The Crazy (Expensive) World Of Competitive Kids' Sports

Yesterday I went to the bank to get checks to pay for my son's soccer uniform and tournament fees (he plays club soccer.) The check for the uniform was $339 and the check for the next 2 tournaments was for $200. Jonathan the teller said, "Wow! That's a lot of money for soccer!" I snorted, "Well, that's on top of what we've already spent this month. There's the $300 for coaching fees, gas for 3 weekly practices and weekend games, and fast food and coffee for when we're at those games. Oh, and did I mention my son is 9?" The teller's mouth dropped. I just smiled. It's a common reaction from people, I've noticed. Apparently everyone doesn't know about competitive kids' sports.

I grew up in a small town, but y parents found all sorts of things for my brother and I to do. We attended art classes, piano lessons, and played every sport under the sun. I was also a competitive gymnast and a dancer. But, my gym was small and while adequate, it was by no means one of the best. I grew too tall to be a competitive gymnast, so in high school, I really wanted to take my dancing to the next level. Unfortunately, there were two dance studios in my town. Once again, while they were adequate, there was no way to further my training. At 16 years old, I swore to myself that when I had kids, I'd give them the best. I felt so stuck in my small town, there was no way I was going to stand in the way of opportunity for my own kids. Even at that age, I knew I would want to make sure that my own kids were allowed to realize their dreams.

My son LOVES soccer. My husband and I signed him up for his first soccer team when he was 3 and he hasn't stopped since. Soccer is definitely his passion, he has always been a standout on his team. After several years of playing in recreational leagues, we realized that he wasn't going to get the training he needed. We live in a large metropolitan area, so fortunately we were able to take him to one of the most prestigious soccer clubs in the country. At 9, he has practice 3 times a week and either a game or tournament (3+ games sometimes in town sometimes out of town) every weekend pretty much year round. Playing soccer makes my son so happy, so we're more than happy to be committed to it.

My son's soccer club requires a high level of training and competition. Needless to say, it's a commitment for the entire family. Not only is it a time commitment (for my husband, me, and our 3 other kids) but it's a huge monetary sacrifice. We'll spend over $3,500 on soccer for my son this year. We haven't moved into a bigger house, we don't take fancy vacations, almost all of our weekends are full, and we even though we still eat dinner together, we have to be flexible on the time. The other kids don't mind, because, it's all they know and we will do the same for them. They already take gymnastics, dance, and music classes and play in their own soccer leagues. When they decide what they really want to focus on, somehow we'll make it work.

People have said to us, "You should just save the money, he probably won't play professionally anyway." First of all, by playing with such a well-known club his college scholarship prospects are very promising (I've seen where their alumni play!) But more importantly, it's NOT about playing professionally. While he would LOVE that, he's learning so many invaluable lessons. He's learning about dedication, commitment, confidence, team work, camaraderie, confidence, respect for authority, competitive spirit, love of the game, how to be a good winner or loser, and he's getting great exercise. In the right setting, these are the lessons we learn from sports.

My son knows he's privileged. He thanks me for taking him to practice, thanks me every time he gets a new pair of soccer cleats, and he still gives us a little smile and wave as he waits for the game beginning whistle to blow. They're only kids for a limited time. My husband and I have had the conversation that we will do everything we can do to allow our children to realize their dreams. It's such a huge parental goal.

Gymnasts and their families move across the country to train under specific coaches. Soccer players and their families move overseas to play for world-renowned clubs. I've heard similar stories for club basketball, baseball, hockey, swimming, and tennis. If you look hard enough and are willing to make the time and money commitment, professional training for kids is available.

As we were leaving the bank, the teller said, "I hope they win a lot of money when they win the championship!" I snorted again and said, "Well, actually, if they win the state championship, then we have to pay to travel for the regional championships, then national championships, and when that's said and done, pay more in coaching fees next year to be a part of a championship team."


For more articles for your life, home, and family, check out www.InMyNewHome.com

How To Eat A Pomegranate

Pretty Polka Dot Party Cake

Kimora Lee Simmons Looks To Manhattan, Drops Price On NJ Mega Mansion