Annual Participation Study
2026 SFIA first half game plan Report
Stay Ahead of Shifts in Participation
Get a midyear update on U.S. sports and fitness participation, with fresh insight into activity trends, emerging sports, and the pressures affecting Americans’ ability to play.
Free for SFIA members | $300 for non-members
Update your perspective at halftime
Building on SFIA’s annual Topline Participation Report, the First Half Game Plan provides a timely view of where participation is headed. Explore changes across activity categories, examine selected sports, and understand how affordability and engagement could influence the months ahead.
The 2026 edition reflects participation over the rolling 12-month period ending June 2026.
What You Will Learn
Use the report to understand:
How overall activity, inactivity, and CORE participation are changing in the first half of 2026
Which sports and fitness activities are gaining momentum
What motivates people to play team sports
How rising costs could affect continued participation
How school activity relates to youth activity levels
What the Report Covers
The 2026 first half game plan Report includes:
Research methodology
Executive summary
Sports and activity participation in the United States
Overall activity levels
Participation by category
Reasons to play team sports
Cost to play
How school activity impacts youth activity
Participation rates for select sports and fitness activities
Key report highlights
from the report
The 2026 First Half Game Plan Report examines another year of historically high sports and fitness participation, alongside continued shifts in how Americans choose to be active.
Participation Reached a New Record High
In the rolling 12 months ending in June 2026, 81.3% of Americans ages six and older participated in at least one tracked activity.
Team Sports Keep Building Momentum
Basketball and flag football were among the leading growth sports in the midyear update.
Affordability Comes Into Focus
30% of participants reported higher costs to play compared with the previous year.
2026 SFIA first half game plan Report
Published | 2026
Data covered | 2020–June 2026
Activities tracked | 30
Geography | United States
Format | Digital Report
Member access | Complimentary
Built on Nearly 20 Years of Consistent Research
SFIA’s participation research is conducted as part of the Physical Activity Council, a collaboration of leading sports, fitness, and recreation organizations. Using a nationally representative online survey, the study gathers responses from more than 18,000 Americans ages 6+ each year.
The consistent methodology, maintained since 2007, allows organizations to examine long-term changes in sports and fitness participation with confidence.
→ Nationally representative online survey
→ 18,000+ Americans ages 6+ surveyed annually
→ 126 sports, fitness & leisure activities tracked
→ Consistent methodology maintained since 2007
Choosing the Right Report
first half game plan or Topline report?
Looking for the comprehensive annual participation picture? Our Topline Participation Report tracks 126 sports, fitness, and leisure activities,
with insights into participation trends, demographic shifts, and casual and CORE engagement to help guide your planning.
Purchase the 2026 first half game plan Report
Use the midyear participation picture to refine your plans and spot opportunities.
Research report purchases are final and are not eligible for refund, return, or credit.
Report Access and Support
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After completing your order, you will receive an order confirmation and a separate email containing an access link for each report purchased. Emails are sent from info@sfia.org. Please add this address to your safe senders list.
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Check your spam or junk folder first. If the email has not arrived, contact our research team at research@sfia.org.
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Yes. The 2026 First Half Game Plan Report is available to SFIA members at no additional cost. Members should sign in before completing their order.
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Contact Alex Kerman, Head of Research, at akerman@sfia.org or 301-495-6321.