Recognizing the millions of youth in this Nation benefitting from youth sports and the parents, volunteers, and local and national organizations that make youth sports in this country possible, and for other purposes.

Recognizing the millions of youth in this Nation benefitting from youth sports and the parents, volunteers, and local and national organizations that make youth sports in this country possible, and for other purposes.

Whereas July 16–22 is National Youth Sports Week, during which we celebrate youth sports participation and all of the benefits youth derive from engaging in sports;

Whereas youth sports plays an important role as the conduit through which children learn important life lessons, values, compassion, and good ethics, and it is that relationship between sports skills and life skills that provides our young athletes with the fundamentals they need to succeed both on and off the playing field;

Whereas a primary goal in youth sports is to encourage active participation by all youth in healthy physical activities according to their age, interests, and abilities;

Whereas the National Council of Youth Sports, the go-to resource for youth sports safety and programs, reports that there are more than 60,000,000 registered participants in organized amateur youth sports programs;

Whereas youth sports offer a multitude of positive benefits to participants that extend far beyond the playing field, such as benefits to—

(1) academic performance, including increased school attendance, and lower school dropout rates and higher graduation rates from high school, with higher grade-point averages;

(2) health and physical behaviors, including improved health factors and prevention of obesity, chronic diseases, and other health problems;

(3) social well-being, including good character development and exposure to positive role models; and

(4) psychological health, including lower instances of substance abuse, less misconduct, high self-esteem, and being less aggressive than their peers;

Whereas sporting activities that lower barriers to participation for youth with disabilities foster an inclusive environment for all children to develop confidence and a higher level of fitness;

Whereas during National Youth Sports Week, thousands of youth sports coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, association members, sponsors, young athletes, and parents across the country will show their support of youth sports and Physical activity, Living healthy, Access, Youth development, and Safety (P.L.A.Y.S.); and

Whereas National Youth Sports Week highlights the efforts toward—

(1) physical activity promoted among all segments of our society;

(2) fostering living healthy;

(3) making accessing physical activities easier by removing barriers and creating opportunities for underserved populations;

(4) encouraging youth development activities and outcomes; and

(5) improving safety of participating in physical activities:

Now, therefore, be it

Resolved,