Mental Health

Student athletes are less likely than non-athletes to be depressed.*

Physical Health

Student athletes who play team sports are less likely to smoke cigarettes or use other illicit drugs.**

Academics

Physically active children get up to 40% higher test scores.**

Bright Futures

Student athletes are more likely to get higher grades and aspire to attend college.*

63% Lack the Funding

63% of public school sports budgets are stagnant or decreasing.***

33% Fewer Sports

High-poverty schools offer 1/3 fewer sports than low-poverty schools.***

25% Participation Gap

25% participation gap between children of lower and higher income families.***

4X Less Spend

Parents in lowest-income families spend approximately four times less on their child's sport than the wealthiest households.**

$80M

Since 2014, the Sports Matter Program has donated $80 million to support young athletes.

1 in 21 schools

1 out of every 21 public schools has received funding for sports programs from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation.

1.6M+ Kids

Our support has kept over 1.6 million kids in the game across all 50 states through the Sports Matter program.

40 Sports

Because we believe all chances to play are beneficial, we have provided grants for 40 different youth sports, and counting!