The Most Expensive Kids' Sports

Cheerleading is one of the most expensive sports.Parents experience sticker shock well before kids apply to college, thanks to team and individual sports. During elementary school, kids are able to try on various hats on the field and court because recreational sports are more affordable. Less equipment is required, kids learn in groups, and the games are local. When kids reach middle school, the sports become rougher and kids need more safety equipment.

What drives up the cost of the most expensive sports? Safety equipment, high-end equipment, traveling or elite teams where parents foot the bill for transportation and lodging, competitive individual sports where cross training, private lessons, and extra coaching are a necessity. These "extras" add up to an additional $2,000 to $10,000 per year.

Note: * Prices in your area may vary.

Equestrianism

The price of individual sports can run high, thanks to private lessons and equipment. Parents who can afford to buy a kid a horse may not be so concerned about the price of the sport including horse boarding and vet bills. The parents of a young equestrian may pay $30 to $65 per one-hour lesson. A saddle, halter, bridle, crop, boots and clothes can run from $640 to $1,600 or more. Add the competitive shows to the bill and parents could pay an additional $1,000 for entry fees, extra training, stall rental and other "incidentals" for each show.

Ice Hockey

At its least expensive, parents of kids in a learn to skate program (no hockey stick required) will spend a minimum of $250 on just equipment. On the high end, the equipment alone could cost $500. That's a lot of money for protective gear that will be outgrown. Families with multiple players could pass equipment on to younger siblings. An eight-week session of learning to skate or a pre-hockey program costs $120 to $140. When kids are ready for hockey sticks, add between $20 and $80. Some families spend up to $1000 per season per player. Traveling teams could spend another $3,500 per year.

Gymnastics

Kids participate in gymnastics on a recreational level won't save parents much money. Gymnastics classes for young children can cost $600 to $700 for seven 45-minute sessions. Competitive gymnastics start at $819 for an hour, up to $1,113 (including shirt and competition fees). Private lessons will cost an additional $80 or more per hour. Warm-up suits, competition clothing, competition fees and travel expenses could all tack on thousands of dollars annually for parents of kids with scholarship or Olympic dreams.

Cheerleading

Cheerleading was once an affordable team sport. Girls bought and kept their own shoes, paid a nominal fee for a uniform they could keep, they used the school's pom-poms, and the school paid for the rest. Now a cheerleader could pay $300 to $500 to borrow a cheer uniform. Middle school students can expect to pay $200 or more. High school cheerleaders may pay $1,000 to $1,500 per year for school-related cheering events. Parents of cheerleaders could also see bills for summer cheer camp ($135 to $464 per weekend or $775 to $995 per week), private tumbling ($30 to $91) or group gymnastics lessons ($95 an hour).

Football

Similar to ice hockey, kids need a lot of equipment to play safely. At the Pop Warner level, kids are required to have cleats, practice pants with a belt, girdle/pads, protective cup, helmet, chin strap for the helmet and a mouth guard ($200 to $350 or more). Registration costs between $75 and $200. At the high school level players and bench warmers can expect to pay $200 per athlete or $350 per family depending on your school.

Many other sports can carry a hefty price tag for parents. Some land in the $1,000 per year category due to private lessons. They include golf, swimming, and competitive figure skating.

Sources
Personal Experience
"Children may be vulnerable in $5 billion youth-sports industry," The Columbus Dispatch
FMC Ice Sports
Horse Cost Calculator , Horse Channel
Tips for Cutting the Cost of Equestrianism , Rural Sports
Laura T. Coffey: "10 ways to get a grip on sports costs for kids," MSNBC
David J. Verso, Developmental Model for Youth Sports
Pop Warner
Tara Camille Chozet: "Penalty! Blowing the Whistle on Youth Soccer in the United States," University of Southern California
Varsity.com



Content by Pam Gaulin