Under the Law: Is there a sports advantage in suburbia?

Abstract

Participation in school sports has a variety of benefits for students. But not all students are able to participate in school athletics programs. In this column, Robert Kim explores the different levels of access suburban, urban, and rural students have to sports programs. And he considers whether students, regardless of where they live, have a right of equitable access to sports. Rural schools may offer more opportunities to participate in sports than suburban or urban schools. But suburban students are more likely to feel locked out of sport participation, either because the available programs do not interest them or because they are too costly. However, suburban students who do participate in sports tend to start earlier and play more, often in programs outside school. Legal advocacy involving unequal access to school sports will require creativity and a broad approach to address statewide disparities.