Why do parents sign their children up for soccer in the U.S.A?
U.S. Soccer Federation
Summary
This peer-reviewed study, conducted by the U.S. Soccer Federation and leading academic partners, explores the motivations of over 5,000 parents across the United States who choose to enroll their children in soccer. The research identifies key factors driving participation, ranging from health and personal development to social interaction and structured activity, and compares them to parental motivations across other sports. These findings provide actionable insights for youth organizations, clubs, and policymakers seeking to design soccer programs that align with family priorities and encourage sustainable participation.
HOW & WHEN IT CAN HELP
- For soccer organizations developing outreach strategies and family engagement programs.
- When designing messaging and recruitment materials that align with parent motivations.
- To guide health-based advocacy for soccer as a lifelong physical activity.
- As a source of evidence to strengthen grant proposals or policy recommendations on youth participation in soccer.
WHAT WE LIKE ABOUT THIS RESOURCE
It provides rare, large-scale data on parental motivations specific to soccer, linking participation to child development, wellbeing, and public health outcomes. The combination of quantitative data and thematic analysis offers both statistical insight and practical takeaways for community program design.
KEY CONSIDERATIONS WHEN USING THIS RESOURCE
How can your organization apply these findings to shape communication with parents and families?
Are you capturing similar data in your own community to understand participation drivers and barriers?
What partnerships could you harness with schools, local governments, healthcare providers, to use this research to promote soccer’s benefits more widely?
How can your programs make participation more accessible for families facing barriers like cost, time, or travel?
ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTOR
As the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States. U.S. Soccer exists in service to soccer. Our ambition is to ignite a national passion for soccer. We believe soccer is more than a sport, it is a force for good.’ To learn more visit USSoccer.com.
This resource is hosted on the US Soccer Learning Center where coaches, referees and other members of the soccer community can access a wide range of articles and training opportunities, including on issues of mental and physical health.
CREDITING CONTRIBUTORS
The Resource Hub is made possible by the generosity of contributors. It demonstrates the rich expertise and collective team spirit that exists across our soccer community.
All resources that have been contributed to the Resource Hub are free for users of the Hub to learn from, adapt and implement in their own organization and community.
Where relevant, we encourage users of the resources to formally or informally credit the resource creator, to acknowledge their expertise and generosity.