Sources
Sources & Research
Where our numbers come from, and how to verify them yourself.
Every cost figure, participation statistic, and scholarship explanation on this site traces back to real research, not guesswork or anecdotes. This page lists the organizations and research we draw from. It's a bibliography, not a scoring system. We don't rank or compare specific clubs anywhere on this site, and nothing here changes that.
Cost & Participation Research
The Aspen Institute, Project Play
youth sports participation trends, cost data, and income-based participation gaps
NCAA
participation research (including "Probability of Competing Beyond High School to NCAA"), scholarship structure rules, and draft/pro-conversion data
Sport-Specific Governing Bodies
USA Hockey
safety publications and coaching standards
USA Lacrosse
safety publications and equipment rules
USA Basketball
coaching licensing standards (Gold/Silver/Bronze)
USASF and USA Cheer
coach certification standards and safety publications
NAIA
emerging college pathway data for flag football
Sports Medicine & Safety Research
Sports Medicine & Youth-Athlete Safety Literature
General sports-medicine and youth-athlete safety literature on overuse and injury-risk patterns (e.g., ACL risk in jumping/cutting sports, pitching-arm overuse, stunt/tumbling injury rates)
Figures across this site are checked against these sources at the time of writing, but governing-body data, scholarship rules, and cost structures change. Where we're working from a directional estimate rather than a sport-specific survey, we say so directly on that page. If you spot something that looks outdated or wrong, use our Accuracy & Corrections Policy to flag it. We review every request.