Analysis
NAICS 611620 is the 2022 national industry for sports and recreation instruction, part of 61162 (Sports and Recreation Instruction). Census lists 33 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 20,916 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 176,751 people at an average annual payroll of $22,522 per employee (1st percentile of national industries). 59% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 19% and employment rose 28%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include academies, riding instruction, aerobic dance and exercise instruction, automobile racing schools and baseball instruction, camps or schools, among 33 in all.
Census lists 4 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 721214, 71, 711219 and 812990. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, operating overnight recreational camps that may offer some athletic instruction in addition to other activities are classified in 721214 (Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds)) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments, such as camps and schools, primarily engaged in offering instruction in athletic activities. Overnight and day sports instruction camps are included in this industry.
Illustrative Examples:
Camps, sports instruction Professional sports instructors (i.e., not participating in sporting events) Cheerleading instruction Riding instruction academies or schools Gymnastics instruction Sports (e.g., baseball, basketball, football, golf) instruction Martial arts instruction, camps or schools Swimming instruction
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Operating overnight recreational camps that may offer some athletic instruction in addition to other activities | 721214 Recreational and Vacation Camps (except Campgrounds) |
| Operating sports and recreation establishments that also offer athletic instruction | 71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation |
| Independent (i.e., freelance) athletes engaged in providing sports instruction and participating in spectator sporting events | 711219 Other Spectator Sports |
| Providing personal fitness training services without operating physical fitness centers | 812990 All Other Personal Services |
Index entries (33)
- Academies, riding instruction
- Aerobic dance and exercise instruction
- Automobile racing schools
- Baseball instruction, camps or schools
- Basketball instruction, camps or schools
- Baton instruction
- Bowling instruction
- Boys' camps, sports instruction
- Boys' camps, sports instructor
- Camps, sports instruction
- Cheerleading instruction, camps or schools
- Football instruction, camps or schools
- Girls' camps, sports instruction
- Golf instruction, camps or schools
- Gymnastics instruction, camps or schools
- Hockey instruction, camps or schools
- Jai alai instruction, camps or schools
- Judo instruction, camps or schools
- Karate instruction, camps or schools
- Martial arts instruction, camps or schools
- Professional sports (e.g., golf, skiing, swimming, tennis) instructors (i.e., not participating in sporting events)
- Riding instruction academies or schools
- Schools, sports instruction
- Scuba instruction, camps or schools
- Skiing instruction, camps or schools
- Skin diving instruction, camps or schools
- Sky diving instruction, camps or schools
- Soccer instruction, camps or schools
- Sports camps (e.g., baseball, basketball, football), instructional
- Sports instruction, camps or schools
- Sports instructors, independent (i.e., not participating in sporting events)
- Swimming instruction
- Tennis instruction, camps or schools