On any given weekend, you can find thousands of families driving across the country for youth sports.
Early mornings.
Long road trips.
Hotel rooms.
Tournament schedules.
Equipment bags.
Soccer has become a family commitment.
This year, my son Lincoln is competing in MLS NEXT, the highest level of youth soccer available for boys his age in the United States. Watching him compete against some of the nation’s most talented young players has been an incredible experience.
It has also reminded me of something that is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
We are fortunate.
We are fortunate to be able to pay club fees.
To purchase equipment.
To travel to tournaments.
To rearrange our schedules around training and competition.
Not every family can.
That reality should concern all of us.
Youth sports have changed dramatically over the past two decades. As participation has become increasingly professionalized, so have the costs. Families now face club dues, uniforms, tournament fees, travel expenses, hotel costs, private training, and countless other financial barriers that can place competitive sports beyond the reach of many children.
While there are many reasons costs have increased, one of the most significant is often overlooked.
We simply do not have enough places for children to play.
Quality field space has become one of the most valuable resources in youth sports. Clubs compete for limited practice times. Communities struggle to meet demand. Rental costs continue to rise. Those costs are ultimately passed on to families.
When access to fields becomes scarce, access to sport becomes expensive.
And when sport becomes too expensive, children are left behind—not because they lack talent or commitment, but because opportunity comes with a price tag their families cannot afford.
At Playing for Keeps, we believe that is a challenge we can solve.
Investing in high-quality, sustainable sports infrastructure does more than create beautiful facilities.
It expands capacity.
It increases access.
It helps reduce barriers for families.
And it allows more children to participate in the life-changing experiences that sport provides.
Every new field creates more practice opportunities.
More games.
More community programming.
More opportunities for children to discover what they are capable of becoming.
When we invest in places to play, we are investing in equity.
Because talent is everywhere.
Opportunity should be, too.
As a parent, I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunities Lincoln has been given.
As President of Playing for Keeps, I feel an even greater responsibility to ensure that those opportunities are available to more children—not just those whose families can afford them.
Because every child deserves more than a moment.
Every child deserves a place to play.
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