On Feb. 13, the Town of Chapel Hill announced its endorsement of the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, an initiative to respect the human rights of youth in sports.
In 2021, the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports was published by the Aspen Institute through its Project Play program which addresses gaps in sports accessibility and mobilizes sports organizations.
Atuya Cornwell, Chapel Hill's parks and recreation director, said the Town endorsed the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports because it aligns with their existing values and practices. The initiative was also brought to the Town’s attention by a local resident, Alexandra Davis, who said her children are involved in youth sports.
Davis said her daughter was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, an overuse injury from competitive swimming that made her question the demanding and costly nature of youth sports.
“You can't go through something like that and not want to make a difference,” she said.
Davis said she wrote a letter to the Town asking them to endorse the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports; then, she was connected to speak with Town Council Member Elizabeth Sharp, who was supportive of the idea. Davis also worked directly with the Town’s parks and recreation department to promote safer recreational programs.
The Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports outlines eight rights: to play sports, to safe and healthy environments, to qualified program leads, to developmentally appropriate play, to share in the planning and delivery of their activities, to an equal opportunity for personal growth, to be treated with dignity and to enjoy themselves.
“It's a very simple document on its surface, but when you start to peel back the layers of like, ‘What does this actually mean?’ — I think it's very powerful,” Davis said.
Marty Fox, the staff lead for the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports, said the initiative was inspired by Norway’s success in youth sports, where every child has the right to participate and receive a quality sports experience.
