Physical activity is well-established as beneficial for children’s physical and mental health, yet limited research has explored how different activity types impact psychosocial outcomes. This is a cross-sectional study that examined associations between youth participation in organized sport, unstructured physical activity, and land-use recreation and their psychosocial health. Survey data were collected from 3246 caregivers of children in the Intermountain West region of the United States. Respondents reported on children’s physical activity engagement and psychosocial outcomes, including mental health, emotional control, and social well-being. All three activity types were significantly associated with improved psychosocial health (p < 0.001). Compared to organized sport, unstructured physical activity and land-use recreation were associated with significantly higher levels of mental health and emotional control (p_adj < 0.001), although with a small effect size (η² < 0.006). No significant differences were observed in social well-being across activity types (p = 0.2928). When controlling for gender and community type, distinct psychosocial benefits emerged between activity types. These findings suggest that, while all forms of physical activity support psychosocial development, unstructured and nature-based activities may offer particular advantages. Findings highlight the importance of promoting diverse forms of physical activity and considering individual and contextual factors in maximizing their psychosocial benefits.

Background: Although participating in youth sports benefits both youth with and without disabilities, those with disabilities are less likely to participate in organized sports than peers without disabilities and little remains known about the specific types of sports or the amount of time youth with disabilities engage. The present study is designed to address this gap, providing a descriptive understanding of the amount of time youth with disabilities play different sports and what type of sports these youth are participating in. Methods: A total of 1725 parents, guardians, and caregivers of youth athletes completed a national survey evaluating the state of youth sports in the United States, with 54.4% selecting that their child had a type of disability. Results: Using negative binomial regression, youth with disabilities play more days per week than youth without disabilities ( p < 0.001), but average about one month less per year participating in their primary sport ( p < 0.001). Using chi‐square test of independence followed by standardized residuals, youth with disabilities were more likely to play badminton ( Z = −3.58), biathlon ( Z = −2.43) and canoeing ( Z = −2.25) and less likely to participate in soccer ( Z = 2.53) and volleyball ( Z = 2.46) compared with their peers without disabilities. When controlling for geographic region and disability type, additional differences in sport participation emerged. Conclusion: The distinct patterns in the types of sports that youth with disabilities participate in are likely influenced by multiple factors, including difficulties with physical access, lack of inclusion and increased time requirements. Because specific social and structural factors contribute to the types of sports youth with disabilities choose to participate in, it is worth continued exploration of participation trends, barriers and facilitators of sport involvement. Future studies should consider disability‐specific differences in sports participation, with emphasis on the amount and types of sports youth are playing.