Way of Champions Podcast

#463 Tom Farrey, Executive Director of Aspen Institute Sports and Society Program, on Achievable Steps to Get More Kids Playing Sports, Build Facilities, and Educate Coaches

Jan 7, 2026
Guest
Tom Farrey
Tom Farrey, executive director of the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program and founder of Project Play, shares his mission to increase youth sports participation. They discuss his recent testimony to Congress about the pressures facing young athletes and the significant benefits of getting kids active. Tom highlights the 63x30 initiative aiming for 63% of kids in sports by 2030, offers insights on funding through sports betting revenue, and emphasizes community-level access and coach education as crucial to reforming youth sports.
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INSIGHT

Active Kids Deliver Long-Term Social Value

  • Strong evidence links youth sport to better physical, mental, and social outcomes across life.
  • Increasing early physical activity reduces future chronic disease, healthcare costs, and improves education and social connectedness.
INSIGHT

63% By 2030 Is A Shared Public Goal

  • Project Play's 63 by 30 aligns with Healthy People 2030 to raise youth team participation to 63%.
  • Achieving that target requires coordinated action from government, nonprofits, philanthropy, and private sector.
INSIGHT

Participation Gains Yield Massive Economic Returns

  • Raising youth participation from 51% to 63% could save roughly $80 billion via medical and productivity gains.
  • Early activity delivers measurable economic and quality-of-life returns across decades.
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