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Minimize the Costs and Maximize the Joy of Playing Youth Sports

POSTED BY
Dina Weinstein

Raising kids is expensive, but raising kids who play sports is a different ballgame (sports pun intended). Managing sports-related expenses can significantly stretch your budget. Today, RVA on the Cheap explains what you can do to make sports fun for your child and affordable for your family.

Understand the Costs Associated With Each Sport

Generally, the more equipment a sport requires, the more expensive it is. Basketball and soccer are among the cheapest sports as they involve little more than a ball and a decent pair of sneakers or cleats. Sports that require head-to-toe gear like hockey and football are pricier.
In addition to gear and equipment, other related expenses include registration fees, travel costs, and tournament entries. Before you sign your child up for a sports program, research initial and ongoing financial commitments to determine what fits your budget.

Despite the steep costs, experts agree that participation in sports activities provides children with many priceless benefits, including better physical health, improved cognitive skills, and greater self-esteem.

Get on the Same Page as Your Child

When your child expresses interest in a sport, say soccer, don’t automatically assume they want to be the next David Beckham. Many children want to play a sport simply because their friends do. Talk with your child about their reasons. The family dinner table can be a great place to have these discussions.

Get in the habit of making dinner together at least once each week to cultivate these kinds of conversations – invest in some handy kitchen items and involve your child in the cooking process, too. You’ll find this time is helpful for more than just sports-related
discussion.

Reduce Stress by Organizing Your Paperwork

These days, parents have more paperwork to handle than ever. From receipts to insurance information to tax documents, it can all get pretty overwhelming – which is why you should get in the habit of digitizing your important files. Tools like this allow you to easily convert your physical documents into digital formats like PDFs, making them much easier to store, share, and access
as needed.

This also virtually eliminates the risk (and stress) of misplaced documents, since you’ll have everything saved in one handy file.

Find the Perfect Vacation Home

Investing in a vacation home in your favorite kiteboarding destination can be a strategic and rewarding decision, especially to support your child’s progress in kiteboarding. Owning a property in this locale means you no longer have to endure the hassle of hauling kiteboarding
equipment back and forth with every visit. It simplifies logistics significantly, allowing your child to focus more on honing their skills in a familiar and comfortable environment.

Additionally, when your family isn’t using the home, it can serve as a great source of income. Renting it out to other kiteboarding enthusiasts or vacationers can turn it into a profitable investment. This approach not only supports your child’s sporting passion but also ensures that
the property remains an asset, contributing to your financial goals while providing a go-to retreat for family vacations.

The Importance of Sportsmanship

Discuss healthy competition and the purpose of sports outside of winning. Highlight that sports activities cultivate teamwork, resilience, and personal growth. If your child is new to a sport or is unsure about their level of interest or commitment, register them for a recreational program instead of a competitive league. Non-competitive programs focus on teaching fundamentals and instilling a love of the game. They also tend to be cheaper.

Be Thrifty When Buying Gear

Kids grow like weeds, meaning you’ll need to replace gear before the locker room smell has disappeared. Forgo buying brand-new equipment and opt for secondhand finds instead. Search online platforms like Facebook Marketplace for gently used equipment from local sellers. Inquire with youth sports organizations about deals, as some offer discounted gear at the end of the
season.

Invest Your Time Instead of Your Money

Parents with adequate knowledge and availability can offer to coach a team. Volunteering often comes with waived or discounted fees for your child’s participation. Another option is to organize fundraisers to offset costs for all team members.

Make the Most Out of Home Field (aka Your Backyard)

Your yard is a free, convenient space for your child to practice their favorite sport. Hire a lawn care service to keep the area well-maintained, so your child can safely play whenever the mood strikes. Basic lawn mowing services cost between $30 and $80. Read reviews and ask for
recommendations for reputable, experienced contractors. Verify that any contractor you use is
properly insured.

Make Participation in Sports Possible

Your child’s participation in sports should bring your family joy, not financial stress. Choose reasonably priced programs that align with your child’s level of interest. Be resourceful and tap into your social network to take advantage of low-cost equipment, practice space, and other
sports-related expenses. With the right approach, your budding athlete can enjoy all that sports have to offer without draining your budget.

RVA on the Cheap is here to help you enjoy all that RVA has to offer. Questions? Please email news@rvaonthecheap.com.

-By Kurt Brown 

Kurt Brown knows that some of the best adventures happen off the beaten path. Unfortunately, those experiences are not always well-documented and, as a result, helpful information is not always easy to find. That’s why he created Travel Tip Tank. The website offers travel tips visitors won’t find anywhere else.

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About Dina Weinstein

Dina Weinstein is a Richmond, Virginia based award-winning journalist who reports for numerous local and national outlets. Weinstein moved north from Miami, Florida where she worked mentoring young journalists as an advisor at the Miami Dade College student newspaper The Reporter. She is a Boston native and a proud graduate of Boston University School for the Arts and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

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Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.