The Cost of Sporting Excellence

We all have hopes and dreams for our children. We hope that they will grow up to be fit and healthy and successful in whatever they do. There are many parents who dream that sporting success is part of their children’s future. Obviously, talent plays a major role in whether those dreams become true or not. But there is another very important factor – money.

Although you would hope that any naturally gifted child – in any walk of life – would rise to the top and succeed, it more often than not depends on whether there is money to be spent on coaching and developing that talent into what might become a professional career. College scholarships are so essential for many, in order for young people to be given the chance to star in the nightly highlights reels and feature on the best sites to bet on sports.

There is, of course, an immediate issue with the pay to play model that exists in the US. If only children from families with the money to spend on coaching and development are able to receive this kind of tuition, there will be a sizeable number of children who will miss out. Not everyone has the money to spend on private coaching – and that closes the door for millions of children, making those college scholarships even more of a lifeline.

There are many elements to the cost of a shot at sporting excellence though. It is not simply a case of paying a coach to teach your child the basics. This kind of success comes at a price – and there is obviously no guarantee that you will get any return on your investment.

Registration Fees

Before we even think about the differing costs for different sports, there will be an immediate payout just for your child to play. First, there will be a registration fee for the youth sports club they join. This invariably helps the club to exist and survive and provides a place for children to participate in sports.

Depending on the club, there may also be further costs for games and tournaments. Sometimes these charges will be included in a monthly or yearly fee. But many times tournaments are separately run and teams pay to be involved. As children get older – and these tournaments become more important to future success – the costs can grow even more. 

Equipment

These costs will vary greatly depending on the sport your child chooses. Obviously, equestrian sports will be very expensive, while cycling or wrestling will be much cheaper. Everything is relative though and sport-specific equipment is going to set parents and carers back at least $50 for even the most basic of sports.

But if you are hoping that your child becomes a future Super Bowl winner, you will have to think of all the protective equipment and gear needed. You may be lucky and be able to find a club or team that provides helmets and pads. But the club will need the money to buy gear like that, meaning those yearly registration fees might be bigger.

Coaching

This is the area when the costs can really increase – and a factor that simply prices many children out of receiving top quality coaching. Sports is a business at any level. There may be billions of dollars spent in the pro leagues but there are also huge amounts in the private sector at youth levels.

Many parents will look to one-on-one coaching if the money is available. This can really make a difference for talented children, but it comes at a cost of around $30-$100 an hour. Then there are residential camps and special clinics to help larger groups of children. These can cost anywhere from $100 to $500, so you can see how investing in your child’s sporting future can become very expensive very quickly.

Benefits of Investing in Sports

The pay to play model that exists in the US may have its detractors and critics. But there are obvious benefits of providing a sporting education for your children if it is financially possible. Those college scholarships may be more attainable for a start – but there are other positives for those who don’t go on to play at that level.

The health benefits of sports are an obvious plus. Children are much more likely to live a more healthy lifestyle if they participate in sports and reduce the chance of illness. Social skills, teamwork, and leadership are all taught through sports and can be translated into other aspects of life, while self-esteem and relationships can grow thanks to involvement in sports.

Figure 2 There are many benefits to exposing your children to team sports

Budgeting

Those benefits outlined above will be desired by any parent looking to give their children the best grounding for life. But we have also already explained how the costs can be prohibitive for many. Many families just don’t have the choice to invest in sports coaching and development, so budgeting needs to be part of the equation.

Not going overboard on equipment is a good starting point and recycling gear as your child grows can help as well. Fundraisers are a popular way for teams to pay for tournament fees and making the entire experience as cost-effective as possible can really make a difference.

No Change on the Horizon

Unfortunately, there is no sign that the way we coach our children in the US is going to change anytime soon. Obviously, sports coaching and development costs have to be paid in some way, and it has largely been put on the parents in this country. That immediately produces an unequal playing field and puts some children and families at a disadvantage.

But the benefits of sports are limitless. That’s why you should think carefully about what the expectations are from investing in your children’s activities. It is more important for children to have fun and enjoy themselves, rather than banking on future superstardom.

 

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