While all these extra activities can help your child make friends, learn important skills, and increase their chances of attending higher education, some children’s sports can come with a pretty hefty price tag.

In recent years, the cost of youth sports has continued to rise, with equipment, travel, and tournament fees burning huge holes in the wallets of dedicated parents.

If you’ve found yourself struggling to keep up with the increasing costs associated with your child’s sport of choice, consider these tips to help reduce the costs:

The early bird gets the worm when it comes to registration fees. Many sports clubs offer hefty discounts if you pre-register your child months ahead.

If you know your child is going to get involved in sports this upcoming year, check online or ask their coach for the registration dates and see if you can save by remaining on top of the game (pun intended!).

If you have any knowledge of your child’s sport, you might consider volunteering your time to coach or manage their team. If you’re hesitant to coach your own child, or you know little about the sport they’re involved in, consider offering to serve refreshments, or recording the scores, times, or anything else necessary.

Helping out with tasks like these can sometimes garner a discount, so ask around and see what might be available. If you don’t ask you don’t get!

Get our best content direct to your inbox! You’ll receive quick and easy recipes, fun ideas to entertain the kids, parenting tips, great competitions, as well as offers from brands we trust.

One of the most expensive parts of some sport is the constant need for equipment. As your child grows, you’ll likely have to repeatedly replace and upgrade equipment, so the money can really add up. Here are some ways to shop around:

• Always check out local consignment and secondhand stores. If you’re lucky, and patient, you can find nearly new equipment that’s hugely discounted.
• If you’re looking for specific gear, always go online. The rise of e-commerce stores means you can often find the best price with a simple google search, and there are websites focused on each sport with all the equipment needs your child may have. For example, if your little one is getting into baseball or softball, check out the baseball bats here. If they’re on their way to becoming a soccer star, be sure to look at cleats and shin guards here.
• Ask around other parents to see if they are selling on any equipment that has been outgrown (as long as it’s still in good condition of course).

If your child happens to be good at competitive sports, it can be an extremely expensive business. With overnight stays, mileage, food and subsistence costs it can add up, never mind entry fees to tournaments and competitions. So sharing the burden with other parents can really help save and after all everyone is in the same boat.

• Why not team up with other parents in the same boat to car pool for events or to practice?
• Look for discounted hotel rooms online to try to keep accommodation costs low. Or ask hotels for a group booking discount if a number of rooms are booked at the same time.
• Ask your club or coach if they have a list of upcoming events so you can book ahead and budget too.
• Consider putting together a Whatsapp or Facebook group for the parents of kids in the same group so organising car pools etc is easier

Most parents think of college when they hear the word “scholarship”, but your child might be eligible for a local scholarship, especially if they’re involved in notoriously expensive sports. Speak to program directors, coaches, and other parents to see if there are any scholarships available in the program.

If you can’t find a scholarship, consider sponsorships. Depending on the sport and league, the team may allow each player to find their own sponsorship from local businesses. These usually require a child resume of sorts, and shows the business how dedicated your little one is to their sport of choice. Write clearly about the benefits a sponsorship would provide, particularly if your child or team wins. If there was ever a time to leverage your contacts, it’s now.

Helping your child achieve their sporting dreams shouldn’t mean going broke in the process. Hopefully these money-saving tips can alleviate some of the pressure on your wallet while ensuring your child cultivates their sporting passion.