Your kid asks to try a sport. You want to support them. The program promises coaching, development, and a real opportunity to play. You're excited — right up until the parent meeting, when they hand you the one-pager with the cost for the season- EEK.
It's a tough spot to be in as a parent. Hotels, tournament fees, uniforms — the sticker shock is real, especially if you're Gen X like me. Back then, we played whatever our school or community offered. It was a lot less complicated.
According to Project Play and Utah State University, the average child spends less than three years playing a sport and quits by age 11. Meanwhile, the average family spent $1,016 on one child's primary sport in 2024 — up 46% since 2019. Put those two numbers side by side: families are paying more than ever for an experience most kids walk away from before middle school. Many of you live this, so these numbers won't surprise you. The real question is how to support your athlete without taking out a second mortgage.
Less Is More
If your kid isn't set on going pro in their sport, a rec league could be the way to go. Before you dismiss rec, start with these questions:
What does my kid like most about their sport? Playing with friends? Wanting to play in college? Just curious to try it out? Is the experience of the coach appropriate for my child’s level of ability? These answers tell you what makes the most sense — and it may be rec.
What benefit do I see in travel over rec? If the benefit you see doesn't line up with your kid's reason for playing, that may be your reason to pivot.
I understand that in some areas parents don't have many rec options. But if rec is available where you live, don't skip it.
More Is Too Much
Travel costs and fees aren't just draining parents' wallets. Some travel schedules also contribute to athlete burnout. Burnout is linked to demanding training schedules that compete with school and everything else in a kid's life, and it shows up as changes in mood, a drop in performance, and slipping grades. The very thing we sign our kids up for to help them grow could be the thing straining them mentally and physically. If that sounds like your story, it's time to ask whether travel is really the right fit.
If Travel Is the Right Fit
Our son played travel basketball through middle school and while he enjoyed the experience, we realized that the financial investment did not match his interest in the sport. He liked to compete but did not have a love for it as he did for football. That was key in our decision to stop travel basketball.
Some kids genuinely want — and are ready for the travel level. If that's your kid, you can still go in with your eyes open:
Ask for the full cost up front, including hotels and travel, not just registration.
Ask about payment plans, scholarships, and sibling discounts. Many programs have them and don't advertise them.
Ask how many tournaments require an overnight stay. A regional schedule can cost a fraction of a national one.
For more guidance on what to ask your athlete, check out my blog post, The Conversation Every Sports Parent Needs to Have With Their Kid.
The right fit for your kid isn't necessarily the most expensive one. It's the one that encourages development both mentally and physically to thrive.
Lorraine Eloms | Top Speed Athletics & Mental Performance and Life Coaching — helping young athletes develop the mental and emotional tools to compete, grow, and thrive.
