SENATE RESOLUTION
8664
By Senators Nobles, Riccelli, Shewmake, Valdez, Wellman, Hasegawa, and Wagoner
WHEREAS, The Washington state sports community is celebrating prominence on the world stage as a site for the 2026 FIFA World Cup; and
WHEREAS, More than half of youth in Washington state participate in organized athletics; and
WHEREAS, Organized youth sports and physical activity can provide essential infrastructure for youth well-being with lifelong benefits; and
WHEREAS, High quality youth sports support academic engagement and school attendance, promote resiliency and physical health, and protect against anxiety and depression; and
WHEREAS, Only 24 percent of youth statewide meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, with participation rates declining as children age; and
WHEREAS, Washington state ranks 38th in youth well-being, according to Mental Health America; and
WHEREAS, Disparities exist in access to organized sports, especially for girls, youth of color, children with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQ+ youth, and children from low-income families, with youth who don't speak English at home nearly three times more likely to never participate in sports; and
WHEREAS, Young people thrive when their coaches are trained in youth development principles and when they have access to trained professionals who can assess injuries common to young athletes like concussion, heat stroke, stress fractures, knee injuries, and ankle sprains; and
WHEREAS, Despite significant progress in concussion education through the Zackery Lystedt Law, there is a critical need for broader awareness and systemic training in order to prevent abuse and injuries; and