Global youth sport research by PlayerScout®
What’s Really Happening in Youth Sport?
And what needs to change for the next generation athletes?
1 in 3 youth players quit the sport they love by age 14. Players lose enjoyment. Parents witness it. Coaches influence it. Clubs shape it.
Youth Sport GenPlay 2027 Report is an independent global study by PlayerScout® to help keep youth playing. Discover how to keep young people enjoying sport, what helps them develop, and what’s driving them away.
We’re inviting players, parents and coaches around the world to share their experiences and help uncover what youth sport really needs.
Free to participate · Open to all sports · Global research
Amelia U15 Basketball
Sophie U15 Tennis
Jack U16 Football
01What we’re investigating
The Questions Youth Sport Can’t Afford to Ignore.
There’s more to a young athlete’s experience than what happens during training and competition.
We’re investigating four big questions.
01
Why do young athletes fall out of love with sport?
What causes motivation to disappear, confidence to decline and young people to walk away?
02
What really helps young athletes thrive?
How do coaching, family support, wellbeing, mindset and opportunities influence their development?
03
Is every young athlete getting a fair opportunity?
How are costs, access, background and personal circumstances shaping who gets to participate and progress?
04
What could youth sport be doing better?
What changes would make sport more enjoyable, supportive, inclusive and effective for the next generation?
By sharing your experience, you can help change
the future of sport and competition for young people globally.
02How to participate
Your Experience. Your Perspective. Your Say.
It’s easy to contribute. Share what you’re seeing or experiencing in youth sport. And we use our influence to stand for the changes you want to see.
01
Tell us who you are
Choose your sport, country and whether you’re a player, parent, coach or sporting organisation.
02
Share your experience
Answer a survey tailored to your role, covering the opportunities, experiences and challenges that matter to you.
03
Access the report
The findings will be published in the GenPlay 2027 Report. Get exclusive free access to this and learn what the wider youth sport community has revealed.
Take the GenPlay Survey Now
2027 survey now open to players, parents, coaches, clubs, academies, schools and sport organisations worldwide.
Participation is voluntary. Your responses help build the collective research findings.
03Benefits
Better Insight. Better Decisions. Better Youth Sport.
The PlayerScout® GenPlay Report brings together experiences from across the youth sport community to reveal patterns, challenges and opportunities that are difficult to see from one perspective alone.
Here’s what those findings could mean for you.
For players
More Fun. Less Pressure. More Say.
Sport should be something you love, not something you feel pressured to do. This is your chance to tell the adults what makes sport great — and what needs to change.
- More fun, less pressure. Make enjoyment just as important as performance and winning.
- Coaches who understand you. Help adults recognise what motivates you and what knocks your confidence.
- More opportunities for everyone. Speak up for fair chances to play, improve and feel included.
- Your voice matters. Tell parents, coaches and clubs what young athletes really need to enjoy their sport.
For parents
Understand More. Support Better.
Learn how to support your young athlete without adding pressure, so you can make more informed decisions about your child’s sporting journey.
- Motivation & Enjoyment: Learn what helps your child stay engaged and what can cause them to lose interest.
- Pressure & Wellbeing: Understand how expectations, confidence and emotional experiences affect your child.
- Your Influence: Gain perspective on your role as parent, and how it influences your child’s enjoyment and development.
- Development Beyond Training: Explore the wider factors affecting your child’s experience, opportunities and progress.
For coaches
Understand Your Players. Improve Their Experience.
Use the insights to inform how you connect with, support and develop your players.
- Player Motivation: Explore what keeps young athletes engaged — and what makes them withdraw.
- Player Perspectives: Understand the pressures, expectations and challenges players may be experiencing.
- Coaching Environments: Gain insight into how coaching and team experiences can influence confidence and enjoyment.
- Whole-Player Development: Explore the factors outside training that may affect participation, progress and wellbeing.
For clubs, academies, schools & sport organisations
Better Evidence. Stronger Development Strategies.
Make informed, smarter decisions about the future of your players and organisation.
- Player Retention: Explore the underlying factors that may contribute to disengagement and dropout.
- Development Programmes: Identify areas of player development that could need more attention beyond organised training.
- Coaching & Parent Engagement: Understand differing perspectives to inform better communication and support structures.
- Participation & Opportunity: Explore barriers that may limit access, inclusion and long-term involvement in sport.
One research project. Four perspectives.
A clearer picture of youth sport.
04What happens to your answers
Your Experience Becomes Part of a Bigger Picture.
Every response contributes to a wider understanding of youth sport.
We’ll examine the collective findings to identify what young people are experiencing, where challenges exist and which areas need greater attention.
We use our platform to drive change, turning your experience into actionable steps & strategies coaches, clubs, organisations, and sporting bodies can use worldwide.
Your Privacy Matters.
Research responses will be handled in accordance with our Research Participation Terms and Privacy Policy.
Names and contact details will not appear in the published statistical findings, and we will not sell participants’ personal information.
The Future of Youth Sport Should Be Shaped by the People Living It.
Whether you’re playing, parenting, coaching or leading a sporting organisation, your perspective can help us understand what youth sport is getting right — and what needs to change.
Free to participate · Share your experience · Help shape the research