Little League® International is proud to amplify its partnership with the Aspen Institute’s Project Play 63×30 initiative, and support ESPN’s Take Back Sports Campaign, a movement designed to increase access to play for young athletes throughout the Little League World Series tournaments this summer broadcast on ESPN platforms.
Together, these initiatives promote a shared mission, one that centers on getting kids active, prioritizing their well-being, and restoring fun, community, and inclusivity into sports at every level of play.
“As the trusted leader in youth sports, Little League is proud to play its part in supporting multi-sport participation for all children and growing access and opportunity for the next generation of incredible children,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Together, as we continue to innovate and find new ways to support families across our program, the 63×30 initiative and ESPN’s Take Back Sports align directly with our organization’s core values and mission to positively impact youth and communities both on and off the field.”
Project Play’s 63×30 initiative aims to have 63% of young people playing youth sports by 2030 and seeks to address the declining participation rates, with only 54% of children aged 6-17 participating in sports in the U.S as of 2022. This initiative comprises more than 20 organizations, including Little League Baseball and Softball, and focuses on creating affordable programs, promoting multi-sport play, and developing coaches to support youth sports participation.
Take Back Sports, a year-long program launched by ESPN to get more kids playing youth sports and having fun, will focus on three primary areas to drive change: philanthropy and investing in youth sports organizations that are breaking down the barriers to play; a national campaign focused on helping parents, coaches, and volunteers make the youth sports system stronger with our mutual partners at Positive Coaching Alliance; and purposeful storytelling on youth sports across ESPN platforms including throughout the Little League World Series tournaments.
Additionally, ESPN is committing $5 million to support organizations focused on these areas to help build quality coach training, community recreational leagues, encouragement of multi-sport play, and promotions emphasizing the important of fun in sports.
Little League International encourages local leagues, families, and partners to join us in supporting Project Play’s 63×30 Movement and ESPN’s Take Back Sports initiatives and learn more at LittleLeague.org/ProjectPlay.
About Take Back Sports
Take Back Sports is a youth sports initiative led by ESPN and powered by Disney, designed to get and keep kids playing sports. With only 38% of kids playing sports on a regular basis, ESPN is helping parents, coaches and caring adults take back sports and make it fun again. Together with its league, business and community partners, Take Back Sports is working to make the youth sports system more accessible so that kids across the country have the opportunity to play sports.