Once upon a time, sports were available to all kids. Schools
once allowed children to join their athletic teams for no cost or for only the
cost of a uniform. And even then, there were fundraisers and other events to
help kids (and their parents) cope with the costs. Nowadays, though, it’s
common for even public schools to charge an “athletic fee” to young athletes.
Then, of course, you have sports “clubs” and “academies,” which often charge as
much as $18,000 or more per year to be a part of.
These high costs, which are common in the children’s sports
world, make it virtually impossible for low income children to play sports at a
high level. In fact, a
recent study reveals that, among families with incomes of less than $60,000
per year, around 19% said their children were forced to quit sports because of
the high associated costs.
What’s particularly unfortunate about all of this is that
low income youth are often the ones who can benefit from being a part of a
sports team the most. Playing sports teaches important skills, such as
responsibility and leadership. It also enables young athletes to build positive
friendships, and, even more importantly, it can lead to college scholarships
and other opportunities in the future. Sadly, low income kids, the very kids
who typically need these kinds of chances most, aren’t getting them.
In reality, though, the high costs of sports aren’t just
keeping lower income kids from playing. There’s actually been a general decline
in the number of youths participating in sports teams. The Sports & Fitness
Industry Association found that, from 2011 to 2012, participation in sports
teams among kids aged 6 to 17 fell by a whopping 50%.
The good news is that there are efforts to make youth sports
more accessible to children of all income levels. Many community organizations
offer sports teams and clubs for free or at a low cost. There are also a lot of
more professional leagues and clubs that offer financial aid and scholarships
to gifted players. If there is a young
person in your life who wants to play sports but can’t afford it, search for
lower cost options in your community. If all else fails, you could even take to
fundraising yourself, especially since websites like GoFundMe.com make
fundraising easier and more far-reaching than ever before.
The bottom line is that if you truly believe in the value of
sports and of being part of a team, then there’s no reason you shouldn’t do
everything within your power to pass the joy of sports onto all young people,
regardless of their income level.
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