Above: Gottheimer joins local officials and volunteers to make recreational sports affordable.
NEW MILFORD, NJ — Today, September 8, 2025, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new federal action to lower the cost of and boost participation in youth sports, including bipartisan legislation to expand tax credits for families to use on sports-related expenses.
Video of the press conference can be found here.
Last year, the average U.S. family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport, a 46% increase since 2019. President Trump’s proposed budget will also slash $12 billion in federal funding for schools — forcing school districts to make decisions about what programs to fund and cut. After-school programs — including sports programs — could be the first to be affected.
The bipartisan Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act, or PLAY Act, is being led by Gottheimer and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-10). The legislation will allow parents to use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for expenses related to youth sports and other physical activities, boosting the maximum contribution of these dollars per household, and putting in place a federal grant program to invest in rec youth sports programs and nonprofit organizations.
“Every kid in Jersey who wants to should have the opportunity to write their own success story playing sports. But here’s the challenge: youth sports have become more and more expensive, and for many families, simply unaffordable. The actions I’m announcing today are a win-win-win for kids, parents, and town rec leagues,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Youth Sports Caucus. “It may be competitive, but there is nothing partisan about rec sports. So many of us played rec sports growing up. I have no doubt that kids in New Milford, and across our state and country, will create memories that will last a lifetime.”
Gottheimer’s Youth Sports Affordability Plan:
First, Gottheimer announced bipartisan legislation, the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act (the PLAY Act), to help lower the cost of rec sports for families.
The PLAY Act will allow parents to use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for up to $2,000 in expenses related to youth sports and other physical activities.
Currently, families can claim 20-50% of their qualifying care expenses, up to $3,000 for one child or $6,000 for two or more children — but none of these dollars can be used toward rec sport expenses.
The bill will increase the maximum credit to up to $4,000 for one child, and $7,000 for two or more children.
The PLAY Act will also help parents pay for their children’s league registration fees and sports equipment using pre-tax dollars.
The PLAY Act will also put in place a federal grant program to invest in rec youth sports programs and nonprofit organizations, to expand opportunities, get more kids involved, and help lower costs for families.
Gottheimer is also sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education to sound the alarm on how the Administration’s proposed spending cuts will impact school sports.
Gottheimer is urging the Department to protect these crucial education programs and to ensure that these cuts do not jeopardize children’s growth, either physically or academically.
Gottheimer joined the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports to help expand access to facilities, increase funding for community programs, and put in place policies that support the development of our young athletes.
Benefits and trends of youth sports:
In 2022, a study found that nearly 60% of families say youth sports are a financial strain.
President Trump’s proposed budget will slash $12 billion in federal funding for schools — forcing school districts to make impossible decisions about what to fund and what to cut. Sports programs could be first to see cuts.
According to the CDC, nearly one in five children ages 3-17 is diagnosed with a mental or behavioral health condition.
40% of adolescents ages 12-17 reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
The CDC reports that higher activity levels in youth mean better academic performance in the classroom.
Participation in youth team sports has been linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety, and reduced risk of suicide and drug abuse.
Gottheimer was joined today at Kennedy Memorial Field by NJ Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, New Milford Council President Randi Duffi, New Milford Councilman Matt Seymour, New Milford Councilwoman Hedy Grant, New Milford Councilwoman Lisa Sandhusen, Executive Director of the New Milford YMCA Program Center Jason Kelly, New Milford YMCA Program Center Sports and Recreation Director Jason Mitchell, and New Milford YMCA Basketball Coach Pablo Palacios.
Below: Gottheimer joins local officials, volunteers, and families to make recreational sports affordable.
Gottheimer’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are below:
Good morning! It is a beautiful day to be with you here at Kennedy Field in New Milford, a strong community that dates back to the 1600s. New Milford is known as the birthplace of Bergen County, with a rich history of wonderful families, thriving small businesses, and top-notch schools. And, like any good Jersey community, the town comes together around another tradition — youth sports.
Earlier this year, the Knights won their first sectional title in the wrestling program’s history. And, with standout players like Jake Johnson, I know the football team will build on last season’s success. There’s soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball … the list goes on. What brings us together today is the same thing that brings so many families together across Jersey: recreational — or rec — sports.
These leagues, which are made possible by the tireless work of so many dedicated coaches, town staff, and volunteers — like those with me here today — teach our children life lessons on teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship, they keep them active, and they create friendships that will last a lifetime. It keeps them off their phones, away from video games, and out of trouble. According to the CDC, higher activity levels equal better academic performance in the classroom. Participation in youth team sports has been linked with lower rates of depression and anxiety, and reduced risk of suicide and drug abuse. Plus, being part of a team improves self-esteem and confidence.
As a parent of two kids who’ve played — and continue to play — rec sports, I’ve seen first-hand how our children benefit from these programs.
Every kid in Jersey who wants to, should have the opportunity to write their own success story playing sports. But, here’s the challenge: youth sports have become more and more expensive, and, for many families, they’ve become unaffordable. There are the growing registration fees, the uniforms, and equipment — it really adds up. We need to ensure that we’re doing everything possible to make rec sports affordable.
Last year, the average U.S. family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport, a 46 percent increase since 2019. That’s for just one child playing one sport. When you include the cost for multiple sports, the average family paid nearly $1,500 dollars — and that’s for one child, for one year. Imagine if a family has two, three, or four kids, which, as you know, can be common here in Jersey, and they all play more than one sport, across different seasons throughout the year — you can see how it can break the bank.
Add to that the rising costs of groceries, energy bills, childcare, clothing, property taxes, the tariff tax on nearly everything, and look out family budget. We’re talking about thousands and thousands of dollars.
Local nonprofits, like the YMCA, and towns work hard to keep costs down, but even they are feeling the hit of high costs. In Hackensack, the fee for youth soccer for the fall is $150, and will increase if you do not register soon. Registration fees for one child for the Sussex County YMCA basketball program can cost up to $160. Ridgewood YMCA soccer is up to $175. For a travel team like the Wyckoff Torpedoes, the under eight and under fourteen program costs $549 for the year, and $750 for high schoolers. When you add to registration fees the cost of shoes or a lacrosse stick and pads, which can cost three or four hundred dollars or more for each kid, as it is, all these costs can be too overwhelming for parents to afford.
A baseball bat for teens can cost between $150 to $400. A glove can be $70 or more. Soccer cleats can cost $50 to $200 — and if your child plays different sports, that can mean buying different types of cleats, since each is specially designed for each sport to reduce injuries.
The result: too many families cannot afford to let their children play sports and receive all the great benefits they provide. So, it’s not surprising that children from lower-income families, especially in urban areas, are nearly half as likely to play sports as children from homes with higher incomes. Across our state now, forty-six percent of young people, ages six to seventeen, do not participate in sports. Why? In 2022, a study found that nearly sixty percent of families say youth sports are a financial strain. And that’s before all these tariffs took effect.
Now, with President Trump’s tariffs, the cost of shoes and clothes is expected to rise up to forty percent. On top of this, President Trump’s proposed budget will slash $12 billion in federal funding for schools — forcing our school districts to make impossible decisions about what to fund and what to cut, including what school sports they can afford. After-school programs are also on the chopping block in the President’s budget — which includes sports programs. That will put even more pressure on local recreational sports to give kids a physical outlet outside of school.
I’m worried that all of this could force too many children to have to watch their friends from the stands rather than being on the field with them — where they want to be, learning those valuable life skills — and instead, they may end up staring at screens alone.
Rec team sports are not about becoming the next Derek Jeter, Joe Flacco, or Carli Lloyd, all Jersey-born legends, although a few kids will. But, they are instead about making lifelong friends and staying active and healthy — physically and mentally.
That’s something more of our nation’s kids need. Childhood obesity is at an all-time high, and the U.S has received low grades for physical activity among youth. According to the CDC, nearly one in five children ages 3 to 17 is diagnosed with a mental or behavioral health condition, and 40 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 17 reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.
Rec sports get kids out of the house and moving, which benefits their physical and mental health — burns calories, raises metabolism, and improves strength and mobility. So, it’s clear that we need to get our kids back on the fields, so they can be active and create good habits that set them up for success.
That’s why, working with local youth athletes, coaches, and parents, I’m announcing new, bipartisan legislation, the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act, or what I call the PLAY Act, to help parents afford the rising costs of rec sports, and keep kids where they belong after school — on the field and courts and away from the screens.
The PLAY Act will allow parents to use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for expenses related to youth sports and other physical activities — up to two thousand dollars a year. It will help parents pay for their children’s league registration fees and sports equipment. Right now, families can deduct up to fifty percent of their qualifying expenses, up to three thousand dollars for one child, or six thousand for two or more children — but right now, none of these dollars can go toward rec sports expenses. My bill will change that.
I’m also proposing we increase the Child and Dependent Tax Credit to up to four thousand dollars for one child and seven thousand for two or more children.
The PLAY Act will put money directly back into the pockets of families to help offset the rising costs of rec sports, including town leagues and non-profits. It can’t be used toward for-profit teams or for private lessons.
Second, instead of slashing investments that support youth programs that help our children, we need to invest in programs, including sports, to make our children healthier and happier. The PLAY Act will put in place a new federal grant program to invest in rec youth sports programs, including town leagues, and non-profit teams like those at the YMCA.
And, to help get this legislation across the finish line, I joined the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports. Together, with my colleagues from across the aisle, I’ll be fighting to expand access to facilities, increase funding for community programs, and put in place policies that support the development of our young athletes. It may be competitive, but there is nothing partisan about rec sports.
I’m also writing to the U.S. Department of Education about how the Administration’s spending cuts to schools and after-school programs will impact school sports. Again, these are not just funds for our children to be active now, but they are also investments in their long-term development, well-being, and ultimate physical and academic success.
The actions I’m announcing today are a win-win-win for kids, parents, and town rec leagues. I can’t overstate how important rec sports are to kids here in North Jersey to have fun with their friends, make great memories, and stay active and healthy. So many of us played rec sports growing up. I have no doubt that kids in New Milford, and across our state and country, will create memories that will last a lifetime.
By working together, to make sure all kids have the opportunity to play rec sports, here in the greatest country in the world, I know that our best days will always be ahead of us.
God bless you, your families, and God bless the United States of America.
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