Sports have always been an important part of high school life. They bring students together, build school pride, and give players lifelong memories. But behind the Friday night wins, losses, and lights, there’s one issue that’s often overlooked: cost. Playing sports today, whether through school teams or travel, has become expensive, putting pressure on families and leaving some students on the sidelines.
Even when you play for your school team, there are costs. Some school sports are relatively cheap to play, while others are on the expensive side. This price can range from around $50 to $600. These are just the pay to play fees, kids are still forced to pay for jerseys, equipment, and commutes to games. These costs add up and force kids into not playing school sports.
If school sports are expensive, travel or “club” sports are in a league of their own. Club soccer, volleyball, hockey, basketball, and baseball often cost thousands of dollars per season. I play travel hockey, and the price for 1 single season, excluding private lessons, tournaments, hotels, car/plane rides, and equipment, can reach $6,000. If you add lessons ($100 per lesson), gear ($1500 for equipment, $700 for team jerseys and clothing), and tournaments and travel (can be $1-10k), the total price will end up around $15,000 if you travel around the country. With higher-level teams, such as AAA or semi-pro leagues, these prices can reach $20,000 total for one year. For a lot of families, this cost is simply impossible to pay each year, and many kids have to stick to rec leagues, which are around $1000 per year. On top of that, the school hockey season, which only includes 20 games with no practice, is $800 for the season. This makes each game cost $40, which is unrealistic to tack onto an already expensive travel season.
The biggest issue is that high costs make sports less accessible. Students whose families can’t afford the fees or equipment may never get the chance to play, no matter how much talent or passion they have. This turns sports, which should be about skill and dedication, into something that sometimes favors wealth over ability. Personally, I know dozens of people who have had plenty of offers to play travel sports, but cannot afford to play. Topher Scott, author of “The Costs of AAA Hockey,” explained, “But AAA hockey’s model, unfortunately, has shifted from a “developmental model” to a “business model.” He then adds that “a sensible range [for the cost of one season of AAA hockey] would be about $10,000-$20,000 per year.” This amount of money is insane for families to pay, especially for kids who aren’t in high school yet.
Sports teach teamwork, leadership, resilience, and discipline, qualities that benefit students far beyond the field. When opportunities are limited by money, students lose out on those experiences. Schools and organizations need to recognize the burden and look for ways to make sports more affordable, whether through fundraising, sponsorships, or lower participation fees.
Sports are supposed to be about passion, competition, and community, not about who can afford the biggest price tag. If the trend of skyrocketing costs continues, fewer students will get the chance to play. And that’s a loss not just for the athletes, but a loss for schools and communities as a whole.
