Growing up in Spanish Fork, sports were everything. Summer meant baseball season down at Russell Swenson Ball Park, fall hastened in football season at the new turf field at ALA and winter delivered basketball games in the old SFHS gym with the crumbly ceilings. Year round, there were pickup games of Wiffle ball, basketball and football “Sandlot”-style at the park down the street with whoever was available. 

Now, the nostalgic simplicity of youth sports seems severely limited. 

With professional-style coaching methods seeping into the deepest corners of pee-wee sports, numerous methods of entertainment options that don’t involve physical activity and exorbitant fees soaring too high for families to handle, it will take radical change to reverse course on the decline in youth sports participation. In order to fix youth sports, three costs need to be considered: the cost of poor coaching, the cost of lost health benefits and the cost of rising expenses. Is this damaged system beyond saving? Let’s take a closer look.

The cost of poor coaching

In a national survey of 18,000 parents, it was found that coaches are the most common source of stress for kids 6-12 years old involved in sports. That isn’t particularly hard to believe for nearly anyone who has spent an evening at the ball field. Without fail, “that coach” is heard yelling at the kids, getting in arguments with the referees or throwing tantrums in the parking lot after a close loss. While this is largely seen as “part of the game” and is present at all levels of sport, it is more damaging to kids than previously realized.

The most common reason kids are quitting sports is because the game doesn’t seem fun anymore, according to Project Play. With coaches being the biggest source of stress and kids quitting because it isn’t fun, it is clear to see that one solution to help fix youth sports would be to address the coaching issues. While some cities have started providing mandatory coach trainings, those programs are few and far between. Expanding coach-training programs could be a cost-effective way to make the game more enjoyable for kids by weeding out toxic coaches early and often. 

The cost of lost health benefits

It is important to involve more children in youth sports because of the health benefits associated with playing. While the thought of using taxpayer dollars or relying on donations to pay for kids’ sports programs, equipment and parks may not sound ideal, consider this: Kids who participate in sports regularly grow up to be healthier adults both mentally and physically, with lower healthcare costs long-term.

The British Journal of Medicine cites a study that shows regular exercise can be just as effective as medication in preventing chronic diseases. Moreover, consistent physical activity has been linked to a reduced risk of 13 different types of cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health. With this perspective, creating the budget for all kids to be able to play sports for free could be seen as an investment in the future of our country, creating a healthier crop of adults in the rising generation. 

This is critical to consider because healthcare costs are rising at nearly historic levels. One study estimates that youth sports participation can lead to a $28 billion decrease in direct, indirect and personal health care costs per year, which would be put directly into the pockets of the families. The literal cost of sports programs may seem ludicrous, but in the long run, it may still be a savvy investment due to the health benefits that are gleaned from widespread participation.

The cost of rising expenses

Don’t misunderstand, though: The rate at which expenses for sports programs continues to rise is ludicrous. After the fun factor, the biggest reason youth stop playing sports is the cost of the program. According to data from the Aspen Institute, the average amount a typical family can expect to spend in order to keep their kids enrolled in sports programs is $693. The most expensive sport was ice hockey at $2,583; the cheapest was track and field at $191. 

For families that are struggling to pay the bills in the first place, there is no budget available for activities like that. This is especially true in the case of lower-income families, whose kids are six times more likely to quit playing sports. The easy fix to this one is to provide free or heavily discounted sports programs to every child – regardless of ZIP code or income. Groups like Every Kid Sports, the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America are all working to increase accessibility to sports programs, and more are on the way. If your child wants to play a sport but you are worried about paying the necessary fees, reach out to your local recreation department to see what programs are available in your area.

One key way to help mitigate the costs associated with sports is to budget ahead of time. By contacting coaches, program directors, or league officials, it is possible to gain an understanding of what the true cost will be for the full season. In many cases, there are fees for equipment rental, jerseys/uniforms and transportation that aren’t covered by the initial registration fee, so gaining an understanding of the full cost is important. Once that information is gathered, it’s possible to budget accordingly and look into fundraising opportunities to help make up the difference.

Popular fundraising options in the state include boxes of fruit from local orchards, lawn care, frozen cookie dough and partnering with local companies to sell coupons. In many cases, it is a win-win for both the family and the company that the fundraiser benefits. Planning ahead and fundraising are two ways to prepare for the upcoming sports season. 

A lot has changed since those childhood days celebrating the city league title with teammates at Barry’s Drive-in. Increases in poor coaching, lost health benefits and program costs are only three factors that are making youth sport participation more difficult. But what hasn’t changed are the fundamental reasons youth sports are incredible: learning to work as a team, increasing physical health, accepting responsibility for mistakes, practicing until progress is seen and learning that winning isn’t always worth the cost. 

Saving sports, though? Definitely worth the cost. 

Cody J. Campbell is a marketing sales manager at Stage Marketing, a full-service content marketing agency based in Provo.

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