Welsh Sports Leaders Warn Forcing Children to Choose Between Sports Could Harm Participation

Leaders from Wales Golf, Glamorgan Cricket, Welsh Athletics, and Cricket Wales have issued a joint statement urging investment in year-round, weatherproof sports facilities to ensure children can participate in multiple sports throughout the year.

The organisations highlight that shared community facilities are under growing pressure, particularly with football calendars expanding, and warn that without urgent investment, multi-sport participation and the health and social benefits it delivers are at risk.

“Children should be able to explore all sports they enjoy, without being forced to choose one over another,” said [Barry Cawte, CEO, Cricket Wales]. “We need modern, accessible facilities that support a balanced sporting calendar and encourage young people to stay active all year round.”

The statement comes as part of a wider effort to ensure community sport across Wales remains sustainable, inclusive, and equipped to meet growing demand. Sports staff are also being encouraged to engage with members and clubs, resharing the open letter to amplify the message across local communities and social platforms.

This release aligns with discussions from the new CEO Executive Group on strategic funding and investment priorities for Welsh sport.

See open letter below:-

Open Letter from Cricket Wales, Wales Golf, Welsh Athletics & Glamorgan Cricket

Leaders from summer sports across Wales have highlighted the need for greater investment in community sport, pointing to the importance of shared facilities, volunteers and multi-sport participation in sustaining grassroots sport across the country.

Recent media coverage has focused on the challenges faced by grassroots football during the winter months, including weather-related postponements and the impact these can have on young players and volunteers.

While recognising the challenges faced by football with weather-related postponements, leaders across summer sports stress that the conversation must go wider. Weather is only one factor; simply changing the football season could create a catastrophic ripple effect across the Welsh sporting ecosystem. Moving traditional football into the summer could put additional pressure on shared facilities, force young people and families to choose between sports rather than participating in multiple activities and stretch volunteers who already support several sports across the year. Without addressing the underlying issues of facility quality, accessibility and long-term funding, simply changing the football season alone would not solve the broader pressures facing grassroots sport.

Across Wales, community sport relies on a wide range of facilities including playing fields, athletics tracks, cricket grounds, tennis courts and golf courses. Many of these spaces are used by different sports and community groups depending on the season, supporting thousands of participants across the country.

For many families and young people, the opportunity to take part in different sports throughout the year is a defining feature of grassroots sport in Wales.

A spokesperson for the summer sports group said:

“Grassroots sport in Wales works because different sports operate across different seasons and share community facilities. Thousands of young people play football in winter and move into other sports during the summer, and that balance is a real strength of our sporting landscape.”

Sports leaders say this seasonal balance supports participation and helps ensure community clubs remain sustainable. Many volunteers contribute to more than one sport across the year, while facilities such as parks, tracks and recreational spaces are relied upon by multiple sporting communities.

However, organisations involved say the wider challenge facing grassroots sport is the quality, accessibility and long-term funding of community facilities.

Across Wales, many sports rely on facilities that are owned or supported by local authorities and community organisations. Continued investment in maintenance, infrastructure and playing environments would help ensure these spaces remain accessible for participants across multiple sports.

The group says it is keen to continue working collaboratively with partners across Welsh sport, including the Football Association of Wales, to ensure the long-term sustainability of grassroots participation.

Sports leaders believe strengthening investment in community sport infrastructure will help ensure Wales continues to provide opportunities for people of all ages to participate in sport throughout the year.

Cricket Wales

Glamorgan Cricket

Wales Golf

Welsh Athletics

Contact for Media Queries:

Sam Kelly – Sam.Kelly@glamorgancricket.co.uk

Sandie Keane  – sandie.keane@cricketwales.org.uk

Owen Smith – owen.smith@welshathletics.org

Dilwyn Griffiths – Dilwyn.Griffiths@walesgolf.org