High athletic costs foster inaccessibility

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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 KoRNyEyEvA 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 Paico, a sophomore soccer player.

“Expenses cause fewer people to play and don’t allow as many people with talent to play.”

Delia Paico

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

for their kid to play. They don’t want their child to feel bad about it. So that’s why a lot of kids stop when they are younger,” Paico said.

Expenses being a significant contributor to an athlete’s performance creates a disadvantage for people living in lower socioeconomic areas and athletes in low-income homes. According to Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative and Utah State University’s Families in Sport Lab, Youth ages six to 18 from low-income homes quit sports because of the financial costs at six times the rate of kids from high-income homes.

“I feel like if you live in a lower socioeconomic area, you may not be able to even reach the potential of some of these athletes just because those athletes were fortunate enough to afford clubs to get to that level. Whereas someone with the same capacity and room for improvement doesn’t have that similar opportunity just because of their financial place,” said Roya Shirkhodaei, a senior at Irvington high school who plays volleyball.

Club sports provide great opportunities athletically with scholarships and college opportunities or merely the benefits of meeting new people or playing in a team environment. Yet, these opportunities are sadly not accessible to all.

“Sports clubs are a great way to form connections and build your teamwork. I feel like, for the kids that don’t have that opportunity, it’s truly heartbreaking because after experiencing it myself, it’s such a great experience. I’ve met some really great people and their families,” Shirkhodaei said.

With the club industry having significant influence over the face of sports, some believe that the inaccessibility should be acknowledged.

“I think that the money barrier takes away from the true appeal of sports because not all people have access. Everyone should be allowed to play sports,” said Cienna Cattaneo, a senior at Woodside high school and volleyball player.

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