AZPlays
AZPlays
AZPlays is Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s approach to youth sports, built on the Aspen Institute’s Project Play framework.
Why Play Matters
Sports and play do more than burn energy. When kids play, they build:
That’s why AZPlays is rooted in Health & Well-Being, one of the four priority outcomes that guide everything we do.
Youth Sports Have Drifted. We’re Bringing Them Back to Kids.
Youth sports have become a big business. Families now spend an average of $1,016 a year on a child’s main sport, up 46% in five years (Aspen Institute Project Play, 2025). Much of that money chases a scholarship or a pro contract that very few athletes ever reach.
When the price goes up, many families get priced out by fees, travel and transportation. Kids who love to play end up on the sidelines, through no fault of their own.
We think the goal should be different. Youth sports should help every kid build skills, confidence and opportunities that last a lifetime, long after the final whistle.
Built on a National Framework
AZPlays draws on the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, a nationally recognized framework for youth sports. We support adopting its “8 Plays” across our Clubs:
How AZPlays Comes to Life
AZPlays is Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley’s approach to sports and play, brought to life through Club programming, AZYouthforce’s Industry of Sports pathway and a research partnership with the Aspen Institute.
In the Clubs
Kids try a lot of sports instead of specializing early. They play in leagues, at open gym and at family play days, led by coaches who put development ahead of wins.
In research and leadership
We’re partnering with the Aspen Institute on a State of Play study of youth sports in Phoenix. It looks at who plays, what keeps kids from playing, and how sports affect their well-being. Community leaders, school partners, families and teens are helping shape it.
In careers, through AZYouthforce
In careers, through AZYouthforce
The Industry of Sports pathway gives teens ages 16–21 paid, real-world experience in coaching, officiating and the business of sport. It includes our Sports Performance & Workforce Center at the I.G. Homes Branch.
We Take Youth Feedback to Heart
The first of the 8 Plays is “ask kids what they want,” and we take it literally. Teens lead sports councils at their Clubs, help plan programming and have a say in the research. Club sports can become a path to leadership and even a paycheck.
Powered by Partners
AZPlays is made possible by partners who believe in the power of play, including:
