Youth sports study finds fewer boys playing while participation among girls has increased
FILE - Iowa forward Hannah Stuelke, left, celebrates with teammate guard Caitlin Clark, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against Penn State, Feb. 8, 2024, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, file)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Charlie Neibergall]
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new study finds that children and teenagers playing sports overall has increased even as participation among boys has dropped off. Participation for girls was at its highest levels since at least 2012 in part due to the phenomenal rise of University of Iowa-turned-Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark leading youth to want to play basketball, according to the study from the Aspen Institute. The group said the National Survey of Children’s Health, administered through the U.S. Census Bureau, found that 53.8% of young people ages 6-17 played sports in 2022.
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