173. The State of Youth Sports with Aspen Institute's Project Play Director Tom Farrey
From The Pure Athlete Podcast by Jeff Francoeur
May 19, 2026 · 40 min · Episode 186
About this episode
Tom Farrey discusses the current state of youth sports, sharing insights on participation trends and the importance of joy in sports.
In this episode of The Pure Athlete Podcast, we sit down with Tom Farrey, Executive Director of the Aspen Institute’s Project Play and a longtime voice in youth sports. With decades of experience and groundbreaking research, Tom shares the latest data on participation trends, the impact of commercialization, early specialization, and the growing influence of NIL at younger ages. Discover powerful lessons from Norway’s remarkably successful youth sports model, why joy and love of the game matter more than wins at young ages, the importance of multi-sport play, and practical ways communities can drive real change through the “power of the permit.” Whether you’re a parent, coach, or youth sports leader, this conversation delivers honest insights, hope, and actionable ideas for building healthier, more inclusive youth sports environments. Tune in for a big-picture look at where youth sports stands today — and where it’s headed. #YouthSports #ProjectPlay #ParentingInSports #AspenInstitute
People in this episode
Host: Jeff Francoeur
Guest: Tom Farrey
Topics covered
- youth sports
- participation trends
- commercialization
- early specialization
- multi-sport play
- community change
Keywords
- youth sports
- participation trends
- commercialization
- NIL
- multi-sport play
- Norway youth sports model
- community change
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Aspen Institute, Project Play
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