Like most financial and employment reports these days, a recently released “Sports Participation in the US” study by the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) does not reflect the current situation in team sports In America, but it does provide a small ray of sunshine into a hopefully brighter future for the industry.

According to the report, participation increased in seven of 10 segments in 2019, according to the 2020 edition of the report, which was released this week. One segment remained relatively flat and two segments decreased compared to the prior year.

The segments experiencing growth in NSGA’s Total Participation Points (TPP) measure included Fitness Activities (+2.8 percent), Outdoor Activities (+2.0 percent), Wheel Sports (+1.8 percent), Team Sports (+1.6 percent), Individual Sports (+1.2 percent), Personal Contact Sports (+0.8 percent), and Snow Sports (+0.6 percent).

The Indoor Games segment remained relatively flat (-0.1 percent), while declining segments included Open Water Sports (-0.4 percent) and Shooting Sports (-1.1 percent).

Last year’s positive results break a pattern of inconsistency and lack of growth experienced in recent years. However, it is important to note that one year does not make a trend.

“The growth exhibited in the 2019 numbers is very encouraging,” says Nick Rigitano, NSGA director of insights and analysis. “However, we realize the need to temper expectations since there is tremendous uncertainty so far in 2020 from the COVID-19 outbreak and the ability of the public to participate in team and individual sports and activities.”

Overall youth team sports participation (ages 7-17) remained relatively flat (-0.3 percent) from 2018-2019. Decreases in all forms of youth football (flag, tackle, and touch) as well as baseball and softball were offset by increases in cheerleading, soccer, basketball and lacrosse.

Female participation of all ages saw an increase in 40 of the 57 sports and activities tracked by NSGA, which is up from 29 the year before. Notable sports/activities experiencing an increase in female participation include basketball (+6 percent), softball (+6 percent) and volleyball (+5 percent).