EHD Researchers Will Conduct Impact Study of First Tee Youth Programming

(Photo contributed by First Tee.)

It is estimated that 10.2 million young people participate in out-of-school time (OST) activities including sports programs. Researchers at Youth-Nex will be partnering with First Tee, the national youth development organization, to evaluate their youth programming.

First Tee began in 1997 as a partnership among the LPGA, the Masters Tournament, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR, and the US Golf Association (USGA) to make golf affordable for and accessible to all kids. The First Tee model introduces the game of golf and includes a life skills curriculum that supports the development of character strengths built through the game of golf, including positive self-identity, using good judgment and collaborating with others.

“We are excited to engage in a collaborative co-design process with First Tee,” said Ashlee Sjogren, a research assistant professor and principal investigator of the project. “We hope to better understand how the First Tee model relates to participant outcomes by examining metrics like program attendance, dosage, engagement, and frequency.”

The proposed study is an outcome evaluation that utilizes mixed methods research to investigate the model and associated outcomes for youth, like relationship quality and academic achievement.

Nancy Deutsch, director of Youth-Nex and the associate dean for faculty affairs at the School of Education and Human Development, is a co-principal investigator of this study. Former EHD professor Maureen Weiss led the first impact study of the First Tee programming in 2005, also conducted at the University of Virginia.

“There is deep expertise in youth development, mentorship, and OST programming here at Youth-Nex,” Sjogren said. “This will be extremely valuable to both support and validate the work First Tee is doing across the United States with young people.”

This project is expected to continue into the Spring of 2026.