Little League® Baseball and Softball, the world’s largest youth sports organization trusted by millions of parents and volunteers around the world, is proud to participate in the celebration of National Youth Sports Week (October 6–11), joining a coast-to-coast movement to increase youth sports participation to 63% by 2030.
“Trust is what sets Little League apart from other community-based, volunteer-based youth sports organizations, and now more than ever, we remain committed to living up to our trusted name and ensuring that every child has the access and opportunity to play in our program,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “As we join together in celebration of National Youth Sports Week, we are reminded of our important role as part of the Aspen Institute’s 63×30 Initiative and look forward to working with our fellow industry leaders to positively impact youth and communities both on and off the field.”
Why This Matters Now
- Project Play’s 63×30 initiative aims to have 63% of young people playing youth sports by 2030 and seeks to address the declining participation rates, with only 54% of children aged 6-17 participating in sports in the U.S as of 2022.
- Proven Impact: Every $1 invested in youth sports returns $3 in reduced medical costs and productivity losses (American Journal of Preventive Medicine).
Throughout the course of the week, Little League will also be championing key dates and initiatives across its social media channels as part of this celebration, including:
- National Coaches Day (Oct. 6)
- As part of the National Coaches Day Celebration, Little League is proud to join the Million Coaches Challenge in announcing that it has reached its bold goal: training one million youth coaches nationwide in evidence-based youth development practices.
- National Stop Bullying Day (Oct. 8)
- World Mental Health Day (Oct. 10)
- International Day of the Girl (Oct. 11)
National Youth Sports Week is championed by the National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) and its national members, representing over 60 million youth registered in sports. This year’s campaign aligns with the U.S. Health & Human Services’ 63% participation goal and the Aspen Institute Project Play’s Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports.
Little League is one of 20 organizations supporting the Aspen Institute’s 63×30 Initiative, focused on creating affordable programs, promoting multi-sport play, and developing coaches to support youth sports participation. To learn more about these efforts, visit LittleLeague.org.
The post Little League® Joins in Celebrating 2025 National Youth Sports Week appeared first on Little League.
