By Katie Small

Across Massachusetts, school budgets are being slashed, and one of the first things to go is often the very thing that keeps kids connected, confident, and hopeful: sports. In communities already struggling to meet basic needs, we’re watching opportunities for kids to play, compete, and belong disappear — at the exact moment they need them most. It’s not just unfair. It’s a crisis. And it’s one we can’t afford to ignore.

It’s heartbreaking. Because we know just how essential sports are to a young person’s growth.

In wealthier suburbs, families rally together, pass overrides, and invest in programs to make sure their kids can play. But in so many of Massachusetts’ Gateway Cities, that simply isn’t an option. These communities are doing everything they can just to cover the basics. Funding for sports, especially at the middle school level, is often non-existent.

And yet, it’s at this stage, ages 11 to 14, when kids need sports the most.

The research is overwhelming: middle schoolers who play sports are more likely to thrive. They experience lower rates of obesity, anxiety, and depression. They’re less likely to engage in risky behavior. They gain confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Sports don’t just keep kids active — they help them find their place in the world. Every child deserves that chance.

It’s an important mission to give middle schoolers in high-need communities the same access to sports that their peers in wealthier districts enjoy. Middle school is a vital moment in childhood development. It’s a crucial time to capture a child’s attention and make sure they feel safe, supported and cared for. Providing sports, with trusted mentors, coaches and teammates, as well as competitive opportunities, goes a long way toward fostering that development.

We must work together to remove the barriers that too often block kids from the playing field, just because of where they live or how much their family can afford.

Today, Play Ball serves over 5,000 middle school students across eight school districts in Gateway Cities: Boston, Lawrence, Holyoke, New Bedford, Lynn, Salem, Methuen, and Chelsea. More Massachusetts cities will soon enjoy this same support.

These programs aren’t just “nice to have.” They are life-changing. For many young people free sports in middle school is their first chance to be part of a team, to be coached and mentored, to be seen and celebrated, and to believe in themselves.

Middle school is a turning point. It’s when kids begin to question where they fit. It’s when they need to feel connected — to something bigger than themselves. Sports provide that. They offer structure, encouragement, challenge, and joy.

And they teach skills that last a lifetime: leadership and accountability, teamwork and collaboration, communication and problem-solving; empathy, respect, and resilience.

In more affluent communities, families spend thousands of dollars each year on club teams and private leagues. But in Gateway Cities, those kinds of opportunities are simply out of reach. Without public middle school sports, many students would have no access at all.

That is unacceptable.

It’s essential to level the playing field and build programs that don’t just fill gaps, but transform lives. It’s smart policy to invest in kids at the exact moment they need support, guidance, and belief. With the right investment, every child can thrive regardless of their zip code.

As cities face rising costs and tough fiscal decisions, we must not turn away from the kids who need us most. We have a collective responsibility to ensure that all children, not just some, have the chance to run, to play, to compete, and to grow.

Every child deserves to wear a team jersey. To score a goal. To high-five their coach. To be proud of who they are and who they’re becoming.

That’s the power of sports.

And that’s why we must keep pushing forward until every middle schooler in every community gets the chance to play.

Katie Small is executive director of the Play Ball Foundation