Lift barriers to youth sports and physical activity
Earlier this year, the American College of Sports Medicine ranked Seattle second in the 2019 American Fitness Index of healthiest cities. But, as we learned from this month’s State of Play: Seattle-King County report, our most important residents are being left behind.
The Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program and colleagues at the University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics assessed the current state of play for youth physical activity in the region and leveled a harsh grade.
Less than 20% of youth in King County get the Centers for Disease Control recommendation for 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Too many of our kids report being priced out of sports and activities — even in schools. Economic and cultural differences, like income, the neighborhood a child lives in and the language spoken at home, leave too many children in Seattle and King County on the sidelines.