To provide for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish grant programs to improve the health and positive youth development impacts of youth sports participation, and for other purposes.
The PLAYS in Youth Sports Act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish competitive grant programs supporting youth sports organizations across the country. The primary program awards grants of up to $2.5 million to national nonprofit organizations, which then distribute smaller subgrants of $1,000 to $10,000 to local and regional youth sports groups to improve coaching quality, increase access to sports for underserved youth, and enhance safety and health practices. The bill also authorizes separate grants to states, counties, and municipalities to develop and test coaching standards and best practices. Activities funded through these grants can include coach training and certification, programs to reduce barriers to participation for low-income and disabled youth, background checks and abuse prevention protocols, concussion management, and parent education on youth development. The legislation authorizes $75 million in funding, with $15 million for national organizations and $50 million for state and local efforts, and requires the Government Accountability Office and Health and Human Services to study the effectiveness of federal youth sports programs and safety initiatives within two years.
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