Indiana families prepare for a new school year as many students return to youth sports programs. According to nonprofit Indiana Youth Institute, sports provide more than physical activity.

Tami Silverman, the group’s CEO, said sports can build lifelong skills.

“They create those friendships across grades,” said Silverman. “They strengthen that sense of belonging. It teaches them teamwork, cooperation, confidence, conflict resolution, and it also has some of those academic benefits, such as higher attendance rates.”

She said those benefits reach beyond the playing field into classrooms and communities.

However, experts acknowledge not every child has the same access to organized sports. Cost and limited resources in some school districts can prevent participation.

Silverman said school-based sports programs often offer better opportunities for low-income students.

“School-based sports have fewer barriers for those very reasons,” said Silverman. “They know and are very set up to deal with and help some kids, in particular the kids that need it most, access out-of-school time activities, particularly sports.”

Silverman urged parents and coaches to focus on fun, not just performance, so children keep playing and reap the benefits throughout their education.