AZ Plays Aims to Close Arizona’s Youth Team Sports Participation Gap
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley announced AZ Plays, a Phoenix effort tied to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play, to study and expand youth-sports access across schools and local partners. Marcia Mintz framed the work as a push to understand and lift up youth sports in the Valley, while Larry Fitzgerald said the urgency is Arizona’s near-bottom national ranking in team-sports participation. Fitzgerald and other speakers argued that access to play is not only a sports issue, but a route to mentorship, discipline, confidence, and leadership for children.
The Aspen Institute·May 21, 2026·4 min read
