Play Sports, Do Better in School

From the discipline of showing up for practice every morning to the teamwork required to pull off that double-play, youth sports teach a lot more than just running, jumping and throwing balls. Coaching Corps believes that every child should have the opportunity to experience the personal growth that comes with participating in sports, and in 2009 they released a study confirming that sports programs improve educational outcomes for young people.

At a time when budgets for sports and other educational programs are getting cut, the Coaching Corps report, Learning to Play and Playing to Learn, is a reminder that these types of cuts forfeit more than field time for our youth. When students participate in youth sports, they get better grades, are more likely to do their homework, and are more likely to attend college and land better-paying jobs.

Launched with a $5 million grant from the Haas, Jr. Fund, Coaching Corps has provided thousands of low-income children with the opportunity to take part in high-quality, after-school sports programs. The Coaching Corps report aims to help make the case for organized sports for all children—not just those whose families can afford them.