Transcript:

Sports are a big part of many kids’ lives. But climate change is disrupting their ability to play.

In a survey by the Aspen Institute, U.S. parents reported that their kids missed an average of seven days of practices and competitions in 2024 due to extreme and changing weather conditions.

For example, extreme heat or wildfire smoke can make it unsafe to play outside. Heavy rain can flood fields. And a major storm can wipe out facilities.

Murfree: “Goals, nets, balls … can also be completely threatened in the event of an incident of extreme weather.”

Jessica Murfree is an assistant professor in the department of exercise and sport science at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

She says college and professional teams may have the resources to quickly recover after extreme weather. But that’s often not the case for youth sports teams.

Murfree: “We don’t see these organizations rebuild or relocate in the same way we do at the higher levels.”

And community sports programs, which provide affordable access to athletics, often have the hardest time recovering.

So as the climate warms, some kids may have fewer opportunities to play and compete.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media