AP sports writer Jay Cohen
Chicago (AP) – Youth sports are a big part of Karlikasamenm’s life. She plays for three baseball teams, her son, Jacks, 15 and golf. Her youngest child, Colt, 7, plays baseball and basketball.
In particular, the cost of JAX will be added quickly. That’s why Cassanmon, 48, and her husband, Michael, 46, are closely watching the impact of tariffs on rising sports budgets for young people.
“I’m sure all of their equipment that I’m sure comes from China,” said Karli Casamento, a sophomore teacher in a suburb of Philadelphia. “As they grow older, they need new equipment, so that’s definitely a concern.”
For families like market cassamento and businesses, there is continued uncertainty surrounding the possible impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs (10% baseline tariffs, 30% charges on Chinese goods) on youth sports.
Nike, Adidas, Under Armour and Puma are among 76 companies that signed the April 29 letter to Trump on April 29, seeking footwear exemption from mutual tariffs. A letter from footwear distributors and American retailers warned that tariffs will “have a major impact at all family registers.”
Amer Sports, the parent company of Wilson Sports and Louisville’s slugger, downplayed the impact of tariffs when it announced its first quarter revenue on May 20th. But beyond this year, Chief Financial Officer Andrew Page mentioned pricing as one way the company can offset higher import duties.
Dick’s Sporting Goods reaffirmed its 2025 revenue guidance, which provided a first-quarter update on May 28th. CEO Lauren Hobart said Dick has no plans to trim the assortment of products according to tariff costs and that confirmation of that guidance is based on beliefs that can manage the situation.
“We constantly evaluate prices up to item-level SKU levels and do so based on consumer demand and business profitability,” Hobart said in response to a question about the possibility of price increases. “It has very advanced pricing capabilities, is much more advanced than before, allowing you to make real-time and quick decisions.”
Jax Casamento, 15, will run to the base during a youth baseball game in Aston, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Sporting goods line up in the dugout before a youth baseball game in Aston, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Jax Casamento, right, age 15, preparing for the start of a youth baseball game in Aston, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Dust flies from gloves of 15-year-old Jacks Cassamento, who catches the pitch during a youth baseball game in Aston, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Jax Casamento, 15, will run to the base during a youth baseball game in Aston, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
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Many of the most popular sports in the US rely on imported equipment
According to a 2024 World Trade Organization report, the US has been the largest importer of sports goods since 2010, accounting for 31% of global imports in 2022. Boased by racket sports, China is the most important exporter of sports goods at 43% in 2022.
Data from Alixpartners consulting firms found that Vietnam and Taiwan were rapidly expanding from 2018 to 2024 to export outdoor sports equipment to the United States, supported by golf, badminton and tennis equipment. Vietnam rose 340% to $705 million, while Taiwan rose 16% to $946 million.
The Vietnamese 46% and Taiwan’s 32% tariffs could come into effect next month after a 90-day hiatus.
Hockey skates, sticks and protective equipment are often imported. The same goes for baseball gloves, composite and aluminum bats, according to the National Sports Goods Association. Football goals, lacrosse nets and cones are often sourced from the low-cost labor market.
“They’re a great way to get to know each other,” said Travis Douche, family director at Utah State University’s Sports Lab. “So if tariffs are in effect and are enabled in a long-term or meaningful way, it will affect youth sports.”
The Casammenm family will support the Philadelphia Phillies. That’s how Jacks and Colt got into baseball. Karli Casamento “is a safe way to socialize and activate them.”
However, the equipment is a huge expense for families. According to Karli Casamento, Jax has a $400 bat and $300 gloves, and his catch device is $700. In addition to the cost of travel to the tournament, there is an additional cost to registering his travel team.
“We told Jax, “Well, you’re in the ninth grade now, do you really need to play tournament ball? You’re not going to grow up and become the next Mike Schmidt, ‘That’s what it is.’
Tariffs do not affect all sports families equally
Its effects are most likely to be felt by middle and low-income families, threatening the recent benefits of participation rates in youth sports.
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association, which tracks youth participation by sports, was discovered in 2023, with a 6% increase in youth who regularly participate in team sports. He said this was the highest percentage since 2015 (39.8%).
“Families who have already said sports are becoming more and more expensive and equipment are becoming more and more expensive, are really worried about bringing this huge momentum going up.
Smith was in China in April and attended the World Union of World Sports Good Industries Board Meetings. He visited several manufacturing facilities while he was in the country.
“What I did is really, really impressive,” Smith said. “Like first class, high tech, advanced skills. And the idea that tariffs will suddenly be able to pop up more than $10 million in the US the next day, that’s not feasible.”
Low-income families already felt the financial burden of youth sports before Trump was elected for a second term. According to a survey by the Aspen Institute, 25.1% of children aged 6-17 in households under $25,000, a slight decrease from 25.8% in 2023 compared to 43.5% of children in households, which are slightly up from 42.7% in 2022.
Tom Farley, founder and executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Sports & Social Program, said that participation in youth sports has a wide range of impact.
“This incredibly noble cycle can attract this incredibly noble cycle if you have a lasting experience in adolescence, if you can remove your kids from your phone and put them in the game from the couch,” Farry said. “If not, there is a risk that they are subject to a variety of health effects, including obesity.”
Along with playing with three baseball teams, Jax Casamento trains travel troops and even hits lessons. Last year, Cassamento turned his baseball trip to South Carolina into a family vacation.
As Michael Cassamem is an elementary school physical education teacher, family concerns about the impact of tariffs on the costs of sports for young people exceed two boys.
“I work with a lot of kids with low socioeconomic status,” says Karli Casamento. “It really makes it difficult for these types of families to afford to play sports.”
Original issue: June 26, 2025 11:20am EDT
