This document discusses the Up2Us coalition's goals of supporting youth sports organizations, building the youth sports workforce, and advocating for resources to serve more children. It summarizes research showing the positive physical, social, emotional, and educational benefits of youth sports participation, such as improved academic performance, health outcomes, and avoidance of risky behaviors. However, youth sports are at risk of budget cuts and pay-to-play policies. The document calls for further research to prove the value of youth sports and for practitioners to better evaluate their programs, in order to strengthen the case for investing in youth sports.

1. Redefining Sports as a Tool to Address the Critical Issues Facing Today’s YouthISDPA Power of Sport SummitNortheastern University, June 2010

2. Up2UsCoalition of almost 500 member organizations- schools, universities, intermediaries, and practitioners

3. Rooted in practice- a project created at America SCORES; developed by leaders in the youth sports field

4. Goals:

5. Support organizations so that they can improve the quality of their programs

6. Build a workforce in sports-based youth development; raise the human capital

7. Make the case for youth sports- advocate for resources

8. Serve more kids!Up2Us InitiativesCoach Across America

9. Youth Sports “Revitalizers”

10. Quality Metrics

11. Regional Conferences

12. Member Services

13. Insurance

14. Job Bank

15. Funding OpportunitiesWhy Youth Sports?Data from a study published in the Journal of School Health that covered over 50 countries concluded that “…in each of the domains discussed – physical, lifestyle, affective, social, and cognitive– there is evidence that…sport can have a positive and profound effect.” (Bailey, 2006, p. 399)

16. Why Now?Sports at Risk- Budget CutsEstimated that at least $2 billion dollarswas cut from afterschool sports and activities budgets nationwide during the 2008-2009 school year.