Children's participation in sports brings numerous benefits, yet the escalating costs have emerged as a significant concern for numerous families. A recent survey by the nonprofit Good Sports reveals that a substantial 56% of parents are apprehensive about their ability to enroll their children in sports next year due to the rising expenses. From enrollment fees to travel costs and equipment purchases, these financial burdens are felt firsthand by many parents with active kids.

Uncovering the Hidden Costs of Kids' Sports

Youth Sports and Cost By the Numbers

The Good Sports “Cost of Sports Study” conducted by the Harris Poll involved over 700 U.S. parents of minors. A remarkable 95% of those surveyed acknowledged the positive impacts of children playing sports. Among the parents whose children have participated in sports:- 23% have taken on extra jobs to cover the costs.- 18% have incurred debt to finance their children's participation.- 10% have withdrawn their children from a sport due to cost.- 75% have seriously considered pulling their children out of sports, with the unsustainable cost being the primary reason.Christy Keswick, the Co-Founder and President of Good Sports, emphasizes, “We know sports participation offers proven, lifelong benefits for youth—physical, mental, academic, and social. If we take away these opportunities, we also take away those benefits.” In the survey, 56% of parents whose children do not currently play sports express concern that their children are missing out on these advantages.Also, it's concerning that most U.S. kids are not getting enough exercise. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend at least an hour of physical activity daily, but only 16% of kids meet this requirement, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The LA84 Foundation, which supports community-based organizations providing free and low-cost sports opportunities, found in its 2024 California Play Equity Report that most parents struggle to pay for their kids' sports. The report highlights gaps in “play equity,” with physical activity being the lowest for youth in households with incomes of $50,000 or lower. Only households with annual incomes of at least $100,000 have a majority of youth meeting the CDC physical activity guidelines.Renata Simril, the President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation, views these inequities as an issue of social justice. “The power of sport is lost if it's only available to the privileged,” she says. Even within households, Simril notes that when parents have two or three kids, typically the son is the one who plays. The survey also shows that girls, especially Latino and Black girls in California, are the least likely to play.

Why is the Cost of Sports So High?

Recreational youth sports used to be more widespread, but the landscape has shifted towards more expensive travel teams, as Keswick explains. “We've lost sight of that robust recreational system,” she adds.Jon Solomon, the Community Impact Director of the Aspen Institute Sports & Society Program, agrees. “In some cases, traditional parks and rec leagues or in-town, community-based leagues have declined as more families have turned to travel sports,” he says.Parents may feel compelled to enroll their kids in these more intense programs. “It's not just the top-performing kids signing up for club programs; it almost seems like everyone feels they have to,” Keswick says.The Aspen Institute's State of Play 2022 report indicates that the average family pays $883 annually for one child's primary sport. With travel sports, the cost is often significantly higher, especially when including overnight travel. School and community sports are generally cheaper.However, even recreational sports can be unaffordable for marginalized families, as Simril, who is also the President of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Board of Commissioners, points out. “Parents struggle to afford the $150 to $200 program fee at Recreation and Parks,” she says.

Finding Ways to Reduce Costs

Some sports programs have flexible registration fee scales, but families are also responsible for equipment. For high-need area programs, coaches can reach out to Good Sports to obtain equipment assistance. Other nonprofits, sponsors, and partners may also be able to provide help.Solomon notes that All Kids Play and Every Kid Sports offer funding to families lacking the resources for their kids to play sports.Locally swapping sports equipment can also help minimize costs. This could be through a Facebook page where parents can offer or seek out used equipment.Parents can advocate for affordable and accessible sports opportunities in their communities and school systems. “Both in their communities and in their school systems, [parents can help] to ensure that leadership understands the significant connection between the long-term benefits provided to kids and the opportunities to play,” Keswick says.Solomon suggests that parents can support local leagues by advocating for funding and even volunteering their time. “The more we have quality leagues within reach, without the need to travel extensively and spend a lot of money—that would be highly beneficial,” he says. He also emphasizes that supporting recreational sports won't replace travel sports but will give families more options.Another advantage of recreational sports is that it allows kids to play different sports in different seasons instead of specializing in one sport year-round, as is common in travel sports.Over a decade ago, kids used to play more than two sports, but in 2023, the average number of sports was 1.63, a 13% decrease since 2019, according to the Aspen Institute's State of Play 2024 report. Specialization often leads to higher costs.Solomon advises asking kids what they want from their sports experience. “When we survey children in many communities across the country and ask about the top reasons for playing sports, having fun and playing with friends are by far the most important. Winning games ranks lower, and chasing college scholarships even lower,” he says.What parents think their kids should get out of sports may differ from what the kids actually want. “Maybe you don't need to spend as much on sports if you have an open conversation with your child,” Solomon says.“Sport sampling,” or trying various sports, can keep costs down as entry-level programs are usually less expensive than intense club teams. Additionally, kids can explore more accessible sports.For example, flag football is a growing sport that doesn't require a lot of resources. “It's exploding across the country for both boys and girls at the younger levels,” Solomon says. “There's no major equipment other than a flag, football, and a jersey. It can be played coed as well.”The current youth sports system is clearly not serving everyone well. “We've created a system of haves and have-nots in sports in terms of access and opportunity. We're not serving one end of the spectrum adequately and may be over-serving the other,” Keswick says.