California and Illinois have committed to looking at was to expand access to youth sports in their states for low-income areas where participation is flagging.
According to the Youth Sports Business Report, Illinois has funded youth sports access through a four-year, $13.75 million investment. The funding is expected to impact 40,000 youths across 77 high-poverty, high-violence zip codes.
More than 50 organizations will received the funds in Illinois. In 2025, Illinois created the country's first Youth Sports Commission, which includes lawmakers, parents, coaches and community leaders.
California, meanwhile, has passed the Youth Sports for All Act, which creates a blue-ribbon commission to evaluate establishing centralized Department of Youth Sports.
According to the Youth Sports Business report, the legislation addresses documented participation challenges in California. State data shows nearly two-thirds of California youths don’t meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention physical activity guidelines. One in three have stopped playing sports in the last two years.
Participation rates among Black, Latino and low-income youths remain significantly lower due to barriers including cost, transportation and scarcity of local programs. The commission will evaluate whether a centralized department structure could address these barriers.
