ABSTRACT
Before 2020, young people were experiencing significant psychosocial challenges, with the COVID-19 pandemic and related events (e.g., lockdowns, social isolation, and economic disruption) amplifying concerns about their well-being. Youth sport is a context for promoting mental, emotional, and social health, and yet it is not achieving its full potential in the United States. The purpose of this expert commentary, composed by the 2020-2021 President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Science Board, is to present a vision of youth sport in the United States that prioritizes young people's mental, emotional, and social health. The extraordinary events of 2020 and 2021 provide an opportunity to reenvision our approach to youth sport as pandemic-related restrictions are lifted. Ten recommendations from this vision are presented in this article, along with 10 innovative, actionable takeaways;each of these offer meaningful benefits to young people's mental, emotional, and social health.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on youth sport parents based on competition level to understand how the pandemic affected youth sport and factors associated with youth returning to sport. Survey data were collected from samples of US sport parents in two waves - early in the pandemic (N = 751) and as programs began to resume (N = 707). Data showed elite sport parents were more willing to return. Although most participants returned to play, significant numbers had not resumed participation. Parent comfort was the most important factor associated with resuming. However, parents allowed children to resume play due to perceived external pressure, potentially creating stress among parents regarding sport participation decisions. Attending school in person and household income were associated with the ability to resume sport suggesting the need to provide school sport environments and consider the financial impacts of COVID-19 on sport families.