While at least 55% of youth ages 6-17 appear to be playing sports, a potential threat to the rising rate hovers over it, according to Aspen Institute’s National State of Play 2025 report.
The percentage, according to the latest available data, pushes youth sports participation toward the 63% target set through the Healthy People 2030 program administered by the government and championed by Aspen’s Project Play.
However, as Aspen writes in its 2025 report of trends across the landscape, government raids of parks where immigrant children play, as well as other developments, have created an environment that suggests a reshaping of youth sports. Perhaps it even threatens the target goal of 63%.
“People will have different views about immigration and enforcement actions – and that’s understandable,” Oregon Youth Soccer Association executive director Simon Date wrote to parents this fall. “But wherever you stand on the politics, we stand unapologetically with kids not being scared to be at our events. Every child deserves to play soccer without fear, and that will always be our north star.”
The OYSA had announced that as many as 16 teams withdrew from competition in Portland after people reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity in community parks.
