Project Play

Launched in 2013, the Aspen Institute’s Project Play develops, applies, and shares knowledge that helps build healthy communities through sports. Project Play works with leading organizations to develop and share best practices and solutions to foster quality sports activity for all youth, regardless of zip code or ability.

Closely aligned with Project Play’s “8 Plays” strategy, Little League International established its own strategic plan for participation in 2019 to guide its efforts to remove barriers of entry for Little League families, create new programming, and evolve the Little League program to meet the ever-changing family dynamics in the 21st century. As part of this strategic plan, Little League International has been able to launch new and exciting programs directed at the growth of youth baseball and softball, including its Girls with Game initiative, a new brand and mission focused on One Team. One Little League., a Lift Your League fundraising campaign, a Community Tee Ball Affiliation Program, Sandlot Fun Days, grant resources, and more.

Every child has the right to play sports and, when in the care of adults, the human rights they are born with need to be respected. This simple idea informs the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, a new resource developed by the Aspen Institute through its Project Play initiative, with a working group of human rights and sports policy experts, to create a shared cultural understanding that all youth should have the opportunity to develop as people through sports.

For more information on Project Play, and the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, visit AspenProjectPlay.org.

Little League Recognized as an Aspen Institute 2021 Project Play Champion

Based on its commitment to the growth and development of youth sports, Little League® Baseball and Softball has been named a 2021 Project Play Champion by the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative.

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State of Play 2021

Project Play State of Play Left

The state of play in 2021 is both improving and unstable. Families feel more comfortable to return. Many kids are back playing. But significant challenges remain, especially since so many more children became physically and mentally unhealthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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state-of-play-right

Call for Leadership is Project Play’s annual assessment of next steps in building healthy children through sports. The article was drafted by the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, with Tom Farrey as lead author, and pulls ideas from across the Project Play network.

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