Recreation departments, sports manufacturers and retailers, coaching and trade associations, and athletic departments are interested in the age breakdown of sports participants. This information helps them develop customized equipment, services, programs, and coaching techniques to the sports participants in each age group. As well, age breakdown information provides valuable marketing insight that is used to promote goods, services, and the various sports.
The U.S. Statistical Abstract publishes sports participation levels by age groups using National Sporting Goods Association data. The 2012 publication provides 2009 NSGA information.
Key findings from the data show:
- Soccer, baseball, basketball, and volleyball are predominantly youth sports.
- Swimmers are split between two groups. Almost 42% are under 25 and about 45% are in the 25 to 54 age category.
- Almost 57% of tennis players are in the 25 to 54 age group. A small percentage of tennis players are over the age of 55.
- The breakdown of alpine skiers is similar to tennis; however, there are a higher percentage of older skiers than tennis players.
- The sports of aerobic exercising, yoga, exercising with equipment, golf, and exercise walking have the highest percentage of older participants and the lowest percentage of youth participants. For each of these sports the percentage of participants in the 25 to 54 age category is between 54% and 65%.
