Youth Sports Fairs
How can we introduce kids to new sports in a fun and innovative way?
In the fall and winter of 2023-24, MONUM collaborated with departments across the city and youth sports providers to pilot three Youth Sports Fairs in three neighborhoods across Boston. We aimed to reduce some of the barriers that keep families from participating in youth sports programming by providing opportunities for youth ages 9-14 to try a variety sports including fencing, golf, lacrosse, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, street hockey, track and field, and more.
Why sports sampling?
DESK RESEARCH
We conducted research into the benefits of participating in youth sports. According to the President’s Council on Sports, Nutrition & Fitness, participating in youth sports is associated with:
- Lower rates of anxiety and depression
- Greater self-esteem and life satisfaction
- Increased cardiovascular fitness
- Higher physical activity levels
- Overall increase in quality of life
Additionally, the Aspen Institute (2017) encourages sports sampling to reduce overspecialization at a young age, and a sports sampling fair is a great way to introduce kids to a sport without the pressure of a longer-term commitment. Sports sampling “also allows youths to explore sports that they would not have tried otherwise."
SURVEYING YOUTH IN BOSTON
In summer 2023, MONUM staff conducted surveys in 14 locations across the city and online. We received feedback from over 400 young people across Boston! We learned that kids' favorite part of participating in sports is "community," with 25% naming it as their favorite part. “Enrichment” followed close behind, with 19.85% of kids naming it as their favorite part of team sports. Notably, 88.11% of online survey respondents preferred team sports to individual sports. Kids love participating in team sports with their peers, and we wanted to design a fair that reflected this.
We also heard about some of the barriers to participation in youth sports programming which included social anxiety, lack of information, and concerns from parents.
The Experiment
We hosted three fairs in partnership with Parks and Recreation, BCYF, Human Services, and the Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement.
- October 15th, 2023 at Almont Park, Mattapan
- February 22nd, 2024 at the BCYF Shelburne, Roxbury
- March 17th, 2024 at the Carter Playground Bubble, South End
We invited a variety of youth sports providers who hosted clinics and shared information with kids and families. We also provided food, giveaways, and lots of fun! Across all three fairs, we had over 100 families participate. Each fair was three hours long, so families could drop in or stay the whole time.
What we learned
We learned a lot through the process of planning and hosting three different youth sports fairs:
- Kids loved trying new sports! Nearly all kids who participated tried a new sport.
- Parents liked being able to meet sports providers face-to-face. In fact, 89% of parents surveyed were more likely to enroll their child(ren) in a new sport after the fair.
- Sports providers also enjoyed being able to network with each other and learn about the sports opportunities across the city.
After sharing our learnings with other departments, the City is exploring ways to integrate more sports sampling into existing and future youth sports programming.
