Feb 2008 Editor's Letter
By: Jill Pinheiro

What is your school's ratio of students who play sports compared to those students who do not play sports?

According to a new report entitled U.S. Trends in Team Sports (2007 edition), produced by the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (SGMA), www.sgma.com, 31.6 million U.S. children (ages 6-17) participate in team sports on a frequent, regular or casual' basis, compared to nearly 19 million U.S. children who do not participate in team sports at all.

The research from the SGMA report shows that team sports participation has consolidated among the most serious players. Also, there has been a decline in the number of casual/pickup players.

Other findings from the study include:

* Interest in organized/sanctioned team sports is very strong.

* Overall interest by girls/females in team sports at school and in community leagues is showing annual growth.

* Lacrosse and rugby are team sports on the rise.

* Overall play in high school sports rose for the 18th straight year.

In our annual focus on gym and athletic equipment, we detail some of the major considerations for selecting indoor sports materials for your school's athletes, as well as flooring selection guidelines, whether you are building a new athletic facility or remodeling your existing one. Additionally, we spotlight some of the hottest products to hit the educational market.

I'm always interested in hearing from you. You can reach me at jill@cspmag.com.

God Bless,
Jill Pinheiro
Managing Editor