The Impact of Organized Sports in Underserved Youths on Development, Health, and Lifelong Trajectories

Abstract

Participation in organized childhood sports offers various benefits by enhancing mental, physical, and academic well-being. As the positive impacts of sports participation can be amplified for underserved youth, the need for equity-focused intervention is emphasized to address the social inequalities. This systemic review analyzes the current research findings to confirm the multifaceted impacts of organized youth sport participation and to underscore the urgent need for strategies to foster greater equity in organized youth sports. In addition, this review highlights the underlying causes of the remaining disparities in organized youth sport participation opportunities for underserved groups.