Parents, here's how ESPN and Disney Jr. can help your kids access sports

July 8, 2026 - 00:01

A new partnership aims to remove one of the biggest barriers keeping young children from playing organized sports: the cost of registration. ESPN's Take Back Sports initiative and Disney Jr. Let's Play have teamed up with the nonprofit Every Kid Sports to cover registration fees for families with children between the ages of 4 and 12.

The program is designed to help kids from low-income households get active and learn teamwork through sports. Every Kid Sports, which has been providing financial grants for youth sports for years, will handle the application process. Families who qualify can receive up to $150 per child per season to put toward registration costs for a wide range of sports, from soccer and basketball to swimming and gymnastics.

The collaboration brings together two well-known children's entertainment and sports brands with a shared goal: making sports more accessible. The hope is that by easing the financial burden, more families will be able to sign their kids up for activities that build confidence and promote physical health.

For parents interested in applying, the process is straightforward. They need to visit the Every Kid Sports website, fill out an application, and provide proof of income. If approved, the funds go directly to the sports league or organization. The program runs on a first-come, first-served basis until all the available grants are used up.

This effort comes at a time when youth sports participation has been declining, partly due to rising costs. By teaming up, ESPN and Disney Jr. are betting that a little financial help can go a long way in getting more kids off the sidelines and into the game.