The youth are seen as the life wire of a nation since the future development of the nation depends on them. This crucial role of the youth in Edo State is threatened by the increasing rate of youth involvement in cultism. This situation then demands an urgent solution as many lives are lost on daily basis. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to discuss how the active participation of the youths in sporting activities can help in curbing the issue of cultism, producing strong, disciplined, and responsible youth capable of ensuring societal development and shunning all means of hooligans. The paper attempts to conceptualize youth; it also elucidates the need for youth’s participation in sporting activities. It finally discusses the issue of sporting  programmes for youth development and curbing cultism. Suggestions have also been offered in order to ensure that the sport programme or activities are properly planned in a way that the purpose desired can be achieved.