The Fastest Growing Youth Sports Are....
I brought in a true expert to answer. Plus, the Friday roundup.
I’ve become a bit obsessed with ChatGPT. Quite frankly, my conversations with the AI tool are more interesting than with many humans.
I was messing around with my new friend the other day, typing in a number of random questions like: Who is still together from Love is Blind seasons 1-3, and What’s a subtle way to remind my family that Mother’s Day is coming up? (Only Lauren and Cameron + Amber and Matt / leave a magazine article about Mother’s Day in a spot they will see it … or use it as an example in your newsletter that your husband is obligated by marriage to read).
Then I started asking a series of youth sports questions, many of which had rather obvious answers. Turns out ChatGPT is also aware that the ills of youth sports include the pressure to specialize, mass inequality, and the overall professionalization. But there was one question I thought I’d try that I truly didn’t know the answer to. So I asked my fake friend.
ME: What is the fastest growing youth sport?
ChatGPT: The fastest growing youth sports in the United States are constantly changing as new sports gain popularity and participation numbers rise. However, here are some of the fastest growing youth sports in recent years:
Lacrosse: Lacrosse has been one of the fastest growing youth sports in the United States over the past decade. According to US Lacrosse, youth participation in lacrosse has grown by over 25% since 2012, with over 450,000 players registered in 2020.
Rugby: Rugby is another fast-growing youth sport in the United States, with participation numbers increasing by over 50% since 2010. USA Rugby reports that over 100,000 youth players are registered to play rugby in the United States.
Ultimate Frisbee: Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contact sport that is gaining popularity among youth. According to USA Ultimate, youth membership has grown by over 20% since 2012, with over 22,000 players registered in 2020.
Pickleball: Pickleball is a paddle sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. The sport is gaining popularity among youth, with the USA Pickleball Association reporting over 10,000 youth members in 2020.
E-Sports: E-Sports, or competitive video gaming, has been growing in popularity among youth in recent years. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) began recognizing E-Sports as an official activity in 2019, and the organization reported over 25,000 student participants in 2021.
It's worth noting that the growth of youth sports can vary widely by region and demographic, and some sports may be more popular in certain areas or communities than others.
Thank you, friend. It’s also worth noting that these are not in any particular order, and I wouldn’t exactly call this official though it is a nice glimpse.
I was pretty surprised to see rugby in the mix given its similarity to tackle football. Participation in youth tackle football has dropped by 30% over the last decade though flag is very much on the rise. Thanks in large part to the NFL’s hefty flag initiative, a whopping 7 million kids aged 6 and up played flag in 2021. But the ability to diagnose CTE in the living is coming soon and could shake up the whole youth football landscape in ways we can’t project.
I would have been more surprised if pickleball was not included since it’s all the rage in my neck of the woods, Northern California. Of course California is not always representative of the rest of the nation.
I was also a tad surprised to see lacrosse but that’s just because I thought it had steady growth, not such an exponential jump.
Competitive video gaming? Hmmm. ChatGPT, this is hard to say but we need a break.
And now, the youth sports news that caught my eye this week:
Prime Hydration to start marketing at youth sports events.
If our local middle school is any indication, Prime is going to keep crushing it. All I hear about is this drink launched by Logan Paul and KSI a year ago that is already the sixth most popular sports energy drink in the United States. Get me Prime for my birthday. Can we stop at this gas station just in case they have Prime? A few kids at the middle school here have made some serious bank by upselling this drink. Look for it at a tourney near you!
Texas parents form own soccer club and only charge $150 a season.
Could women’s pro indoor volleyball be coming to the U.S.?
Right now, players have to go overseas to play professionally. An investment group that includes Kevin Durant and Billie Jean King is trying to keep American talent in America.
Field of Dreams is getting a makeover.
Maryland House bill would require public school coaches to receive mental health training.
Yes, please. These coaches typically undergo training for concussions and other injuries, yet schools and leagues have long ignored the mental health piece. Our kids spend enough time with these coaches; I’d certainly feel much better knowing they were trained to recognize signs of distress or mental illness. Quite frankly, we should all have this type of training.
Until next week…