Category: Advisory Council Research

Travis Dorsch – Major global sporting events like the World Cup are increasing youth interest in soccer and influencing family decisions about participation. This “demonstration effect” shapes children’s aspirations and engagement in local sports programs. As participation grows, parents must navigate choices about time, cost, and long-term commitment. Experts emphasize balancing enthusiasm with healthy development, including enjoyment, autonomy, and avoiding early specialization.

Travis Dorsch – Youth sport in the United States is increasingly professionalized, leading families to invest more time and money in participation. This study examines how perceived pressure from coaches and social influences, along with parental beliefs about athletic potential, shape youth sport commitments. Findings show coach pressure is linked to higher financial and time investments, while parental beliefs about potential do not significantly predict investment, suggesting structural demands in youth sport systems strongly influence family decision making.

Travis Dorsch – New research suggests parental investments in youth sports are influenced more by coach-driven specialization pressures and sport system demands than beliefs about a child’s athletic potential. Families often commit significant time and money as youth sports become increasingly professionalized and commercialized.

Travis Dorsch – A cross-cultural study of young soccer players in Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States examined how children experience parental support during early involvement in professional youth academies. Findings highlight the importance of emotional support, increased parental involvement and open communication as children navigate the demands of competitive sports pathways.

Elizabeth Day, Jim Elicker, David Purpura – A new longitudinal study examined which early skills best predict children’s mathematics performance by the end of kindergarten. Findings show that prior math achievement and school readiness consistently distinguished both low- and high-performing students, while behavioral self-regulation was especially important for identifying children at risk of low math performance and reading skills helped identify high performers.

Travis Dorsch – A large national study revisits core principles of the Developmental Model of Sport Participation using data from parents of youth athletes ages 6 to 18. Findings show that sport involvement varies by age, investment level, and family and community factors, with structured practice increasing over time while unstructured play declines.

Elizabeth Day – Research from the University of Oregon highlights rising chronic absenteeism in Oregon schools and identifies strategies to improve student attendance. The study emphasizes early intervention, targeted support, and collaboration between schools, families, and communities to help students stay engaged and succeed academically.

Travis Dorsch – A national survey of 3,946 U.S. children and teens (ages 10–17) shows that video games can increase interest in participating in sports, particularly among older non-athletes. Current and former athletes showed lower interest, suggesting video games may be an effective recruitment tool for non-athletes rather than a retention strategy. The study highlights potential opportunities to use gaming as a pathway to physical activity and recommends further research on specific game genres and exposure effects.

Travis Dorsch – This research examined how racially and ethnically minoritized U.S. parents support the well-being of their LGBTQ+ adolescents, finding that parents use protective practices like adjusting socialization patterns and creating safe social environments. Teens also contribute by guiding conversations about LGBTQ+ identity and community, highlighting the dynamic, collaborative ways families navigate intersections of race, gender, and sexuality to foster safety, inclusion, and resilience.

Elizabeth Day – The Alaska Senate Education Committee examined research on four-day school weeks, weighing potential budget savings against student outcomes. Evidence presented suggests districts may realize modest reductions in costs, often around 1–2 percent, but student academic results are mixed, with some studies showing declines in achievement and increased absenteeism. The discussion highlights ongoing debate about instructional time, staffing, and educational tradeoffs in rural school systems.