Congressman Pat Ryan champions new legislation aimed at curbing private equity involvement in youth sports to combat escalating fees and preserve community-focused leagues amidst rising financial pressures on families.
Congressman Pat Ryan is backing legislation aimed at stopping private equity firms from pushing youth sports beyond the reach of ordinary families, arguing that children’s leagues have become an increasingly expensive business rather than a community pastime. Speaking at the Middletown YMCA with youth advocates, Ryan said the proposal is intended to protect families from what backers see as a growing pattern of inflated fees and commercial pressure in the sector.
The bill, known as the Let Kids Play Act, was introduced in May by Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania and Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut, with Senator Cory Booker also backing it in the upper chamber. According to Deluzio’s office, the measure would bar private equity firms from youth sports unless they can show they have avoided the practices the bill calls predatory. It would also force firms to exit covered businesses within two years, require refunds in some cases and open the door to lawsuits by states and families for financial losses or other harm.
The push comes against a backdrop of rising costs that many parents say have changed the economics of youth athletics. The Aspen Institute’s Project Play found that the average U.S. sports family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, up 46% from 2019, while broader spending rises to about $1,500 when other activities are included. Competitive travel sports can run from $3,000 to $5,000 a year per child once club fees, equipment and travel are counted, according to the Project Play data and parents familiar with the costs.
Local coaches in the Hudson Valley said the pressure is already being felt on the ground. Ricky Seipp, who coaches girls soccer at Our Lady of Lourdes High School and for Stars FC, said family spending can be overwhelming and can keep some children out of the game altogether. Max Labrenz, president of the Hudson Valley Youth Soccer League, said rising prices are hitting lower-income families hardest and are making it more difficult for volunteer-run, non-profit clubs to compete in an increasingly commercial youth sports market.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
