Cost of children's sports out of control: poll
The spiralling cost of enrolling children in organized sports and an increase in user fees for renting arenas, sports fields and other recreational facilities is becoming a real burden for families, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
Almost two-thirds of Ottawa residents believe the cost of sports is too high. More than half say the municipality isn't doing enough to maintain low-cost parks, rinks and gymnasiums, according to a recent survey.
Registration costs have risen in all sports, as the cost of renting facilities has increased by as much as 40 per cent over the past two years.
In addition, sports associations have been faced with a dramatic increase in insurance costs and, in certain instances and provinces, HST woes. The sports groups, in turn, pass those costs on to parents in the form of registration and user fees.
Newmarket Ont., for instance, employs user fees to bridge the gap between the cost to operate and maintain a facility and the amount covered by the tax base. For youth activities, the 2012 target recovery rate is still only 40%. For adults, it’s 70%.
Many families spend as much as $6,000 a year on sports-related expenses for their children. While some try and pare this down by buying used equipment, car pooling and steering clear of more expensive sports like hockey in favour or soccer or basketball, others simply stay home.
We may want to provide a large number of activities for our children to experience, but the reality is that it's just too expensive to be involved in everything. Although it's tough sometimes, have your child choose his or her favourite activities.
Here are a few more tips to help you save when it comes to your child's sport experience.
Has your family shouldered these expenses and still had a great time through sports? What’s your secret to stretching those dollars?
By Gordon Powers, MSN Money
Posted by: Shaun | Jul 12, 2021 9:30:42 AM
Isn't it funny how the Governments push for Healthy living and healthy lifestyles but at the same time raise the rates too do so......Which is it? Do they want our children to be healthy, or do they want our children fat, because as this article states costs are way to high for parents too enroll their children in any meaningful activity without breaking the pocket book. Just goes to show you that the governments have their hands in everything. They want you to be healthy because it lowers the health care costs but at the same time they raise taxes and rates......so its a win-win for them.
Posted by: Managing a Sport Budget | Jul 12, 2021 10:26:00 AM
Hockey is Canada's game but the price is too high once you reach a certain age. Chances of making the Big Show is slim to none but who am I to take away that dream. To lower cost, my son plays Playground Hockey which has a league of 8 teams. Very good coaching, play twice per week (3 local arenas) at a cost of $175 per year. We fundraise by hosting a Carnival in the community to offset the cost. Other sports such as Lacrosse, Soccer, Curling and Football charge less than $200 for their season. The big expense is really swim lessons but worth every penny. We allocate $1200-$1500 per year for organized sports which he gets plenty of. We also play baseball, golf and hockey at our local outdoor facilities. There is a way but you really need to avoid the traditional Hockey Trap.
Posted by: Over Extended | Jul 12, 2021 12:28:37 PM
And if your child is a competitive athlete, you can put a much higher figure on that annual figure. I don't care what sport. Anything at an elite level is expensive. And Canada does not have good systems to support competitive athletes. In my house, with 1 very competitive athlete, a growing athlete, and a rec athlete, my annual costs are about $45K per year. That's $30K for the competitive athlete, which includes equipment, training costs, competitions, travel, etc. Both parents work 60 to 80 hours per week, credit rating has taken a hit, we don't take fancy vacations, and we make due. It's just a couple of years before these kids can be self-sufficient. But I don't begrudge a single dollar spent. It's tough, but kids are healthy, staying out of trouble, learning a ton of life lessons, are very successful academically, and learning to be leaders.
Posted by: Elite Coach | Jul 12, 2021 12:49:59 PM
I've been on both sides of the bench when it comes to expensive travel teams and competitve sports. the key for a budding superstar is to find them a quality program that will give them exposure in the long run. I know that some baseball programs operated on the toronto area have costs int he neighborhood of $25,000 per player per season regardless of position played or role on the team. that means that the every day shortshop is charged the same as the 3rd string relief pitcher. the scary thing is, the organization isn't very forthcoming about that that money goes towards. the organization i've been invovled with makes it very transparent. your registration for play is so much, the cost for the uniform is this, umpires, diamonds and such is this. every effort is made to offset the cost of traveling to tournaments and away games by providing fund raising opportunities like clothing sales, webspace advertising and the like. in some cases, families have actually seen refunds or made a few bucks when all the receipts are counted at the end of the season. to boot, the success rate of players from our organizationgoing on to collegiate or even professional baseball is among the best in the country. what's more we're not in the GTA. Amazing what a grass roots mentality and approach in sleep little London Ontario can accomplish.
Posted by: andrew | Jul 12, 2021 3:57:39 PM
That Canadian Tire commercial about the boy looking for work in a greasy spoon so he can play hockey has even deeper meaning thanks to Dalton and his beloved HST.
Posted by: Lisa | Jul 12, 2021 6:29:47 PM
I agree with you Andrew. I know what it's like to not have the money to put my kids into sports in today's day. However, I'm proud to say the things my family do, we do together and they really don't cost much, if anything. I'm also proud to say that my kids will have learned by paying for things themselves by their own hard-earned money. They will get their own experience.
By the way, what happened to the days of going to the local pond to play some hockey with the neighbours?? Oh...and you didn't have "administration fees" for the local arena and local gov'ts. There's a concept.
Posted by: Managing a Sport Budget | Jul 12, 2021 7:10:14 PM
@ Lisa
I sympathize for the situation you and your family are in. Based on all your blogs, you seem to simply just get by. Kudos for how you still manage day to day. However, you are quick to respond to every topic by providing comments on how to get by with very little or to suggest how to do things like we did in the past. We get it already about those that don't have much for whatever reason. On behalf of all of us, here is a group hug.
Guess what, we all lived with simple things in the past which is why many of us chose the hard way by going the Higher Education route or even making personal sacrifices along the way in order to enjoy the little perks our family now enjoys. Not everything is based on poverty which is what you seem to convey all the time. Your last line in your blog is your typical way to jab at those that are able to provide a little more than you can which is your way to deflect internal blame. There are many in your situation but I suspect fault starts at home and is not the responsibility of the rest of us. Keep your blogs coming, it is your right, but stop blaming the rest of us.
Posted by: Lisa | Jul 12, 2021 7:56:28 PM
I believe you might be upset by your statement about "personal sacricfices." My point was, it is a sacrifice to stay home and actually BE a family. However, I believe I have a much better relationship with my children for NOT doing all the sports and they will learn from their own experiences, which in my opinion is a win-win situation.
As for saying "stop blaming the rest of us"...I"m lost there. I wasn't telling anyone off really. I was agreeing with Andrew.
By the way, I have a "higher education" just like you and many others. So relax on that issue.
Wow! I really can't believe how upset people get over these blogs. Anyway, take care and do what you wish, in the end each person has to deal with their own behaviours.
Posted by: Jamie | Jul 13, 2021 9:26:35 AM
@Managing a Sport Budget
It seems the deflection of internal blame is on your side, not Lisa's.
I agree that for most people in a metro area, the ability to head over to a frozen pond is not really a reality. However, a bigger reality is the fact that for the vast majority of the kids in an elite sport franchise, they will not play in professional sports organization. The farm leagues are full of these players.
I can afford to support my kids in whatever they want to play at whatever level and competitive sports when done right ( Another topic given the latest revelations of rampant psychological abuse by coaches) does instill positive values. But these values can also be established in just about any other activity and studies have demonstrated that it also relies heaviliy on how parents conduct themselves on a day to day level. Anyone who spends any time at games would have to agree that the atmosphere at some of the games is anything but constructive. And even though it was very funny, the TV show 'The Tournament' gave a pretty clear message that for at least some of the competitive players, the parents are the ones who indoctrinate the kids at an early age and the kids just happen to relish in their parents pride.
If your child is competitve and you want to support them in their endeavors, fine. But before you spend the majority of your family's resources on only certain children, make damn sure it is their dream your are supporting, not your own.
Posted by: mom of four | Jul 13, 2021 9:26:35 AM
It isn't just sports. My son played rep hockey for years and the cost of equipment, hockey camps, travel for a large family, fees, meals away from home etc. were very expensive. My girls had to consider hockey tournaments as their holidays as most of our funds went to hockey. They all love skiing, but hockey schedules and the high prices of a days skiing made that go by the wayside. There are cheaper activities that they were involved in at a younger age, soccer, t-ball, brownies etc. The costs kept rising with two playing the piano, recreational figure skating... the list goes on. Even limiting the kids to one or two activities each was a huge hit in the wallet. I just can't imagine the costs for parents of elite athletes.We used to have parents guard the $250 hockey sticks when travelling and this was at peewee level! I would like to see a fitness subsidy for all families below a certain income level so all kids can enjoy sports. You keep them out of trouble with 4 practises/games a week and know who all the parents of the kids they hang around with. We did not have any holidays, looked for used equipment or sold off outgrown equipment to raise funds for new equipment.Also tried to get hotels with breakfast included or kept food in our room. Mom and Dad didn't go out for date nights or buy new clothes etc. Our money went on the kids and our entertainment was enjoying being with them at their activities. We have great kids and a happy marriage of over 30 years.
Posted by: Lisa | Jul 13, 2021 10:04:15 AM
Thanks for the support Jamie.
I also think "mom of four" has a point with the word "subsidy." In today's day, that's a good idea.
It sounds like, in today's world, sports is the way of segregating the rich from the poor. Isn't sports supposed to be just that "a sport??" Just wondering there. By the way, something I just remembered, along the same line...my child was in band this past year, in school. There were times when band got cancelled. I asked why. My child told me because too many kids left band because of some sports and therefore not enough players in band. I think that is wrong.
Anyway, on a positive note, wouldn't parents want a child to just be happy in whatever he/she picks to do with his/her life?
Posted by: Danille | Jul 13, 2021 1:52:17 PM
Ridiculous. my kids play soccer for free - they're in good shape.
Posted by: Hard Money Los Angeles | Jul 13, 2021 4:58:41 PM
I agree! My kids play all sports for free! and are super fit and heatlthy, it all seems to become out of control!
Posted by: Angie | Jul 13, 2021 10:18:25 PM
What a hypocritical government we have, eh?
Posted by: Zionist media control | Aug 4, 2021 5:15:49 AM
Let's make sure Dalton McGuinty ISN'T re-elected. Cramming the HST and Eco tax on us on the same day shows he has contempt for ALL people of Ontario and must go. Every time I fill my tank or see a utility bill, I hate McGuinty that much more. Just like I hate Mike Harris more every time I drive by the 407 he sold to foreigners and they jacked up the rate so much I can't afford to drive on it. We have to get rid of McGuinty like we did Harris, BEFORE his policies kill our children like Harris' did in Walkerton.
Posted by: This guy | Mar 4, 2022 12:40:00 PM
This is just purely ridiculous. As being part of a hockey organization when uprising, these prices bring burdens upon families and they keep rising? What the eff' Canada.
Posted by: anne | Apr 19, 2021 12:35:11 PM
I so wish that elite sports were more affordable...I look at many arenas during the day that sit empty...meanwhile this is when kids in an elite sport program train. Sports like education teach so many life lessons. There are some days when I wonder - how on earth are we going to do this? It is my child's passion and dream to be the best they can possibly be in their sport. I want to be able to support and provide for this opportunity, but it seems as though we just don't belong in that world most of the time. We are just normal everyday working people in what seems is a rich man's sport and it is so very hard not to be discouraged. Is the system that Russia uses for children to be talent identified such a bad thing? I would be the first to admit I do not know much about it, but on the flip side it would give those kids that wouldn't normally get those opportunities a chance to be able to train....