Why Fewer Boys Are Playing Sports … and Why It Matters
Excerpts from an article from the American Institute for Boys and Men (AIBM) | LINK
Playing sports brings real benefits to children and teens … from higher grades and better mental health to stronger social connections.
These benefits are especially important for boys who have experienced adversity in childhood.
Parents agree:
- 84% believe sports benefit their child’s physical health
- 75% believe sports benefit their child’s mental health
And according to a 2024 AIBM survey, they’re right. Research strongly supports the positive impact of youth sports on children’s development.
As Robert Putnam writes:
“Consistent involvement in extracurricular activities is strongly associated with a variety of positive outcomes during the school years and beyond … even after controlling for family background, cognitive skills and many other potentially confounding variables. Among both men and women, the extracurricular activity most consistently associated with high academic achievement is sports.”
“Play is the foundation of learning, creativity, self-expression, and constructive problem-solving. It’s how children wrestle with life to make it meaningful.”
– Susan Linn, Contemporary American Psychiatrist
Why Are Fewer Boys Participating in Sports?
- Video games and social media compete for time and attention
- Coaching shortages, potentially caused by a decline in numbers of male teachers who usually serve as coaches
- Rising costs in equipment, fees and travel make sports less accessible
- Post-COVID impact from disruptions and change, personally and at school
- Rising injury concerns such as increased awareness of concussions and overuse injuries
The Benefits of Sports for Boys
Research consistently shows that participating in sports is positively linked with:
- Better Physical Health
Youth sports improve weight management, cardiovascular health, muscle and bone development. - Better Mental Health
Boys who play sports tend to show lower rates of drug use, depression, anxiety and stress … especially those with adverse childhood experiences. - Stronger Social Development
Sports teach teamwork, responsibility and leadership. Boys often feel more accepted and supported by peers, family and community. - Higher Academic Performance
Sports are linked to better test scores, college expectations and lower dropout rates … especially in school-based programs.
As Brook Hampton says in his book,
“Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks and tadpoles.”
In this video, Ben Houltberg from The Search Institute shares how building relationships is critical to development, and sports is a great way to develop relationships … LINK.
Health and Recreation at Cherokee Creek Boys School
David LePere, our CCBS Director shared,
“At Cherokee Creek Boys School, we know boys’ brains are wired for movement … and that staying active is key to their well-being. That’s why our program includes daily opportunities to explore, play and challenge themselves in a variety of physical activities, all available in our beautiful region of South Carolina. Here’s how we do it:”
Outdoor Recreation
Our students enjoy hiking, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, tubing, ropes courses and fishing.
Treks Program
Each weekend, a group of boys heads out with our Trek leaders for an outdoor adventure … camping, hiking and building resilience while spending a weekend in nature.
Sports Teams and Activities
We participate in local team sports like basketball, soccer and flag football through our community’s recreation department. We also rotate seasonal activities including:
Disc golf- Pickleball
- Archery
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Cross country
- Bowling
- Track
- Golf
- Disc golf
- Pickleball
- Archery
- Lacrosse
- Softball
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Cross country
- Bowling
- Track
- Golf
Daily Free Play
We believe boys benefit from unstructured time to explore their interests. Whether it’s shooting hoops, discovering the creek or hanging out on the front porch … we make space for free play every day.
A Disturbing Trend: Boys’ Participation in Sports is Declining
According to the AIBM article, the gender gap in youth sports is narrowing … not just because more girls are joining, but because fewer boys are playing. Over the past decade, boys’ participation in sports has steadily declined.
This matters.
Youth sports shouldn’t become another arena where boys quietly fall behind. While we rightfully celebrate the rise in girls’ sports over the past 50 years, we also need to focus on why boys are stepping back … and how we can reverse this trend.
We need updated research, thoughtful evaluation and innovative policy to support all children … including boys … in reaping the lifelong benefits of sports.
To Learn More About Boys and Sports
Read the full AIBM article to learn more about how sports help boys thrive!
More about health, recreation and sports at Cherokee Creek Boys School!
The Search Institute’s list of helpful developmental assets … which includes sports!
Call to request more information about Cherokee Creek’s Boys School approach to boys and sports.