The Slow Collapse of Youth Sports
By Matt Young – FSQ Sports
It didn’t collapse overnight. We let it erode slowly, quietly, under the comforting guise of progress.
Once upon a time, the foundation of sport and physical literacy wasn’t outsourced. It wasn’t transactional. It lived in schools. Coached by teachers. Seasonal. Structured. Inclusive. It was part of the social fabric that shaped millions; the first team, the first lesson in effort, the first experience of losing with grace.
Then we got uncomfortable. We decided Physical Education was… too much. Too competitive. Too masculine. Too exclusive. Academic achievement was worth celebrating — but athletic ability? Tone it down. That’s just for “jocks.”
So, PE (physical education) was the first on the chopping block. Not math. Not science. Let the generalists handle it, we said. Imagine applying that logic to chemistry or calculus.
Then came the next blow: Teachers were told no more unpaid hours. No intramurals. No clubs. No after-school coaching. No leisure. No sport. Not unless they wanted to be fined by their union.
And just like that, we dismantled the greatest grassroots pipeline to health, movement and sport this country has ever known.
We left parents to figure it out. And only those with means could. So they found clubs. Academies. Private schools. Any place their child could run, jump, or play.
But something subtle and dangerous happened next: When parents paid, they stayed. When they stayed, they watched. And when they watched, they expected. Expectation turned to pressure. And pressure gave birth to a marketplace.
Enter private business. It saw the vacuum and filled it. The only rule? Tell parents what they want to hear, not what they need to hear. “Your child is elite.” “Your child is developing.” “Your child just needs more reps, more tournaments, more private sessions.” Everyone started selling “development.” But no one measured it. No one tracked it. No one reported it. Why? Because if you knew where your kid really stood… You might realize they’re not even close. And that doesn’t sell.
Here’s the hard truth: Just because you can pay for it doesn’t mean your kid belongs in it. But nobody tells you that — because your money fuels the illusion.
So we built an industry on dysfunction. We turned misalignment into a business model. “Elite” became a marketing term. Dreams became inventory. And false hope became the most scalable product in youth sport.
Meanwhile, in other countries, the ones who didn’t gut their school-based system, kids are showing up better. Better developed. Better prepared. At every level of competition.
Do things need to change? Yes. Does everything need to change? No. Has the Nike swoosh changed? Not once. But everything around it has evolved to support its promise.
That’s our work.
We don’t need new slogans. We need courage. To tell the truth. To stop profiting from the problem. To start fixing what’s broken.
Until then, dysfunction will remain the most lucrative game in town.
Matt Young is a globally renowned expert in transforming Long-Term Athlete Development from theory into a practical operating system. His powerful holistic organization and player development message has resonated worldwide through keynote presentations, documentaries, and TEDx talks. Matt’s unwavering dedication and inspiring work drive positive change in health, wellness, and sport, impacting the world. Connect with Matt at matt@fsqsport.com
