Talk to anyone on the street, and they will likely recall physical education teachers, coaches, or athletic administrators boasting about the health and wellness benefits of sports participation to children. In 2019, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) formalized what coaches and athletic administrators preached by introducing the National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS). Through the strategy, HHS set a 63x30 target of 63% of youth participating in sports by the year 2030.
The Aspen Institute’s Project Play works in support of the NYSS and operates under the vision: sport for all, play for life. Their 2024 State of Play report shows that Iowa is among the current leaders in support of the NYSS with 67.8% of youth participating in sport. Not only is Iowa among the top three in overall participants, but the state also boasts the second highest percentage of girls sports participation.
Formed in 1987, the Iowa Sports Foundation (ISF) is among the ingredients that lead to high youth sports participation in the state. However, not only does the organization support youth participation through the Iowa Games, the ISF also supports health and wellness of all Iowans through Live Healthy Iowa, Adaptive Sports Iowa, Iowa Senior Games, and Iowa Corporate Games. According to ISF’s most recent annual report, Iowa is the only National Congress of State Games member to host summer, winter, senior, adaptive, and corporate games, bringing a wide range of health and wellness benefits to participants.
Thankfully for UISRM students, the next generation of sport and recreation professionals can help maintain the state’s standing in youth sports participation while improving the health and wellness of all Iowans through the ISF. UISRM’s partnership with the ISF began in 2017 through the creation of a guided field experience course delivered in three consecutive fall semesters. In total, 54 students earned course credit by consulting for the ISF to improve athlete and volunteer experiences at their flagship event, the Iowa Games, while also identifying sport participation trends.
As the sport and recreation industry has evolved since 2017, so has the needs of the ISF. In response to those changes, the ISF + UISRM partnership currently sees students earning independent field experience while interning with the ISF as the most mutually beneficial arrangement. This past summer, Emily Hamling (ex. BS 2026) and Abby Staun (ex. BS 2026) interned with the ISF in support of the Iowa Games and Adaptive Sports Iowa, respectively. During the spring 2025 semester, Mattie Moats-Carr (ex. BS 2026) interned with the ISF to facilitate participation in the Iowa Corporate Games.
In addition to current students interning with the ISF, UISRM graduates have begun their careers with the ISF. Currently, Rob Goode (BS 2024) serves as the ISF’s Assistant Marketing Director. Tre Stanton (BS 2021) spent three years in a full-time role with the ISF, most recently as the Director of Sports & Competition, before accepting his current position as the Associate Director of the Drake Relays. Mentions of current students and alumni above are evidence that the link between the ISF and UISRM is strong.
With Iowa being a leader in youth sports participation and the ISF providing a robust menu of programs to benefit the health and wellness of all Iowans, it’s not surprising that Des Moines won the right to host the 2025 National Senior Games. Over 11,000 athletes aged 50 and older participated in the event that began on July 24. UISRM student Connor Soliday (ex. BS 2028) contributed to the event’s success, serving as National Senior Games Association intern this past summer while earning independent field experience credit.
While working in professional or collegiate sports is the aim of many UISRM students, others such as Emily, Abby, Mattie, Connor, Rob, and Tre aim to benefit the health and wellness of community members in Iowa and across the globe. UISRM’s partnership with the ISF helps unlock meaningful learning opportunities that strengthen the experience portfolio of its students for years to come. Thank you to the ISF for helping make Iowa a leader in pursuit of the 63x30 youth sports target and providing career defining learning opportunities for future sport and recreation professionals.