What is the cost do the most popular sports?
A 2016 research survey conducted by my alma mater Utah State focused on answering the question of what is the cost of youth sports/ Specifically some of your more popular sports like football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, and lacrosse.
The USU researchers found out that the average American family invests $2,292 a year on sports for youth. If you consider the average family U.S. household income was $61,372 in 2017, the investment in youth sports is a significant amount of money for a year and astronomical over 0 years. That I a mini-retirement. And entirely a hat’s a considerable investment and bite out of your pockets. But some youth sports cost a lot more than others.
Here is an honest look at the numbers; the cost of the most popular youth sports, in order of most costly to least expensive:
- Lacrosse, $7,956 a year
- Hockey, $7,013 a year
- Baseball/Softball, $4,044 a year
- Football, $2,739 a year
- Soccer, $1,472 a year
- Basketball, $1,143 a year
How much does the average sport cost?
The high costs of year-round sports training programs, travel teams, high tech equipment, training facilities, and rising coaching fees have resulted in a youth sports industry into a $17 billion business that everyone but a few families and kids benefits from. In a recent study in 2016 by reputable WinterGreen Research, reported that 20percent of families are investing $1,000 per month on elite youth sports programs.
Do parents need to invest or spend upwards of $5,000 for a child to play at the elite youth level?
What is the most expensive youth sport?
The most expensive sport has got to be a motocross @ a cost of $25,150/ year
The reality is not talent, but money at the elite youth program level is what is leading the charge. In-car and motorcycle racing, there was also the mentality that the most significant dollars invested won.
For a brand new Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, KTM, Kawasaki, or Husqvarna 250F or 125, you are looking at $7000 – $9500 … You want a new bike for safety reasons.
Up Front Costs
- Motorcycle – $7700 (Year 2019 – 2020)
- Helmet – $300
- boots -$300
- gear – $200
- goggles $40
- knee braces – $250
Total Upfront Costs = $8790
Monthly Costs
- Practice 3 times ($30 each) a week @ $360/month
- Gas for motorcycle @ $30/week = $120/month
- Driving car/truck to track 3 times a week @ $100 = $400/month
- Race 1 class @ $35 X twice a month = 70
- Gate fee for races $10 = $20/month
- Air Filter and Oil $30/week = $120/month
Monthly Costs = $1190
Yearly Costs = $14280
Quarterly Costs ( 4 times per year)
- New tires @ 200 X 4 = 800/year
- New Sprockets @ 120 X 4 = $480/year
- New Gear @200 X 4 = $800/year
Total Costs = $2080
Total costs to Race Motocross = $25150
Motocross is one of the most expeensive sport to begin and compete on basic level. These costs are for the average competitve racer novice/intermiediate. If you are attempting to take it the next level expect to double these costs.
Why are parents spending so much on youth sports?
Parents and sportspeople are spending more and more on youth sports because it is now business, which is increasing pressure on children to act, perform, and behave like adults.
When it works out, it looks like a storybook movie that excites everyone. When the child gets brunt out, at some point, the child and the parent is forced to realize that hard work, talent, timing, and peak performance development are factors that all athletes must deal with no matter how much money is thrown at a child youth sports career.
And it is a career!
If you want a super athlete, prepared for big-time athletics, and the next hall a gamer ready to be paid big time, you must be willing to invest in your child. Well, at least this is the thinking.
It today’s youth sports, there is this belief that money is more important than performance. You can pay your way to success. This works for some time, but it usually raises its ugly head in a competition, specifically elite-level game. You can look no further than the World Cup Level Soccer, where the U.S Team is unable to make any headway.
What is the cost of youth sports travel programs?
This is due to a youth sports system that loves to separate kids based on expensive travel leagues and local club teams that tend to price everyone out of the market without a six-figure income.
I have coached at the youth soccer level for the last two years, and I have yet to see that particular kid, as you often see in more diverse or urban areas. Money is the overwhelming factor that is deciding success rather than talent and work ethic. “
Growing up, the best athletes competed in ll sports just about e everything at their local school such and every recreational sport such as basketball, soccer, flag football, swimming, and track.
It was almost mandatory that ever had a chance to participate but now with the cut in educational budgets, the increase in club teams and the mafia-like control over youth sports it has sucked the life, fun out of many games and has parents turning towards individual, freedom, soul or so-called extreme sports such as snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, mountain biking, motocross, rock climbing, dancing and other forms of athletic expression.
It’s not that those sports do have a monetary cost; it’s that finances do not define the extreme sports outside of motocross.
Elite level sport should be about the best players competing, but in American sports, dollars are at the front of elite teams. In soccer, this is not the case. It is the perfect example of the cost of games and systemized control going too far. The problem is players are being promoted because parents can pay versus the child has real potential.
Are rising college tuition costs causing an increase in youth sports cost?
Like all parents; parents of youth sports participants are motivated by the chance of seeing their kids play professionally and also receiving a scholarship
With the rising cost in college tuition, parents have now chosen to leverage youth sports to reduce the cost of tuition.
There will always be a cost, but the cost of youth sports should most importantly support youth development, competition, and participation, not alienation and elimination of players because of a parent infusion of finances.
We should want our daughters, sons, nieces, and nephews to learn how to compete and handle real-life situations where they will need to overcome situations that are not tainted in there favor. Growing up in an environment that is lacking in real challenges and obstacles will ultimately produce a person that may have problems handling life challenges.
I think to advise parents to focus on development and to have fun in the early stages of youth sports. Children must spend time in She high-quality sports programs such as soccer, basketball, flag football, baseball, and swimming that have a low entry point.
Is the rising costs of youth sports causing lower participation rates?
Prices for youth sports are increasing, causing families to forgo enrolling their kids and additionally causing kids to leave extracurricular sports activities.
The share of six to twelve-year-olds who played team sports regularly was down from 45% in 2008 to 38% in 2018. That is a seven percentage point drop.
Additionally, in a study representing families, from all 50 states in America that range from several socio-economic backgrounds, found that the average annual cost of a single youth sport was $693.
That spend percentage varies from sport to sport, with different training and practice expenses increasing the costs.
Equipment was the most significant expense for skiing and snowboarding, while in most others, it was travel.
Ice hockey parents paid the most overall — $2,583 a year on average. They also spent the most right out of the gate, with $634 in average registration fees.
But it’s important to note that the costs vary drastically from family to family too, leading to a wide range of overall costs within each sport.
What’s the most dangerous sport?
- Big Wave Surfing
- Horseback Riding
- Extreme Mountain biking
- Cycling
- Base Jumping
- Cheerleading
How much does the average sport cost?
Kids aren’t playing enough sports. The culprit? Cost, ESPN, Kelly Cohen, August 2019, https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/27356477/kids-playing-enough-sports-culprit-cost
| Sport | Cost Per Season/Yr |
| Track & field | $191.34 |
| Flag football | $268.46 |
| Skateboarding | $380.02 |
| Cross country | $420.86 |
| Basketball | $426.78 |
| Wrestling | $476.45 |
| Tackle football | $484.57 |
| Soccer | $536.90 |
| Volleyball | $595.49 |
| Softball | $612.83 |
| Baseball | $659.96 |
| Martial arts | $776.51 |
| Swimming | $786.03 |
| Golf | $925.38 |
| Bicycling | $1,011.61 |
| Tennis | $1,170.09 |
| Other sports | $1,233.30 |
| Lacrosse | $1,289.22 |
| Gymnastics | $1,580.28 |
| Field hockey | $2,124.62 |
| Skiing/Snowboarding | $2,248.84 |
| Ice hockey | $2,582.74 |
| SPORT | AVG. COST |