More people are playing team sports in the United States, but the number of youth coaches is moving in the opposite direction.
Research published by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) on 09/24/2026 reports that 92.3 million Americans aged six and above participated in team sports in 2025, an increase of 7.6% over the previous year.
Meanwhile, the number of current youth team-sport coaches fell for a third consecutive year, from 8.4 million in 2022 to 6.9 million in 2025. Participation among children aged 6–14 increased over that period.
The findings describe U.S. sports participation, rather than sports-camp bookings or global coaching conditions. Nevertheless, they give camp organizers a timely reason to review how they plan programs and support their coaching teams.
Plan coaching capacity alongside participant numbers
For organizers preparing their next camp, a practical question is: how many participants can the team coach well?
Before expanding registrations, consider the demands of each activity, participants’ ages and experience, available space and the attention each group needs.
A camp’s total staff count does not necessarily explain how much coaching participants receive. Be specific about who leads sessions, who assists and how groups are organized throughout the day.
If a program promises individual feedback, allow enough time in the schedule to deliver it.
Give coaches a clear structure
Our editorial takeaway is that supporting coaches deserves a place in camp planning alongside attracting participants.
That can start with straightforward arrangements: clear responsibilities, realistic working hours, prepared equipment and someone responsible for administrative questions.
A short briefing before camp can help the team agree on session objectives, participant needs and how to handle changes. A review afterwards gives coaches an opportunity to explain what worked and what should improve.
Ask returning coaches what would make their next camp easier to deliver. Their answers may identify problems that are difficult to see from registration numbers alone.
Keep enjoyment visible in the program
SFIA also asked why people participate in team sports. Fun was the most frequently selected reason, at 58.4%, ahead of staying active, friendship, belonging to a team and competition.
For camp organizers, that offers a useful prompt: does the program description explain what participants will enjoy as well as what they will practice?
A development-focused camp can include challenging sessions, achievable tasks, games and time to connect with others. Explain how these elements fit together and what kind of experience participants can expect.
Show the people behind the programe
When presenting a camp, introduce the coaches and explain their relevant backgrounds.
Distinguish formal qualifications from playing and coaching experience. If a coach holds a certification, name it accurately. If their background centers on years of coaching, competitive sport or working with a particular age group, describe that clearly.
Useful information helps participants and parents understand who will be teaching them and whether the program matches their needs.
Measure the experience after camp
Alongside registration totals, consider asking participants whether they received useful feedback, understood the activities and felt comfortable in their group.
Ask coaches whether the schedule and group sizes allowed them to deliver the intended program.
Those responses can guide the next session’s staffing and format without assuming that a larger camp is automatically a better one.
For organizers planning future camps, the practical priority is to build a program that the coaching team can deliver consistently—and describe that experience clearly.
Submit your camp to TopSportsCamps.com and help participants understand your coaching team, training approach and program.
Source: SFIA — “Team Sports Participation Reaches Record High as Youth Coaching Base Declines,” published 09/24/2026. The research draws on 18,000 online interviews conducted during 2025. Recommendations for camp organizers are TopSportsCamps.com editorial interpretation.
