challenges and are delivered in close coordination with Duke Children’s Hospital medical staff. Before any movement or sport-based activity takes place, our team works with clinicians, child life specialists, and caregivers to understand each child’s physical needs, energy levels, and any medical limitations."

Learn more at as.pn/Champions

07/16/2026

Our Executive Director, Tom Farrey, spoke with The Athletic about youth sports in the United States. Take a look at what he had to say below.

After the USMNT was knocked out in the round of 16 by Belgium, fans began to ask: why was a country of 11.8 million people so much better at soccer than one of 340 million?

Inevitably, and often correctly, answers zeroed in on youth soccer.

How U.S. youth soccer's ‘pay-to-play’ system impacts adoption of the world’s game (read for free):
nyti.ms/3R6LA4U

07/14/2026

The World Cup whistle will blow, but the legacy must remain. Right now, girls represent just 38% of high school players in NYC — well below the national average — due to a lack of representation and early dropout rates. 💔

To move , the U.S. Soccer Federation’s legacy arm, is launching a 4-year hyper-local collective in the South Bronx alongside groups like DREAM Charter Schools, Street Soccer USA, The Sports Creative and South Bronx United. The goal is to deliver soccer, education and health benefits to marginalized communities.

The World Cup isn't just a tournament — it's a chance to rebuild youth sports from the ground up.

🌟 Read the roadmap: as.pn/SoccerNYCNJ

07/13/2026

The 2026 Men's World Cup Final is in the Big Apple this weekend 🏆 but while the world watches the stadium, 1 in 3 kids in NYC and North Jersey say costs are their primary concern about playing soccer. For low-income families, that rate jumps to 41%. If we want a true World Cup legacy, soccer cannot just belong to those who can pay to play.

📲 Read the recent report to see how we build an equitable system for all kids:

State of Soccer New York City / North Jersey

07/07/2026

From the World Cup stadium to the local community park, the goal remains the same: keep players healthy and in the game. 🏆
Renowned ACL Injury Expert, Dr. Holly Silvers-Granelli, explains why the biggest tournament in the world highlights our greatest opportunity in youth sports safety;

“The FIFA World Cup showcases the very best of the global game, but it also reminds us of one of soccer's most persistent challenges: ACL injuries. These injuries affect athletes at every level—from youth players to the world's elite—and can have lifelong consequences for health, performance, and participation in sport.

The encouraging news is that many ACL injuries are very preventable. Decades of research have demonstrated that neuromuscular training programs can significantly reduce injury risk by improving movement quality, balance, strength, and landing mechanics. Among these programs, the FIFA 11+ has become the most widely studied and cited injury-prevention intervention in sports medicine history, providing a scalable, evidence-based solution that can be implemented on fields around the world.

As we celebrate the athletes competing on soccer's biggest stage, we should also recognize that one of the game's greatest opportunities is ensuring that more players stay healthy, stay active, and stay in the sport for life. The next frontier is not proving that prevention works—it is ensuring that every athlete, coach, parent, club, and federation has access to and consistently implements these evidence-based strategies.”