Many young people begin participating in sports, but a significant number stop practicing during adolescence. This has led to a shift in how sports policies are framed, with new terms like "dropout," "audience retention," and "sustainable" sports practice becoming more common in official discussions. These terms reflect a growing awareness that simply getting young people involved is not enough—the real challenge is keeping them engaged over time. Research has shown that the number of young people who abandon sports during their teenage years is substantial, making it a key issue for policy makers. This change in language signals a broader shift in focus. Previously, success in sports policy was often measured by how many young people were introduced to sports. Now, the emphasis is on ensuring that those who begin continue participating. This shift is highlighted in a report by the Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices, which argues that efforts should focus more on preventing young people from leaving sports rather than just encouraging them to join. However, the actual measures taken so far have not fully caught up with this new direction. Most funding still goes toward increasing access to sports through activities and memberships, rather than transforming how sports are practiced in clubs to encourage long-term engagement. While public policy is beginning to consider retention, the majority of resources still support initial participation. Studies have shown that many adolescents have tried sports but have not been able to maintain a long-term commitment. In one study of 1,149 adolescents, 64.5% were regular practitioners, 28.1% had stopped practicing, and only 4.6% had never regularly engaged in sports. This means that without the dropouts, participation rates would be over 90%. The differences in participation rates between genders and social groups largely stem from varying dropout patterns. Understanding why young people leave sports is just as important as attracting them in the first place. This has led to the idea of a "sports retention policy," which aims to create conditions that encourage young people to continue sports, not by forcing them to stay, but by making it appealing and meaningful to them. Sustainable sports practice doesn't mean constant, intense activity, but rather finding a way to include sports in one's life in a way that adapts to personal changes, school demands, and evolving interests. New initiatives, such as the "two additional hours of sports in high school" program, reflect this change in focus. This program targets students who are not currently active and asks educators to both attract and retain them. The language used—emphasizing retention rather than just enrollment—signals a new way of thinking about success in sports policy. Evaluation methods are also evolving, with an emphasis on tracking changes in participation over time to detect dropouts. While the term "retention policy" is not explicitly used, the underlying principles are being adopted. These efforts also recognize the limitations of current sports offerings and encourage the development of more engaging and complementary activities. Initiatives like the Sports Pass aim to support sustainable sports practice by reducing financial barriers for low-income families. However, these programs only open the door to participation; they do not guarantee that young people will remain engaged. To truly understand and prevent sports dropout, it's important to look beyond just counting participants. Research highlights three key areas: the relationship with others, the relationship with oneself, and the relationship with the constraints of the activity. Positive social interactions, a sense of personal competence, and meaningful challenges are essential for long-term engagement. Preventing dropout requires inclusive, flexible, and adaptable sports practices that allow young people to return after a break and feel involved in shaping the activities they participate in.