Image Source: Stephen Borelli
Key Takeaways:
- The youth sports industry has become a $40 billion market, with many parents spending thousands of dollars per year on their children’s sports activities.
- The intense focus on sports can lead to depression, anxiety, and burnout in children, parents, and coaches.
- The average U.S. sports family spends $1,016 per year on their child’s primary sport, with some families spending upwards of $10,000 or more per year.
- Many experts believe that youth sports have become too serious and adult-driven, taking away from the fun and enjoyment of the game for children.
- Parents can take steps to reduce costs and promote a healthier sports culture by letting kids figure out what they like and don’t like, and by giving them space to play and learn without excessive adult interference.
Introduction to the Issue
The world of youth sports has become a lucrative industry, with millions of parents willing to pay top dollar for their children to participate in sports activities. However, this intense focus on sports can have unintended consequences, including depression, anxiety, and burnout in children, parents, and coaches. As Carly Ellman, a sports mom in suburban Philadelphia, notes, "I think youth sports have gotten too intense and I think it could lead to coaches’ depression and anxiety, parents’ depression and anxiety and players’ depression and anxiety." Ellman’s concerns are echoed by many experts in the field, who believe that the youth sports industry has become too serious and adult-driven, taking away from the fun and enjoyment of the game for children.
The Cost of Youth Sports
The cost of youth sports is a significant burden for many families. According to the Aspen Institute’s latest parent survey, the average U.S. sports family paid $1,016 for their child’s primary sport in 2024. However, this number can be much higher for families with multiple children participating in sports, or for those who opt for travel or club sports. Christy Keswick, a sports mom in the Boston area, notes that "you’re talking 3K for one kid for one club sport… and if you’re playing hockey, it’s probably 5K. And that’s one kid. It’s easy to spend $10,000 or more." Keswick’s organization, Good Sports, helps provide equipment and access for kids in high-need communities, and she believes that the cost of youth sports is a significant barrier to participation for many families.
The Impact on Children
The intense focus on sports can have a negative impact on children, leading to burnout, depression, and anxiety. As Linda Flanagan, a producer of the documentary "Beyond Stigma," notes, "I think that we’ve made youth sports too serious for most kids. This is like beating a dead horse but the stakes are too high for kids, it’s not fun for kids. There’s a reason why kids are dropping out." Flanagan believes that the early specialization and intensity of youth sports can kill a child’s desire to play for the fun of it, and that parents need to rethink their approach to youth sports. As Neeru Jayanthi, a sports medicine physician, notes, "Sports was a child-driven environment where kids determined how much they would play, how often they would play it and what they would play and now it has become adult-driven focus on performance where adults choose for the children what they should play, how much they should play."
The Role of Parents
Parents play a significant role in perpetuating the intense focus on sports, often driven by their own ego and desire for their child to succeed. As Joe Ellman, Carly’s husband, notes, "Definitely our ego comes into play, whether we want it to, or not. The kids are in it for the right reasons. They have a great time. When Gianna was on the bench last year, she was having a great time with her friends cheering on the kids. It’s the parents on the sideline who are upset that their kids aren’t in the game." Parents can take steps to reduce their own stress and anxiety, and promote a healthier sports culture, by giving their children space to play and learn without excessive adult interference. As Abby Wambach, a USWNT soccer icon, notes, "Do not go to the practices and watch your children. This is their time. What is the purpose of practice? It’s not for the kid to look over their shoulder and make sure that their mom or dad or parent is sitting on the sideline watching them."
Reducing Costs and Promoting a Healthier Sports Culture
There are steps that parents can take to reduce costs and promote a healthier sports culture. One approach is to let kids figure out what they like and don’t like, and to give them space to play and learn without excessive adult interference. As Keswick notes, "If you’re telling kids they got to specialize when they’re 8 years old, we’ve lost sight. I do think about it as an ecosystem. I’m not saying that club sports are bad or travel sports are bad and that there’s not a place for it in the system. But we are definitely doing a disservice to the masses if we do not provide kids with the opportunity to play recreationally across multiple sports, for as long as they want." Additionally, parents can follow rules of thumb such as not exceeding a child’s age in the number of hours per week they play a particular sport, and ensuring that the rate of organized to unorganized play is not greater than 2 to 1. By taking a more balanced and child-centered approach to youth sports, parents can help promote a healthier and more enjoyable experience for their children.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2026/01/17/how-much-does-youth-sports-cost/88221150007/
