Now, city of Abbeville leaders are stepping up to the plate to help decrease those numbers in their community.

They are using some creative ideas to get kids off the couch and onto the playing fields.

Children in the United States are becoming more sedentary.

That's no different in the city of Abbeville.

Abbeville Mayor Ryan Blalock said, "We've noticed over the past year we've seen a decline in the number of kids involved in recreation."

Now city leaders are gearing up to get more kids moving.

Mayor Blalock said, "From a community standpoint, recreation teaches kids how to work together, follow directions, and builds a social base for them to be able to live together."

Ryan Johnson is a member of the Abbeville Recreation Board. He said, "We have an epidemic of video games. Technology can be a hindrance because kids create an online life, and they feel that's where they can connect with their friends, but every kid knows it’s more fun to throw a baseball than to play video games."

City leaders are now using creative techniques to lure more kids into the basketball registration program.

Mayor Blalock said, "This year we came up with an incentive that if you do register by November 6th you are going to get a free recreation backpack."

The board of education and several churches have partnered with the city to help increase enrollment as well.

For a basketball registration form or to find out what recreation activities are going on in Abbeville, you can log onto the new recreation website, Abbeville recreation dot com. Click the link below.