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United in Play
We believe that every child deserves the chance to play, grow and thrive - as sports and play have a demonstrable positive impact on youth mental health. We partner with recreational programs to ensure all kids have access and that coaches have mental health resources to support their teams. Together, we're united in play.
Every Kid Deserves the Chance to Play
United in Play: State of Youth Sports is a national effort to better understand the experiences, challenges, and opportunities within youth sports today. We are interested in hearing from parents, coaches, caregivers, and community members across the country to capture what’s really happening on the ground—from access and affordability to mental health, well-being, and the overall youth sports experience.
Youth sports should be a powerful pathway for connection, confidence, and growth. But for many families, barriers like cost, time, transportation, and lack of support are changing how—and if—kids participate. This survey is designed to surface those realities and identify where communities can take action.
Eliminating Financial Barriers to Play
We build partnerships with schools and corporations to ensure all kids have the resources they need to thrive in school. From providing school supplies to eliminating school lunch debt, ensuring kids have access to vaccines and health screenings, we are committed to ensuring that kids can start school strong.
Supporting Mental Health on/off the field & court.
Sports play a critical role in youth mental health and yet barriers exist that limit participation. We partner with youth recreational programs address the barriers such as eliminating fees and providing equipment. We partner with coaches to provide critical mental health training and arm them with referrals.
Mental Health Counseling
We provide tools, education and resources to parents, caregivers and the community to turn everyday activities into fun, engaging learning opportunities for young children. In partnership, we help ensure that children have access to the resources and tools to set them up for long term educational success.
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has described the youth mental health crisis as the “defining public health challenge of our time.” He has emphasized the urgent need to address this issue, noting that “we are living in the middle of a youth mental health crisis.”
1 in 5
youth (ages 13-18) experience a mental health disorder at some point during their life.
44%
of high school students reported feeling persistently sad or hopeless.
32%
Anxiety disorders affect nearly 32% of adolescents.
17%
Depression affects about 17% of adolescents.
United in Play Partners
