In recent decades, the landscape of youth sports in the United States has undergone a profound transformation, marked notably by the explosive growth of private club and travel teams. A groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues sheds new light on this phenomenon, revealing how participation in these specialized sports programs has surged dramatically among younger generations compared to those born in the mid-20th century. This shift not only underscores changing cultural attitudes toward youth athletics but also highlights the growing socioeconomic stratification within the sports world.
The study, led by Chris Knoester, a sociology professor at The Ohio State University, alongside Chris Bjork from Vassar College, meticulously analyzed retrospective data from nearly 4,000 adults, spanning those born in the 1950s through the 1990s. Their research, drawing on the National Sports and Society Survey (NSASS), illustrates a near tripling in the likelihood that children born in the 1990s participated in private club or travel sports compared to their counterparts from the 1950s. Specifically, only about 4% of surveyed adults born in the 1950s reported playing on such teams during their youth, while this figure rose to 13% among those born in the 1990s, signaling a substantive cultural and structural evolution within youth sports participation.
At the core of this shift is a fundamental change in the orientation of youth sports—from local, school-based, and community-driven activities towards privatized, often costly club sports that demand significant parental involvement and financial investment. Knoester emphasizes that this transition has rendered youth sports not merely about recreation and personal development but has increasingly become a competitive marketplace. Parents and children face high financial barriers, including membership fees, travel expenses, and specialized training costs, which often place an economic premium on access to these opportunities.
Moreover, the data reveal that family background, particularly parental education and socioeconomic status, has become a critical determinant of participation in private club and travel sports. Unlike past generations where participation was more evenly distributed, the latest cohorts show significant disparities. For youths born in the 1990s, having a parent with a college education doubles the probability of playing in a travel or club team compared to those from families without college-educated parents. This disparity indicates that knowledge, resources, and social capital are increasingly pivotal in securing access to elite sports experiences.
Community and familial sports culture also play influential roles in shaping youth sports involvement. Participants whose parents were avid sports enthusiasts or athletes themselves and those growing up in sports-oriented communities reported higher engagement in private club and travel programs. These findings highlight the interplay between cultural capital and economic resources in reproducing patterns of sports participation, potentially reinforcing existing social inequalities.
The rising prevalence of travel and club teams coincides with a broader societal redefinition of the role of youth sports. Bjork observes a shift away from athletics simply being a means for fun and physical activity toward being seen as strategic platforms to position children advantageously for college admissions and professional careers. This repositioning amplifies the pressures on families to invest heavily—financially, temporally, and emotionally—in their children’s sports careers from an early age.
The research methodology rigorously encompassed surveying respondents from all 50 states who reported their sports experiences between ages 6 and 18. The investigation also examined participation in leagues tailored for elite teen athletes, which have similarly increased over the decades. On average, 11% of respondents indicated utilizing private club or travel teams at some point, while 8% participated in elite competitive leagues, underscoring the expanding competition for access to higher levels of youth sports.
This upward trend correlates with escalating costs associated with youth sports participation. Recent data from Project Play underscore this economic pressure, estimating that the average expense for a child’s primary sport surged nearly 50% between 2019 and 2024. Presently, American families collectively spend over $40 billion annually to support youth sports—a figure that substantiates the commodification of what once was a primarily community-oriented activity.
Importantly, the implications of these findings raise critical questions about equity and accessibility. Knoester warns that the growing demands—financially and logistically—present formidable obstacles for families of lower socioeconomic status or without the cultural knowledge to navigate youth sports systems. This environment cultivates a landscape where raw athletic talent alone is insufficient to guarantee success, overshadowed by the necessity of resources and social positioning.
Bjork further elaborates that these shifting dynamics complicate the narrative of meritocracy in youth sports. Factors such as family income, parental education, and community culture intricately weave into the opportunities available to young athletes, potentially restricting social mobility through sport. This nuanced picture challenges the simplistic notion that talent and hard work regardless of background are the sole determinants of athletic achievement.
For many families, the decision to engage in private club and travel sports involves balancing ambition with a heavy toll. The financial expenditure, time commitments, travel logistics, and organizational demands often generate considerable stress, impacting not only the athlete but the entire household dynamic. Despite these challenges, Knoester notes that the momentum behind this privatized youth sports model shows no signs of abating in the near future.
Ultimately, this study serves as a wake-up call to stakeholders in youth sports, policymakers, and communities. It highlights the pressing need to address disparities and rethink the structures that govern youth athletic development. Without interventions aimed at increasing accessibility and affordability, the widening gap in participation risks entrenching inequality, limiting the potential for many young people to benefit from the holistic advantages that organized sports can provide.
Subject of Research: People
Article Title: The Rise of Private Club and Travel Teams in the U.S.: Generational Changes in Youth Sports Participation and Associations with Socioeconomic Statuses and Family and Community Sport Cultures
News Publication Date: 17-Sep-2025
Web References:
Journal of Sport and Social Issues DOI
National Sports and Society Survey (NSASS)
Sports and Society Initiative – Ohio State University
American Population Panel
Center for Human Resource Research, Ohio State University
Project Play Cost Data
References: Knoester, C., & Bjork, C. (2025). The Rise of Private Club and Travel Teams in the U.S.: Generational Changes in Youth Sports Participation and Associations with Socioeconomic Statuses and Family and Community Sport Cultures. Journal of Sport and Social Issues. https://doi.org/10.1177/01937235251377472
Keywords: youth sports, private club teams, travel teams, socioeconomic status, sports participation trends, youth athletics, sports inequality, club sports costs, elite youth sports, community sports culture
