Exploring the Costs of Youth Sports & the Need to Fundraise [Guest Post: FlipGive]

Youth sports help kids stay in shape, build character, create long-lasting friendships, plus so much more. However, youth sports also has a downside, which is the high cost. The amount of money that goes into youth sports is rapidly increasing. Would you believe that the youth sports industry is worth nearly $17 billion dollars and is generating more money than the National Football League, which is estimated at $15 billion?

Think about the cost of equipment, travel, uniforms, training programs, coaching fees, etc. On average, parents in the United States spend around $700- $1,000 a month on youth sports. Extensive research has proved that a child participating in youth sports can improve their social interactions, boost their confidence, and enhance their listening skills and overall health. In addition, it links kids engaging in sports at a young age to higher grades, lower dropout rate, decreased truancy and reduction of crime rates.

Don’t let the cost of youth sports stop you from playing and missing out on all the benefits it can bring – start fundraising to help reduce the high cost and help continue playing the sport you love. Continue reading to explore the costs of youth sports and why the need to fundraise is so essential.

The High Cost of Youth Sports

The financial cost of taking part in youth sports has many variables, including the sport and what gear it requires, as well as the location. For instance, swimming is considered to be less costly because there is less equipment needed compared to other sports, such as ice hockey. Let’s break down the most popular youth sports and explore their costs.

Ice Hockey

Ice hockey is known to be the most expensive youth sport, averaging around $600 for basic equipment costs. High end skates can cost more than $1,000 dollars, and hockey sticks costing $280 dollars. According to a Utah State survey, a family can expect to spend an average of around $7,000 a year on youth ice hockey, with an upper limit that hits close to $20,000, especially if it involves you in traveling for ice hockey! Other required gear for the sport such as shin, elbow, and shoulder pads, hockey pants, gloves, helmets, mouth guards, and more can add up very quickly! You also have to consider the cost for skating lessons, membership and league fees, skate sharpening, and replacing old gear (eventually, i.e. mouth guards), etc. 

Lacrosse

Lacrosse is becoming more and more popular each year, as well as getting more expensive. The average cost of a set of lax gear is about $600, with the helmet being the most expensive piece of equipment, which could range from $120- $300 dollars. Don’t forget about one of the most important pieces for lacrosse, the stick. The stick, also known as the crosse, can be as expensive as $200 (including the shaft and the head of the stick).  Additional gear includes gloves $50 to $100, padding needed for arms and shoulders $45 to $80, and high quality cleats $40 to $150+, as well as mouth guard, eye protection, equipment bag, and more. These aren’t things you’ll only buy once. Your child may grow or switch positions, or their gear may experience regular wear and tear. This will require you to buy items repeatedly, and as any parent knows, those numbers can add up quickly. Playing lacrosse is estimated to have an average of $7,956 with a maximum of $17,500 per year.

Baseball & Softball

As a sport, baseball and softball require less protective gear compared to other activities, however, bats are extremely expensive. The average cost for baseball gear is $400 with a bat costing around $250 and the glove near $240. Depending on what position you are playing in might cost you more money. For instance being a pitcher you may need a face mask, elbow pads, mouth guard, or even private lessons with an instructor that could cost $75-$125 per hour. To partake in a traveling league, the average cost is about $3,700 per year. But families can pay upward of $8,000 if they opt for extra training services and play in out-of-state tournaments—travel costs are the biggest determining factor here. Similar to baseball, softball equipment including gloves, cleats, bats, catcher’s gear and socks can range from $200 to $500 – for an annual average $1,000 dollars. Also, softball lessons are roughly $75 per session, which depending on how many weeks it could cost $3,000. Taking part in baseball and softball is estimated to have an average of $4,044 with a maximum of $9,900 per year!

Why You Need to Fundraise

Just like participating in youth sports, partaking in fundraising can have many benefits as well. Not only will fundraising encourage teamwork, but it also promotes real world skills, helps increase exposure, acquire the proper equipment to play the sport, majorly helps with travel expenses, plus so much more! The lack of funding should not stop you from playing the sport you are passionate about – fundraising can help you and your team perform at the next level!

Easier Way to Fundraise with FlipGive

From replacing sports equipment to traveling expenses, participating in sports can be expensive! Fundraising is essential for most athletes in order to keep playing the sport they love, but can be time consuming and possibly generate trivial results. FlipGive makes fundraising super easy because you’ll earn cashback on all sports equipment, as well as day to day products that you’re already purchasing from well-known brands. It is very easy to share your team’s campaign, add other players, and supporters to your fundraiser. You will be collecting money for your team with little effort!

Sign up with FlipGive today and start gaining funds, so you and your team can continue to participate in any sport and have the proper equipment and gear that is required. FlipGive’s team funding app was created to support young athletes and help them perform at their very best. Create a team for free, get cashback shopping or lodging with hundreds of different brands, discover team funding resources and more! What are you waiting for? Set up a coaching call today to talk with one of our experts about how you can reach your fundraising goal with FlipGive!