Is the Caitlin Clark effect starting to have an impact on youth sports? A new report shows participation from girls in sports increased, while the number of boys joining sports teams declined.
According to the Aspen Institute’s National State of Play report, half of boys aged 6 to 17 signed up for sports in 2013, but only 41% did in 2023.
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34% of girls aged 6 to 12 and 38% of girls aged 13 to 17 regularly played at higher levels in 2023 than any recent year going back to at least 2012.
Many people from the sports world believe that Clark’s time at the University of Iowa and in the WNBA played a role in the rise. Some said it’s similar to the increase among girls that happened in the 1990s when Mia Hamm was at the height of her soccer career.
As for the decline in boys participating, senior advisor for the Sports and Fitness Industry Association, Tom Cove believes boys are quitting altogether when they get cut.
“I would speculate there’s an element to this that making teams has become really hard and more boys can’t make the team, so they stop playing,” Cove said.
Cove also said some kids are simply getting priced out of playing sports.
The average amount spent on a child’s sport per season is $833 after expenses like special, travel for competitive leagues and equipment.
