Last week, I spent an interesting hour as a guest on the "Charlotte Talks" show on Charlotte's National Public Radio station. The show was titled "Youth Sports and The Law."
One of the issues I spoke about was the lack of inclusion in youth sports today. It is becoming about the haves and the have not's. Unfortunately, our sports programs are becoming more and more elitist and exclusionary. Many children are left out because their parents cannot afford the equipment, registration fees or even the gas to drive them to and from various games, practices and tournaments.
In an average week, I communicate with hundreds, if not thousands, of sports parents. For the past six months the big issue has been how to afford sports in these tough economic times. In communities all across the country parents are struggling every day to afford youth sports activities. Some programs are shutting down. In many cases, the only way parents are able to afford the expense of sports is by cutting back on other expenses.
I am concerned about the children whose parents cannot afford to have their children participate. Many times a week I field e mails or calls from disgruntled moms and dads about the steep fees they are being charged and are questioning why they have to pay $100, $200 or more for their children play on a team whose season only runs about ten weeks.
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Brooke, I can't believe I
Brooke, I can't believe I just read this blog?
Now, the next step I want you to realize is why is youth sports programs becoming so expensive? Certainly it's not the only reason, but the proliferation of more equipment, more training and certification of coaches, paying coaches and insurance is reasons why youth sports have become so expensive.
One of the ideas of travel sports was to separate the haves from the have nots. Another discription is the committed and the "I'll play because my friends are playing". It's like of akin to private school over public school.
Big Business
Brooke de Lench
Publisher
MomsTeam.com
Author:
Home Team Advantage: The Critical Role of Mothers in
Costs do make a difference!
Brooke,
I am so glad to see this topic on here! Our sport of BMX will accommodate the tightest of bank accounts - at the local level. If your child is fortunate enough to have the skill and talent to compete at the National level, then the cost becomes outrageous. Last year alone, my husband and I spent just over $27,000 traveling the West Coast and a few select Southern states in our sport. This dollar amount accounts for travel expenses, gas, airline tickets, hotels, entry fees to races, bikes and bike parts as well as the cost of our motorhome. What is scary is it is a small dollar amount in comparison to some of my son's competitors who are home schooled and travel the country, even out of the country, in hopes of one day being an olympic hopeful.
There are answers though, and financial help, to a select few lucky riders: factory sponsorship. A "factory ride" often times will include a riders gear, bike/bike parts as well as cover the entry fees for races where the rider places top four. There are only a VERY SMALL amount of riders though that get plane tickets and all their costs covered. Ultimately, it is up to us parents and what I like to call my son's benefactor: Grandpa. Either way, the sky-rocketing costs of sports these days is making it hard for the average family to participate and even harder to have competitive, thriving sports facilities at the grass-roots level. Thank you for bringing this topic to our attention.
Allison the "crazy BMX mom"
Cost do make a difference,
Cost do make a difference, yes they do! Allison, it's great that you and your husband can go cross country with your son's BMX, but you have to agree that you are a very unusual case. Most people don't spend $27,000 annually for their kids recreational sports? We're just talking about kid's not having $50 to play in the local rec baseball league. My point is the more administration, red tape, and other things you put into youth sports leagues, the more it costs and you price families right out of the picture.