2021 TSMA

33 previous years. The national inactivity rate decreased 0.5 percent, which is not a significant de- crease, but is a welcome change in directional trend from recent years. SFIA research found fitness, outdoor activities, and team sports categories showing the high- est participation increases. In fitness, nearly every category increased in participation. Dance, step, and other choreographed exercise to music (7.0 percent); aquatic exercise (6.4 percent); rowing machine (5.9 percent); treadmill (5.7 percent); and yoga (5 percent) represented the greatest year-over-year growth. The team sports category represented both winners and losers. Out of 23 team sports, 16 reported a decline in participation; the team sports category as a whole, however, increased in participation. This growth is attributed to increases in select traditional U.S. team sports, includ- ing basketball (2.9 percent), outdoor soccer (4.5 percent), volleyball (2.7 percent), and flag foot- ball (3.2 percent). A serious concern that SFIA continues to flag is how household income is correlated to phys- ical inactivity. Households in lower income brackets ($49,999 and below) were significantly more inactive than those in higher income brackets ($50,000 and above). The United States has a responsibility to ensure that access to sport and fitness is open to all, without regard to one’s income. As we endure the hardships of this pandemic, it is of utmost importance that Americans stay physically active, and the industry supports all efforts to focus on physical health and well- being to overcome this virus in the best possible position.