According to a 2019 survey from the Aspen Institute and Utah State University's Family in Sports Lab, sports families spend on average nearly $700 per child, per sport, annually. However, some families spent significantly more — upwards of $9,000 annually for just one child, even in what might seem to be cheaper sports, like basketball. According to the survey, American families spend about $30 billion annually on youth sports. 

The high cost is nothing new, at least not if your children have been participating in sports fairly seriously. However, the current state of the economy is adding new strain on parents' budgets in this area. Extracurricular activities are one of the only areas where families can currently make cuts, with average gas prices up 50% from last year and raging inflation driving up grocery prices by 12% in a year.

Here are some suggestions to assist you in funding youth sports. But first, you should check the Alex And Alexa Discount Code to get great savings on kids’ sports.

Pick Your Kids' Sports Carefully

In terms of cost, not all sports are created equal. Regardless of your child's age or level of competition, sports that require a lot of equipment, like ice hockey ($2,583 per child, per year on average), skiing ($2,249), gymnastics ($1,580), and tennis ($1,170), will be more expensive. Try picking activity on the lower end of the spectrum if your children are young or you're just experimenting. Sports with average annual costs per player between $268 and $537 include flag football, cross country, basketball, and soccer.

Stay Local And Have Fun

When you start playing for elite or travel teams, you start hearing about the staggering amounts associated with kids' sports participation. According to Darren Straniero, a certified financial planner in Darnestown, Maryland, those leagues frequently demand year-round commitments, higher registration fees, and significant costs associated with frequent travel. The most effective strategy to reduce costs associated with athletics, according to Straniero, is to resist the siren song of travel or club sports. His wife and five children all play sports, including football, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, and golf, but he and his wife have decided not to compete in club events.

Leave New Equipment Out

Your children will require equipment whether they participate in a less expensive community team or a fiercely competitive travel league. According to Straniero, buying used is an easy way to save money. There is no need to purchase new equipment before you know if your child will stick with a particular sport or position, according to this advice, which is applicable to all ages, competition levels, and sports. The same holds true if your player is of an age where they will probably quickly outgrow their equipment.

Instead Of Spending Money, Invest Your Time

If you have the time, coaching a team usually entitles you to a discount on your child's participation in that league. Consider it to be sweat equity. Straniero's daughters receive free registration because his wife coaches lacrosse and he has previously coached his children's basketball and baseball teams. In addition, he continues, this usually gives you more control over the schedule.

Look Into The Total Price

It can be difficult for leagues to provide parents with an accurate, total cost, which makes budgeting for more expensive sports participation challenging. The costs of uniforms, equipment and registration fees are usually fairly straightforward to estimate. But outside of the leagues, there are also specialized camps and one-on-one fitness sessions for athletes competing at the highest levels. It can be difficult to estimate travel costs, which frequently exceed what families anticipate. Want to save some bucks on kids' sports? Use the Jd Voucher Code in your shopping.

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