By Lauren Pinheiro, Photography Editor
“I came from a one-parent home, and we didn’t have a lot of money. As a result, I couldn’t play sports because A, the costs were prohibitive, and B, only one parent meant that only one kid could be driven to a specific place,” said girls’ tennis team assistant coach and social studies teacher Merri Gardner.
These are just some of the struggles athletes coming from low-income families may face when they seek athletic opportunities. It is crucial to recognize and address the needs of these overlooked students by acknowledging the mental, physical and social benefits of youth sports. Implementing programs that offer financial assistance or create accessible opportunities for all children would be a real measure of striving to achieve equity in our school district.
In Tredyffrin Township, the median income is around $154,000, 111% higher than Pennsylvania’s median income of just over $73,000 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census. This leaves families who don’t meet this “average” income threshold behind: Many cannot afford private lessons or pay for sports equipment and costly travel teams. As a result, lower-income students within our school community are marginalized, despite the advertised value of engaging in physical activities during childhood. When the time comes to join high school teams and pursue college recruitment, kids from disadvantaged backgrounds are often outmatched by affluent peers with years of coaching and travel team experience.
A 2013 systematic review by five health sciences professors in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity highlighted the social benefits of sports, especially team sports. These include improved social interaction, stronger relationships, and a sense of belonging, all of which contribute to psychosocial health. From my own experience, I came out of my shell through playing on youth soccer teams. Supportive coaches, energetic teammates, and encouraging parents boosted my confidence, motivating me to excel in the sport and socialize. These gatherings fostered a strong sense of belonging beyond school.
The overwhelming number of physical and mental health benefits of youth sports are highly connected to the social aspect of teamwork and friendship. Obviously, a kid may develop stamina or gain strength from participating in their chosen sport, but according to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, what often is overlooked is how daily exercise, especially with other children around, reduces stress, assists in endorphin release, improves self-esteem, mitigates mental health problems and boosts self-image. Additionally, the camaraderie and teamwork youth sports foster can create a supportive environment that further enhances children’s emotional resilience and overall mental well-being.
Now, some may argue that there are less expensive sports to pick up without joining a formal team, like running, basketball and soccer. To this, I say that it is totally possible to excel in a sport without formal coaching. I made the JV tennis team my freshman year despite never taking a formal tennis lesson, just years of playing alone. However, it’s unlikely that I’ll play in a professional setting. Why should less affluent kids have to limit their athletic options and assume their inferiority to more affluent players in a sport?
It is not inclusive to regularly see well-off kids make high school sports teams and receive recruitment offers, while disadvantaged kids, despite working their hardest without formal coaching, are often left behind after tryouts. I suggest that the Foundation for Learning in Tredyffrin-Easttown, should provide accessible, high-quality sports programs, starting in elementary school with formal lessons. By taking these measures, we can begin to close the wealth gap in youth sports and ensure that every child has a fair shot at pursuing their athletic dreams. here are more measures our school district can take to provide more athletic resources to mend the wealth gap in childhood sports.
Lauren Pinheiro can be reached at [email protected].
