The Market Is Growing—Here's the Data That Proves It
Want to know where the youth sports market is headed? The 10-year forecast might surprise you.
“Where do you see the youth sports market headed?” I get asked this question at least twice a week—in coaching calls, at conferences and trade shows. The tone varies. Sometimes it's hopeful curiosity. Other times, it's barely disguised worry. Photographers want to know: Is this market growing? What's the future of the volume sports photography market?
Here's what I tell them: Stop guessing. Look at the numbers.
The volume sports photography market is growing—and positioned for sustained growth. Here are three INDICATORS that prove this market has a decade of opportunity ahead.
Indicator #1: Participation Numbers Are Rising, Not Falling
Let's start with the foundation. Fewer kids playing sports means you've got a problem. More kids playing means opportunity. The data shows the latter.
In 2023, 55.4% of children ages 6 to 17 played on a sports team or took lessons—up from 53.8% the year before. That's 27.3 million kids. And it marks the second consecutive year of growth since the pandemic disruption.
Here's what matters for you. The Sports & Fitness Industry Association reported 2023 as the highest level of regular team sports participation since 2015. Regular participation. That means kids aren't just trying a sport once. They're committed. They're showing up. They're playing full seasons. That's exactly the market you want to serve.
The federal government has even set a national goal: 63% youth sports participation by 2030. Fourteen states have already hit that mark, with Vermont leading at 72%.
Think about what that means for your territory. If your state hasn't crossed 63% yet, there's headroom for growth. If it has? You're operating in one of the strongest youth sports markets in the country.
And here's the kicker—65% of kids playing sports are multi-sport athletes. That's not one season of work for you. That's multiple seasons. Multiple teams. Multiple opportunities to photograph the same families year-round.
The participation rebound is real. The numbers don't lie.
Indicator #2: Market Value Is Growing at Record Pace
Participation is one thing. Market size is another. You need both to make this work.
The global youth sports photography market was valued at $4.2 billion in 2024. Industry analysts project it will reach $8 billion by 2033—a compound annual growth rate of 7.4%. That's nearly double the market in less than a decade.
Let me put that in perspective. The broader sports photography market is growing at 5.2% annually. Youth sports photography is outpacing it. You're in the high-growth segment of a growth industry.
But here's what really matters for your day-to-day business. The shift to digital platforms and online ordering has expanded who buys from you. Parents who wouldn't have bought prints a decade ago are now ordering digital packages, prints, and specialty products online. The friction is lower. The options are broader. Your average order value keeps climbing.
The outlook extends well beyond 2030, too. McKinsey projects the overall U.S. sports economy will nearly double—from $160 billion in 2024 to over $300 billion by 2035. Youth sports will account for a significant portion of that growth, with the global youth sports market projected to reach $154.5 billion by 2035.
What's driving this? Demographics. There are 74 million children in the United States right now. Latino youth—who will account for 77% of total U.S. population growth through 2035—are seeing participation rates grow at nearly double the rate of non-Latino youth.
Here's the business reality you can take to the bank. A youth sports league with 400 players brings in $10,000 to $12,000. You don't need dozens of accounts to build a six-figure business. You need the right accounts, executed well, with strong systems in place.
The market isn't just growing. It's expanding faster than most photographers realize.
Indicator #3: Demographics Are Shifting in Your Favor
Numbers tell you what's happening now. Demographics tell you what's coming next.
Girls' participation in youth sports has hit the highest level since 2013, while boys' participation has dipped slightly. That shift matters because girls' sports have traditionally been underserved by volume photographers. As participation equalizes, your addressable market expands. More teams. More leagues. More opportunities.
Flag football is exploding. From 2019 to 2024, it was the only team sport that grew in regular participation among kids ages 6 to 17—up 14% while other major sports declined. High schools are adding girls' flag football programs across the country. That's new inventory for photographers who move quickly.
Here's the strategic advantage most photographers are missing. Everyone's still chasing the same traditional accounts— baseball, football soccer, etc… But the market is diversifying. Lacrosse, volleyball, dance, track and field, Martial Arts, Gymnastics —all of these represent under tapped opportunities in most markets.
And because 63% of kids play sports year-round across multiple seasons, you're not building a seasonal business anymore. You're building a year-round pipeline. Spring sports lead to summer tournaments. Fall leagues lead to winter travel teams. The calendar has filled in.
The demographics aren't just favorable. They're creating structural advantages for photographers who see what's coming and position themselves now.
Here's the Bottom Line
The volume sports photography market isn't shrinking. It's not stagnant. It's growing in participation, in market value, and in structural opportunity.
You've got 27.3 million kids playing organized sports. A market nearly doubling over the next decade. And demographic shifts creating new segments and year-round demand.
The photographers who win over the next ten years won't be the ones with the best cameras. They'll be the ones who see the data, understand the trends, and build their businesses accordingly.
Stop guessing. The numbers are right in front of you.
What's one action you'll take this week to position your business for the decade of growth ahead?
P.S. The market is growing—but only photographers with the right systems will capture the opportunity. PSU Education gives you 25+ years of proven frameworks to position your business for the next decade. Real strategies. Real results. Real growth.
