According to Stanford Children’s Health, playing sports has a range of physical, emotional, and interpersonal benefits:
EVERYONE Could use A HELPING HAND.
Sports provide numerous clearly defined benefits for children.
Self-esteem and self-confidence.
Success as a team member and an athlete builds confidence and self-esteem.
Social skills development.
Playing on a team means learning to work with others and support them.
Sportsmanship.
Learning the rules of the game, respect for coaches and referees, and how to stay positive even when losing are all valuable life lessons.
Healthy weight.
Obesity is increasing in children, but data show that kids who are more active, especially after school, are more likely to be of normal weight.
Motor skills development.
Sports participation helps with coordination and learning new skills.
Fun and enjoyment.
Playing sports is a source of joy for children.
Friendship.
Spending consistent time together as a team fosters the development of friends and support systems.
Further research compiled by health.gov has shown additional benefits of sports:
- High school athletes who regularly play sports are less likely to use drugs
- Female high school athletes are 80% less likely to become pregnant than non-athletes
- Athletes have higher grade point averages, higher standardized test scores, better attendance, lower dropout rates, and a better chance of going to college
- Youth who participate in sports are more likely to be physically active as adults, allowing them to reap lifelong health benefits including decreased all-cause mortality
There is an opportunity divide.
2 in 3 system-impacted families have difficulty meeting basic financial needs as a direct result of incarceration; 70% of these families have children under the age of 18. Moreover, familial incarceration is more prevalent in lower income households: 53% of people making $0 – $24,000 per year have had an immediate family member incarcerated vs. 33% of those making $100,000+.
Further research shows that children in US households with below-median annual income are 2.2X more likely to have no participation in sports, arts, or clubs than children with above-median annual income. Therefore, participation in sports (which requires paying expensive league fees, equipment costs, and transportation costs) is particularly financially challenging to CIPs and their families.
CIPs can greatly benefit from participation in sports.
The CDC recognizes parental incarceration as an ‘Adverse Childhood Experience’ uniquely distinguished from other adverse experiences because of the unique combination of shame, trauma, and stigma, with CIPs experiencing a 2X increase in risk of mental health challenges. 1 in 14 U.S. children have had a parent incarcerated at some point in their lifetime.
Facts
1 in 9
Black children have had a parent incarcerated at some point in their lifetime
22%
The average decrease in family income when a father becomes incarcerated
2.2X
Children in US households with below-median annual income are 2.2X more likely to have no participation in sports
$500
The average annual family spending on one child per sport per year
15%
Physically active children are 15% more likely to go to college
10%
Decrease in risk of becoming obese when a child becomes physically active
Help Bring Sports to Children of Incarcerated Parents
Join us in bringing sports to children of incarcerated parents. Your support will help children turn obstacles into opportunities and build brighter futures for decades to come.
DonateJulian Edelman
Super Bowl LIII MVP | New England Patriots
PMI! Athlete Ambassador