*If you're in the business of youth sports, this playbook is for you.* Find out who is driving the household participation and purchasing decisions, how often equipment is replaced, and for what sports, & more, to position your business for success. 🔗:

🚨NEW CUSTOM RESEARCH🚨 Gain insights into youth sports parents' equipment purchasing behaviors with an in-depth look at the decision-makers in youth sports from those on the frontlines - parents and families. 🔗: https://t.co/ZkyBFRoiio $500 for Members | $1000 for Non-Members

@jbrds_kids @linemanissues @UltimateTagGame Semi-finalists will compete on Tuesday, September 16, and present to our esteemed panel of judges, made up of industry executives, investors, retailers, and thought leaders. Finalists will then compete live, in-person in November to determine the 2025 Start-Up Challenge Winner!

And the 2025 Start-Up Challenge Finalists are... 🎉 InSquare 🎉 @jbrds_kids 🎉 @linemanissues 🎉 Ruley the E-Referee 🎉 @UltimateTagGame Finalists will now compete live in November to determine the Start-Up Challenge Champion! 🏆 More information: https://t.co/EQOmu7DOXb

Today is the day! 🙌 Good luck to the 2025 Start-Up Challenge semi-finalists competing today! 🎉 🌟 InSquare 🌟 @jbrds_kids 🌟 @linemanissues 🌟 Ruley the E-Referee 🌟 Sandlotz 🌟 @UltimateTagGame Who will be selected as finalists? Who will be crowned the champion? Stay tuned!

@jbrds_kids @linemanissues @UltimateTagGame Semi-finalists will compete on Tuesday, September 16, and present to our esteemed panel of judges, made up of industry executives, investors, retailers, and thought leaders. Finalists will then compete live, in-person in November to determine the 2025 Start-Up Challenge Winner!

🎉 CONGRATULATIONS to our 2025 Start-Up Challenge Semi-Finalists! 🎉 🌟 InSquare 🌟 @jbrds_kids 🌟 @linemanissues 🌟 Ruley the E-Referee 🌟 Sandlotz 🌟 @UltimateTagGame Read more here: https://t.co/LdxE7ttl0c

A new mid-year report from @TheSFIA points to a potential slowdown in U.S. pickleball participation. "After a remarkable 45% increase in 2024, the projected growth rate for 2024-2025 is 14.7%, potentially signaling a new phase of stabilization for the sport." More:

Key Report Highlight: 🏃‍♀️ Among the 30 sports with updated participation data, Pickleball remains the fastest-growing, with a 14.7% increase in participation.

Key Report Highlight: 🎾 Winter Sports saw the largest growth from July 2024 to June 2025, increasing by 1.7%, followed by modest gains in Fitness Activities (0.3%) and Racquet Sports (0.1%).

Key Report Highlight: 🏈 First half of the year indicators for 2025 show that inactivity levels have increased from 22.6% to 22.9% – equating to roughly one million more Americans not actively participating in sports or fitness activities of any kind

🚨 NEW: First Half Game Plan: Key Moves in Sports Participation Report!🚨 For the FIRST TIME, SFIA is putting out a mid-year participation data update – providing actionable insights & up-to-date analysis! FREE for Members | $300 for Non-Members DOWNLOAD: https://t.co/KXV3VSO3bg

@LittleLeague @RawlingsSports @EastonBaseball They got to witness firsthand the energy, passion, and community spirit that make youth sports so special. From the dugouts to the stands, it was a celebration of the future of baseball and the companies helping shape it. Huge thanks to our members for the warm welcome!

This week, our very own Chandler Hoffman and Glenn Horine stepped up to the plate – representing SFIA at the iconic @LittleLeague World Series! They had the incredible opportunity to connect with some of our amazing member brands, including @RawlingsSports and @EastonBaseball.

BASEBALL MOVIE BRACKETLOGY! ⚾ In honor of @littleleague World Series, we put up classic baseball movies against one another to find out the best! THE RESULTS ARE IN! THE WINNER IS... 🥁 Field of Dreams! 🏟️ Thank you for voting! And remember... "If you build it, he will come."

Oh, and because folks are asking: "Pickleball continued its impressive growth streak as the fastest-growing sport in the US for the fourth consecutive year, with 19.8 million participants—a 45.8% increase from 2023 and a 311% increase over three years."

Top line finding: Americans are exercising more and are less likely to be inactive. Exercise rates are up 10% in the last five years. Inactivity rates down ~20%.

The latest survey from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association measures the 5-year percent change in fitness and exercise activities - Group cycling (Soul Cycle, etc) has plummeted - Pilates booming: its 5-year growth rate is almost double everything else - Yoga grew the most

Pickleball Report Sneak Peek 🔎: 🥒 The age bracket with the highest participation of pickleball participants in 2024 was 25-to 24-year-olds, followed by 65+ 🥒 The geographic region with the largest participation in pickleball is the South Atlantic, followed by Pacific in 2024

Pickleball Report Sneak Peek 🔎: 🥒 Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for the 4th straight year, a 45.8% increase from 2023 and a 311% increase from three years ago 🥒 Total participation for pickleball in 2024 was 19.8 million, up from 13.6 million in 2023