High athletic costs foster inaccessibility Payton Zolck The competitive nature of sports has sparked a desire to provide athletes opportunities to excel and compete at high levels, with many sports clubs popping up to meet this demand. However, behind the gleaming photograph of the club sports team holding their trophy at their national tournament, there is another story. For some, this image can not become a reality as club sports cost a significant amount of money. These costs can make sports inaccessible, as socioeconomic factors can have more influence on athletic excellence than natural talent or love for a sport. Youth sports has become a $17 billion industry, according to the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab. The expenses which overwhelm the youth sports industry draw consideration to the idea of money as a major determinant in someone’s ability to pursue a sport. According to a survey done by Qualtrics Internation, which collected insights from 1,032 adults in all 50 states whose children played sports, the median household income of Maya
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respondents was $70,000, compared to the U.S. average of $61,937. Sports such as volleyball, soccer, and softball have become heavily based in the area of club sports. The expenses accompanying club sports have some student-athletes reflecting on the idea of “paying to play,” “The travel is super expensive because if you’re on a club team, there’s a lot of traveling; most tournaments are in other places. All the equipment can be very pricey as well. Bats can be upwards of $400. Also, if you have pitching or hitting lessons, then that’s another expense,” said Ava Conti, a junior and softball player. These expenses have oozed into the very makeup of some sports. Many feel pressured to play in a club to make one’s school team or have access to opportunities to showcase themselves to play at the college level. “If you look at who’s on the team, everyone does play club. So I think playing club is crucial if you want to play high school. If you want to be a recruited athlete or go play college, you’re going to have to be seen by the college coaches as you need to travel and go to showcases,” said Madeleine Cunningham, a senior soccer player. Tournaments play a significant role in the club sport experience, but can add an extra burden on some families as transportation costs, from plane tickets to hotel reservations, must be considered. However, depending on the club one is involved in, or the coach one has, there may be ways to work around these costs. “I’ve had teammates that won’t go to certain tournaments because they can’t afford it. But if you’re a good player, coaches will usually help you. There will be expenses you have to pay, but there are ways to save money if it’s
hard for you to afford,” Conti said. However, these financial support systems vary. Without a set financial aid program in place or financial support through clubs or coaches, some athletes have to quit a sport altogether due to an inability to pay. “Expenses cause fewer people to play and don’t allow as many people with talent to play. I know my teammate; she couldn’t play anymore because she couldn’t pay for the club anymore, and the club didn’t want to help her pay,” said Delia Paiko, a sophomore soccer player.
“Expenses cause fewer people to play and don’t allow as many people with talent to play.” Delia Paiko
Quitting a sport for financial reasons has shaped sports into less of an accessible extracurricular for athletes, even at a young age. The negative financial narrative surrounding sports leads to some parents not allowing their kids to play certain sports entirely due to the fear of having to pull one’s child out. “I know some parents don’t allow their kids to play certain sports when they know in the future they can’t pay
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