We’re proud to live in a wonderful community and our mission is to provide sponsorship for players as well as financially support the Riverton football team. We believe that competitive sports are important for our youth, and especially team sports for our families, our communities, and our country. We want all our kids with a desire to play, to be able to participate in football at the highest level. We want to invite and involve the community as much as possible for these kids.
We think you care about our youth too and need your help! It’s more than a game; this is why it’s important:
The most apparent benefit of youth sports programs is enhancing physical health. Regular involvement in sports fosters an active lifestyle, reducing the risk of obesity and associated health conditions, such as high blood pressure and diabetes.
Additionally, participation in sports helps children develop a strong foundation and love for physical fitness. Kids are more likely to lead active and healthy lifestyles by instilling healthy habits early on. Those kids who do not play sports often grow up to lead sedentary lifestyles.
Being on a sports team provides an ideal environment for interacting with peers, making new friends, and learning about teamwork, cooperation, and communication skills.
Kids who play sports tend to be more socially adept, can navigate group dynamics, and appreciate the value of working together towards a common goal. Teamwork requires cooperation and compromise. Furthermore, teammates who meet regularly often create long-lasting friendships. It can also teach youth empathy through learning how to be a good sport when something doesn’t go their way on the field.
Contrary to common beliefs, playing sports does not distract from academics but complements them. Research shows that kids who participate in sports demonstrate enhanced concentration, better problem-solving skills, improved memory, and can handle the high-pressure situations life can throw at them. Moreover, high school athletes are more likely to attend college than non-athletes and are more likely to receive a college scholarship.
Being involved in sports, kids learn to balance their academic responsibilities with their athletic commitments, honing their time management skills. This attribute learned early on proves invaluable in their later teenage years.
Each goal scored, every race won, and every game played to the end contributes to building a child’s self-esteem and confidence. The positive reinforcement and social recognition gained through sports participation can significantly enhance their self-image. This is particularly true of kids who play competitive sports. Being on a sports team also helps kids with social interactions, building teamwork, and leadership skills. Teamwork requires cooperation and compromise. Physical activity can also teach kids empathy through learning how to be a good sport when something doesn’t go their way on the field.
Competitive sports provide a safe environment for children to learn about healthy competition. They learn to handle winning and losing gracefully, cope with pressure, and understand that effort is as important as the outcome.
The competitive nature of sports teaches children about resilience. It’s about getting back up after a fall, striving for improvement, and persisting despite challenges or failures. These lessons extend far beyond the sports field.
Competitive sports or sports camps often require team captains and members to adopt leadership roles. This early exposure to leadership responsibilities fosters decision-making skills, promotes strategic thinking, and boosts confidence, all of which are crucial life skills.
Children need to set and strive for personal and team goals to win games or improve their skills. This goal-oriented mindset can transfer to their academic life and future career, helping them succeed in different facets of life.
Competitive sports are a microcosm of life’s challenges. Kids learn the importance of hard work, practice, dedication, learning, teamwork, and dealing with disappointment.
They know that success doesn’t come easy, and sometimes, despite their best efforts, they may not win. These are invaluable life lessons that prepare them for the real world. Athletes generally thrive better in the workforce.
Seventy-three percent of adults who play sports participated in team sports as children. This means they built the habit of physical activity early and reaped the rewards in adulthood. Lifelong participation in sports can lead to improved mental and physical health outcomes.
Over 50% of adults who participate in sports believe that participation reduces stress and improves mental health. Additionally, adolescents who play sports are eight times more likely to be physically active at age 24 than those who do not play sports. Sports participation at a young age leads to immediate psychological benefits, which can continue even after retirement.
Engaging kids in sports, particularly organized sports, provides a well-rounded experience. The physical, social, and mental skills they develop in a team environment can contribute significantly to their holistic growth and overall well-being, including their future success.
If that wasn’t enough of a reason, here’s some more stats from reputable surveys, censuses, and organizations:
81% of Americans agree that sports are important
This participation rate should come as no surprise, given that 81% of Americans agree that “sports are an important institution in the United States.” 74 million people regularly watch sporting events on TV in the U.S., proving this even further. Sports in general, as well as youth sports, are a staple in American lives.
Youth sports participation is down in children aged 6-12
37% of younger children played youth sports on a regular basis in 2021, down from 38% in 2019 and 2020 and 45% in 2008. This number obviously dropped in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, but we still haven’t seen it rise back to early 2000s levels.
However, 13-17-year-olds still have a higher participation rate, likely due to the accessibility of school sports.
Families whose children play organized sports tend to be in lower income brackets
According to The Aspen Institute’s survey of over 2000 parents, 22.3% of families have a household income of $25,000-49,999, 19.6% have an income of $50,000-74,999, and 17.9% have an income of $75,000-99,999.
Annual costs vary by sport
While the average family spends $883 per year on youth sports, costs can vary greatly depending on the sport. For example, average costs in 2022 were $1,188 for soccer, $1,002 for basketball, $714 for baseball, and $581 for tackle football. The Aspen Institute/Project Play survey also discovered that Black and African American families allocate significantly less money each year to their child’s primary sports ($614.33) than white ($1,112.82) or Hispanic ($1,365.20) families.
The majority of Americans are interested in public funding for youth sports
52% of Americans say public funding would have the biggest impact on youth and school sports. The more young people we’re able to get into physical activities, the better. However, youth sports can get expensive, especially for large families.
Paying nearly $1,000 each year for just one child is already a lot, but for multiple children, it can completely eliminate their ability to play.
The bottom line is we need your financial help and support. Your generous financial contributions are in investment into our youth, our communities, and our future leaders. Your donations is going to make a difference in whether a kid will be able to play, and at which level of competition. We thank you for your time, attention and donation into our kids.
Sources:
The Aspen Institute, National Council of Youth Sports, and Project Play
https://www.jerseywatch.com/blog/youth-sports-statistics
https://www.shredderski.com/10-reasons-why-kids-should-play-sports/
This is the official home of the Wolf Pack Booster Club, a registered 501(c)(3), which serves as a local organization to support Riverton football programs and athletes. Your generous help and support is needed to ensure that our team and youth are able to compete at the highest level, and provide the best experience possible for our players.
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