We have all seen, read, heard, and experienced our rapidly changing economic landscape in one way or another.  Unemployment continues to rise, companies continue to cut costs or even close their doors.  Some of you may have loss a source of income as a direct result of today’s financial climate.

The question I have, how is all of this going to impact youth sports across the nation?  For me, playing sports as a child consumed every waking moment of my life.  Whether I was in the middle of my baseball season, heading into football season, or finishing up my soccer season, I always knew there was another athletic opportunity and team awaiting me.  However, as a child, I was naïve to what took place to ensure I had a field to play on, a uniform to wear, or people to coach me.  I was unaware there were things called budgets, expenses, or city field contracts.

Having traveled to different parts of the country early this year, I continue to hear stories of rising field costs, rising concession costs, now having to pay the city for lights or gym dues, as well as many other unexpected new costs.  Include the fact you may have a decline in participation because of the economy, and it might prove extremely difficult to keep your organization above water.  

Now more than ever we need to keep our kids playing sports and allowing them to experience the same joys of competition we did as children.  Now is the time to fundraise more than ever so that your scholarships to underprivileged families remain, so that those impacted most by today’s economic woes are still able to participate.  I have faith that youth sports leagues across the country will rise above their economic worries at home and “escape” to the field or gym and give our youth an unbelievable experience!