NAICS 611620 Quarterly Industry Report
Sports and Recreation Instruction
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 611620Sector: Educational Services (61)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Sports and Recreation Instruction (NAICS 611620) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[8], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], industry market research, and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, recreation industry analysts, and business appraisers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the sports and recreation instruction industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Sports and Recreation Instruction (NAICS 611620) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in offering instruction in athletic activities to groups of individuals per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Programs include swimming lessons, martial arts training, gymnastics coaching, golf instruction, tennis academies, horseback riding lessons, cheerleading camps, and a broad range of youth and adult sports skill development courses. Instruction may be delivered through seasonal camps, year-round academies, drop-in classes, or structured multi-week programs.
Roughly 18,700 establishments employ 138,300 workers and generate approximately $18.2 billion in annual revenue per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] and Census data. Industry revenue has grown at a 9.4 percent compound annual rate over the past five years, driven by strong post-pandemic recovery as families resumed spending on children's extracurricular activities. Summer camps alone represent a $4.6 billion revenue segment, expanding at a 6.9 percent annual rate. Youth sports represent the fastest-growing area, with football camps projected to reach $2 billion in 2025.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $9 million in average annual receipts. Instructor certification requirements vary by discipline and state, with swimming, martial arts, and gymnastics programs maintaining the most structured credentialing frameworks. Liability insurance represents a material operating cost, as injury risk inherent in physical activity instruction creates ongoing exposure. Adaptive sports programming for individuals with disabilities has emerged as a growing niche, expanding the addressable market for established operators with accessible facilities.
What's Included in This Industry
- Swimming instruction and water safety programs
- Martial arts training and belt certification programs
- Gymnastics coaching and competitive team training
- Golf instruction and driving range lesson programs
- Tennis academy and racquet sport coaching
- Youth sports camps and seasonal athletic programs
- Horseback riding lessons and equestrian instruction
- Cheerleading and dance team training programs
- Fitness coaching and personal training instruction
- Adaptive sports programs for individuals with disabilities
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Educational Services | 61 |
| Subsector | Educational Services | 611 |
| Industry Group | Other Schools and Instruction | 6116 |
| NAICS Industry | Sports and Recreation Instruction | 61162 |
| National Industry | Sports and Recreation Instruction | 611620 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 611610 | Fine Arts Schools | Fine Arts Schools compete for the same family discretionary spending on children's enrichment activities, with both sectors sharing similar small-studio business models and seasonal enrollment fluctuations tied to school year schedules |
| 713940 | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers | Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers provide facility-based programming that overlaps with structured sports instruction, with many gyms and recreation centers offering coached classes in martial arts, swimming, and group fitness |
| 713110 | Amusement and Theme Parks | Amusement and Theme Parks operate recreational attractions that occasionally include instructional components such as surfing schools, ski lessons, and climbing wall training programs |
| 611691 | Exam Preparation and Tutoring | Exam Preparation and Tutoring competes for family after-school time and education budgets, though sports instruction targets physical development while tutoring serves academic performance goals |
| 611519 | Other Technical and Trade Schools | Other Technical and Trade Schools share the non-degree vocational instruction model, though sports instruction programs typically award skill-level certifications rather than career-oriented trade credentials |
| 611710 | Educational Support Services | Educational Support Services provide curriculum design, safety protocol development, and instructor certification frameworks that sports instruction businesses contract for program quality and risk management |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 13.4% | 2,636 |
| 2 | Texas | 8.6% | 1,682 |
| 3 | Florida | 8.1% | 1,601 |
| 4 | New York | 6.8% | 1,336 |
| 5 | New Jersey | 3.7% | 728 |
| 6 | Illinois | 3.6% | 714 |
| 7 | Georgia | 3.2% | 623 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 3.2% | 621 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | 3.1% | 616 |
| 10 | Washington | 3.1% | 602 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
3,016
Total SBA Loans
$1.4B
Total Loan Volume
$468K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.14%
Average Interest Rate
27,864
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Sports and Recreation Instruction (NAICS 611620) has a size standard of $9 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[9] support facility construction, equipment purchases, and program expansion for qualifying sports instruction operators. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[10] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[11] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Company | 88 | $199.6M | $2.3M |
| 2 | The Huntington National Bank | 376 | $135.1M | $359K |
| 3 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 136 | $86.6M | $637K |
| 4 | United Community Bank | 40 | $81.6M | $2.0M |
| 5 | Bank of America, National Association | 40 | $66.0M | $1.6M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for sports instruction and coaching?
NAICS 611620 covers establishments offering athletic instruction to groups, including swimming lessons, martial arts, gymnastics, golf, tennis, and sports camps per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
How large is the sports instruction market?
What is the SBA size standard for sports instruction?
The SBA size standard[7] is $9 million in average annual receipts, determining eligibility for federal small business contracting programs and SBA lending products.
What sports programs are growing fastest?
Youth sports represent the fastest-growing segment, with football camps projected to reach $2 billion in 2025 and summer camps expanding at a 6.9 percent annual rate per industry tracking data.
Do sports instructors need certification?
Certification requirements vary by discipline and state, with swimming, martial arts, and gymnastics programs maintaining the most structured credentialing frameworks per Bureau of Labor Statistics[12] career guidance.
How important is liability insurance for sports instruction?
Liability insurance represents a material operating cost, as injury risk inherent in physical activity instruction creates ongoing exposure that requires adequate coverage for both group class and individual coaching formats.
Has the industry recovered from the pandemic?
Strong post-pandemic recovery drove industry revenue growth at a 9.4 percent annual rate, as families resumed spending on children's extracurricular athletic activities and youth sports participation returned to pre-pandemic levels.
What is adaptive sports instruction?
Adaptive sports programming for individuals with disabilities has emerged as a growing niche per Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] industry data, expanding the addressable market for operators with accessible facilities and trained staff.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [9]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [10]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [11]504 loans sba.gov
- [12]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
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