How is baseball the most participated team sport in America? Aren’t there more kids playing basketball?
February 5, 2026
How is baseball the most participated team sport in America? Aren’t there more kids playing basketball?
21 comments
I’m surprised it’s ahead of soccer
The only one im surprised it’s over is soccer. But yeah almost every youth athlete has played at least one season of baseball
I mean, you’re the one who posted data that says otherwise. If you don’t believe it, then find other sources.
This is bogus
but baseball touches almost everyone at least once.
Baseball has a large number of organizations that all kids can play. Basketball does not. I’d say the average kid does not play organized basketball.
Little League teams are all over the place.
Surely it’s soccer
If i had to take a guess there’s plenty of reasons: 1) it really is America’s pasttime which probably makes it more preferable for generations of parents, 2) it’s the safest team sport, 3) more players on a single team means more opportunities.
I mean, look at the numbers of people on a team. There are almost double the amount of “starters” on a baseball field than a basketball court. Just that alone should help you realize why this would be true.
Edit to say true in that more kids play organized baseball over organized basketball. I, like others, am surprised the answer isn’t soccer.
In my area, baseball is by far the most popular youth sport. Plus, teams are bigger than basketball. You can have 10 or so players on a basketball team. Baseball requires a few more. If you multiply that over multiple teams, it’s a lot of damn kids.
Probably not organized basketball.
A quick Google search puts youth soccer participation in the US at 14 million and youth basketball participation at 28 million.
As an organized team doubtful. Basketball teams would probably have less players on the team so even with every school having both sports one would have more players. Basketball is definitely more played if count pick up games & that stuff
0.02% honestly sounds high to me
It’s huge but feels like the drop off is more rapid than other sports. When my son moved to the middle school levels they went from 6 teams in our municipality to barely enough kids to support 1. While basketball stayed pretty even.
T-ball counts
I wouldnt think so.
Basketball teams are smaller in roster size at all levels from youth sports, primary, middle and high school teams, through the college, professional, and adult recreational programs.
I’m organized play? Not so sure about that.
Also, I know a lot more guys who grew up on a diamond than a court
21 comments
I’m surprised it’s ahead of soccer
The only one im surprised it’s over is soccer. But yeah almost every youth athlete has played at least one season of baseball
I mean, you’re the one who posted data that says otherwise. If you don’t believe it, then find other sources.
This is bogus
but baseball touches almost everyone at least once.
Baseball has a large number of organizations that all kids can play. Basketball does not. I’d say the average kid does not play organized basketball.
Little League teams are all over the place.
Surely it’s soccer
If i had to take a guess there’s plenty of reasons: 1) it really is America’s pasttime which probably makes it more preferable for generations of parents, 2) it’s the safest team sport, 3) more players on a single team means more opportunities.
Here’s one study for ages 6-12:
[https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates](https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates)
Baseball 3.3M, Basketball 3.9M, Soccer 2.1M
I mean, look at the numbers of people on a team. There are almost double the amount of “starters” on a baseball field than a basketball court. Just that alone should help you realize why this would be true.
Edit to say true in that more kids play organized baseball over organized basketball. I, like others, am surprised the answer isn’t soccer.
They made up that number.
Basketball has more as recently as 2023(the most recent year data was collected) in State of Play’s 2024 report.[Project Play 2024](https://projectplay.org/youth-sports/facts/participation-rates)
In my area, baseball is by far the most popular youth sport. Plus, teams are bigger than basketball. You can have 10 or so players on a basketball team. Baseball requires a few more. If you multiply that over multiple teams, it’s a lot of damn kids.
Probably not organized basketball.
A quick Google search puts youth soccer participation in the US at 14 million and youth basketball participation at 28 million.
As an organized team doubtful. Basketball teams would probably have less players on the team so even with every school having both sports one would have more players. Basketball is definitely more played if count pick up games & that stuff
0.02% honestly sounds high to me
It’s huge but feels like the drop off is more rapid than other sports. When my son moved to the middle school levels they went from 6 teams in our municipality to barely enough kids to support 1. While basketball stayed pretty even.
T-ball counts
I wouldnt think so.
Basketball teams are smaller in roster size at all levels from youth sports, primary, middle and high school teams, through the college, professional, and adult recreational programs.
I’m organized play? Not so sure about that.
Also, I know a lot more guys who grew up on a diamond than a court