I will soon introduce legislation to make youth sports more affordable for Pennsylvania families. No child should ever be denied the many physical, emotional, and social benefits of playing sports with their peers, especially due to financial limitations. In addition to the obvious health benefits, youth sports help children develop interpersonal social skills and teach values like teamwork, commitment, and respect.
 
Parents across the Commonwealth know the incredible sacrifice required to provide children with a safe, healthy, and prosperous environment to grow and learn. In March, The Aspen Institute’s Project Play Parenting Survey reported that families, on average, annually spend over $1,000 per child to participate in their favorite sport.
 
As lawmakers, we can play a key role in reducing the financial barriers to youth sports and improve pediatric health outcomes.

Under my proposal, parents of Pennsylvania primary and secondary school students would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $3,000 to offset the costs of qualifying expenses related to youth sports, including equipment, travel costs, and team fees.  The credit would be available to cover costs for all levels of competition, ranging from competitive travel teams to friendly club play.

I hope you will consider joining our colleague Representative Joe Hogan and me as we champion this legislation to increase accessibility to youth sports and promote healthier, happier outcomes for youth across Pennsylvania.