A Sept. 28, 2017, article in The Atlantic (“What’s Lost When Only Rich Kids Play Sports”) provides a sobering synopsis of the state of youth sports. The author references data published by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative concluding that household wealth is the primary driver of whether or not a child plays youth sports.

As reported by Time Magazine earlier in the year, youth sports have quietly become a $15.3 billion dollar industry. But the growing investment of money and time required to participate is making them far less accessible.

Increased competition for a shrinking market of young athletes — or, more accurately, their parents — who can afford the costs of participation has driven kids away from youth sports in record numbers. According to The Atlantic article, 70 percent of children leave youth sports entirely by age 13.

Unfortunately, lacrosse is experiencing all of these trends, fueled by the perception that early specialization, year-round play, private lessons and showcase tournaments are all part of the formula required to fully realize a young player’s potential. It’s only when a child stops playing lacrosse that we parents reflect on the overall experience and wonder if it could have been better. Countless other parents stop considering lacrosse altogether.

Critical to addressing these challenges is the fortification of community and recreation-based youth lacrosse programs, which have long been the foundation of our sport’s grassroots expansion. US Lacrosse is committed to increasing our investment in community programs, as well as expanding efforts to foster greater collaboration between club owners and operators and community program leaders who are committed to increasing our sport’s accessibility and building the base of young players — a goal that’s in everyone’s best interest.