How To Save Money On Kids Sports

Frugal tips for youth participating in sports

As a parent of three kids I’m always trying to find new ways about how to save money on kids sports.

It’s not an easy task!

The sporting world expenses always seem to add up quickly.

First, you have the sign up fees, and then the uniform and practice equipment, followed by travel expenses, and so on and so forth.

Once you feel like you have finally got a handle on the expenses a new team or sport or league pops up that your child wants to join, and the sports expenses come rolling in again.

Now, I understand that having your kids participate in sports or extracurricular activities is not a necessity…but that doesn’t matter, because it’s OK to spend money on things that makes us happy or that we feel is a priority in our life.

Sports aren’t a huge priority for my kids, but they are something that they have enjoyed from time to time, so I’ve had to learn a few frugal tips for helping to offset the costs. I’m excited to share those tips with you!

1. Shop Thrift Stores

One of the biggest ways to save money on kids sports is to buy their equipment gently used. You can find high quality balls, nets, cleats, ballet shoes, and other supplies for a great price at thrift stores. Most likely you will have to shop around to a few different stores to find everything that you need, but the savings will be worth it!

In addition to thrift stores check on Facebook marketplace and garage sales for gently used sports equipment.

2. Limit The Amount Of Sports

I know how important it is in some families to have your kids participate in a lot of sports and activities. As parents we naturally want to give our kids as many opportunities as possible.

However, when it comes to being frugal it is better to prioritize and pick and choose the sports that are most important.

You could encourage your kids to choose just one sport at a time to play. Or maybe they can play one sport a year. The way you prioritize the sports will look different for every family, and that’s ok! Do whatever is best for you and your family!

3. Shop Around For Different Leagues

If you want to save money on kids sports it’s always important to shop around before signing your kids up.

When I search “youth football leagues” in my area I will found a handful of different options. Each of them with pros and cons about why I should sign my kids up for their program, including a variety of price options.

As you do your research to find the best fit for your kids sports, make sure to look into the price and compare it with different leagues and programs in your area.

4. Choose Rec Leagues Over Club Leagues

Speaking of shopping around for different leagues, recreation leagues will almost always be much cheaper than a club league.

Another benefit for rec leagues is that they usually require less of a time commitment and less travel, which will save you even more money in those extra expenses.

Recreation leagues are especially beneficial for beginners trying to decide which sports they like best, or those wanting to play to learn a new skill and have fun, rather than competitively.

5. Sign All Of Your Kids Up For The Same Sport

Another important way to save money on school sports is to sign all of your kids up for the same sport! This way they can share the same equipment, and often leagues will give discounts for multiple kids in the same family.

6. Look Into School Sports

Often schools will offer sports at very affordable prices, maybe even free! I’ve had two examples recently.

I was looking into signing my son up for basketball, then I saw that his school was offering a league for free! That’s right, NO participation fee. This was much cheaper than any other city, rec, or club league I was looking into.

Another example was with my daughter and tennis. I considered signing her up for tennis lessons, but then decided to just have her join the school team. She is getting daily tennis instruction and practice for 4 months for the exact same price I would have paid to have her take lessons once a week for one month! Such a savings!

7. Carpool To Practice, Games and Tournaments

Many sports require daily practices and out of town games or tournaments. To save money on gas, try to find a few parents to carpool with! You can each take turns driving the kids to and from their sporting events. Everyone takes a turn, and everyone saves money! Yay!

Related: How To Save Money On Gas

8. Pack Snacks and Meals From Home

Speaking of traveling, we all need to eat! Especially hungry athletes! Rather than getting into the habit of buying takeout food while watching games, pack snacks and meals from your own pantry instead!

Not sure what to pack? No worries! I have a few ideas for you!

Fruit
Sandwiches
Cheese and Crackers
Granola Bar
Hard Boiled Eggs
String Cheese
Muffins
Popcorn
Pasta Salad

9. Volunteer Your Time

Don’t be afraid to volunteer your time to your child’s teams. Many leagues will give discounts if a parent is willing to volunteer as a coach or help in some way. Make sure to ask your sports leagues about this option and jump in if it’s a possibility!

When my daughter participated in gymnastics years ago, I was able to get a huge discount from her monthly tuition by volunteering to help clean the gym once a week! It was a savings I happily took advantage of.

10. Hire A Teen Instructor

If you feel the desire to give your child some one on one instruction to help them develop in their sport, consider hiring a teen instructor to work with them.

Most teens will be willing to teach your child sport skills, for a much cheaper rate than many private coaches charge.

In Conclusion

Sports can be an important part of childhood for many kids. Fortunately there are some ways that you can save money on kids sports! I hope this article helped point you in the right direction! You got this!

How To Save Money On Kids Sports