ESPN announced the launch of Take Back Sports, a new youth sports initiative dedicated to increasing access to play for young athletes. Introduced at the Aspen Institute’s Project Play Summit — where ESPN serves on the 63X30 committee aimed at getting 63% of kids playing sports by 2030 — the initiative will address critical challenges in the youth sports landscape. Only 38.3% of kids ages 6-12 played sports in 2023 on a regular basis, according to data from the Sports & Fitness Industry Association and the Aspen Institute’s State of Play 2024 report. Take Back Sports 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 caring adults make the youth sports system stronger (which will launch later this year, along with new content that will be integrated into ESPN’s studio shows and event coverage)

• Purposeful storytelling on youth sports across ESPN platforms together with athletes and league partners

As part of the initiative, ESPN is teaming up with Stephen and Ayesha Curry and their Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to tackle the barriers preventing youth participation in sports. A feature on the Currys’ efforts to reshape youth sports in Oakland will air during NBA Today on April 3. With a renewed focus on ensuring every student in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has access to high-quality sports and play opportunities at every stage of their education — from elementary school play spaces to middle school sports — Eat. Learn. Play. is expanding access to organized sports and providing free sports programming for Oakland student-athletes. Youth sports participation in Oakland — and across the country—has steadily declined in part due to rising costs of travel sports and lack of funding for school sports, and recognizing this challenge, Eat. Learn. Play. has taken decisive action to reinvigorate school-based athletics with the refurbishment of schoolyards and basketball courts and by providing essential resources and support.

Stephen and Ayesha Curry’s Eat. Learn. Play., along with Under Armour and Curry Brand, are building on their longtime partnership with a renewed focus on ensuring every student in the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has access to high-quality sports and play opportunities at every stage of their education. This collaborative effort creates a seamless pathway for participation, growth and success—from elementary school play spaces to middle and high school athletics. Through sustained investment and strategic partnerships, this effort expands access to sports and reinforces the vital role athletics plays in youth development and academic achievement.