Why are so many of you almost bragging about how expensive your kids sport is? Do you want sympathy or for me to some how feel envious that you have some much extra money to throw around?

This is a weird post.

^^ Cost for middle school son to play basketball for higher level sneaker circuit middle school team (not sponsored yet).

This is all very interesting and makes me glad I signed my now teen son up for basketball camp when he was 5 years old. He won a basketball at the camp shooting contest and was hooked on the sport!

Fyi, annual costs:
AAU team fees = $2500
Local travel team fees = $500
Nice basketball = $70
Basketball sneakers (2-3 pairs/year) = $400
Camps including sleepaway = $2000
Training = $700 (we’ve been cheap, need to increase a lot next year)

Plus gas and many weekend hotel stays in mid-Atlantic or New England = $2000???

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t get having your kid play hockey in the DMV (admittedly maybe you are in MN) unless you grew up playing.

It’s not a sport kids just play pickup around here and then practicing is a major pain in the ass since there aren’t ice rinks on every corner.

Puh-lease.

Except in Minnesota and the Boston area, where are there rinks "on every corner"? Are you saying unless you are from those areas you shouldn't let your kid play hockey if they want to? There could be more rinks in the DMV, sure, but lets not act like there aren't opportunities to learn to play hockey and play at a rec or travel level should a kid show interest. Remember, Auston Matthews grew up playing hockey in ARIZONA!

I am saying that you can easily steer your kid to other sports of which there are many, so then you don't complain on DCUM about the cost and time suck.

It was extraordinarily easy for me to say no when my kid mentioned an interest in hockey at 7. None of his friends played, we parents didn't play nor are big fans...but we were lucky enough to have Capital One box seats through work and hockey games were fun. We did know a college friend that had their kid in hockey and they mentioned how painful it was to get ice team (and how far they were from the rink...which would also have been the same for us), the cost, etc.

There are 5+ other more accessible sports right around the corner where we live...baseball, soccer, football, LAX, et al

Weird - I didn't see the prior poster(s) "complaining". Saying no to hockey worked for your family. Doesn't mean all have to.

Anonymous wrote:My kids ski race:
$475k for ski cabin in WV
$5k (lift tickets, equipment, enrollment)
$10k (travel)
Then costs of summer training trip (last year $4k), older kid wants to do Thanksgiving training.

At least skiing is a lifelong activity.

if you say it is

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t get having your kid play hockey in the DMV (admittedly maybe you are in MN) unless you grew up playing.

It’s not a sport kids just play pickup around here and then practicing is a major pain in the ass since there aren’t ice rinks on every corner.

Puh-lease.

Except in Minnesota and the Boston area, where are there rinks "on every corner"? Are you saying unless you are from those areas you shouldn't let your kid play hockey if they want to? There could be more rinks in the DMV, sure, but lets not act like there aren't opportunities to learn to play hockey and play at a rec or travel level should a kid show interest. Remember, Auston Matthews grew up playing hockey in ARIZONA!

I am saying that you can easily steer your kid to other sports of which there are many, so then you don't complain on DCUM about the cost and time suck.

It was extraordinarily easy for me to say no when my kid mentioned an interest in hockey at 7. None of his friends played, we parents didn't play nor are big fans...but we were lucky enough to have Capital One box seats through work and hockey games were fun. We did know a college friend that had their kid in hockey and they mentioned how painful it was to get ice team (and how far they were from the rink...which would also have been the same for us), the cost, etc.

There are 5+ other more accessible sports right around the corner where we live...baseball, soccer, football, LAX, et al

My kids ski race:
$475k for ski cabin in WV
$5k (lift tickets, equipment, enrollment)
$10k (travel)
Then costs of summer training trip (last year $4k), older kid wants to do Thanksgiving training.

At least skiing is a lifelong activity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys that play hockey. The fees for their travel clubs are almost $8,000 (for 2). That’s not including gear or travel costs. They also play for their high school team, so another $3,000 (for 2) in fees.

A horse could really put this in perspective for you, if you want. You can sponsor mine!

IKR?

My current show horse wasn't THAT expensive, but still much more expensive than all those fees added together. What really added up was the farm, the tractor, the truck and trailer, and eventually I built my own indoor arena and fancy Euro stall barn. The footing in the indoor alone cost four times these fees....

Anonymous wrote:
I don’t get having your kid play hockey in the DMV (admittedly maybe you are in MN) unless you grew up playing.

It’s not a sport kids just play pickup around here and then practicing is a major pain in the ass since there aren’t ice rinks on every corner.

Puh-lease.

Except in Minnesota and the Boston area, where are there rinks "on every corner"? Are you saying unless you are from those areas you shouldn't let your kid play hockey if they want to? There could be more rinks in the DMV, sure, but lets not act like there aren't opportunities to learn to play hockey and play at a rec or travel level should a kid show interest. Remember, Auston Matthews grew up playing hockey in ARIZONA!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have 2 boys that play hockey. The fees for their travel clubs are almost $8,000 (for 2). That’s not including gear or travel costs. They also play for their high school team, so another $3,000 (for 2) in fees.

I don’t get having your kid play hockey in the DMV (admittedly maybe you are in MN) unless you grew up playing.

It’s not a sport kids just play pickup around here and then practicing is a major pain in the ass since there aren’t ice rinks on every corner.

NP. DS plays house right now. I'm from MN, DH is from MI, although neither of us grew up playing hockey. We've toyed with moving back to Minnesota for years for various reasons, and while DS's love of hockey isn't near the top of the list (I know how hard it is to even get a spot at a D3 school and that at the end of it all, all paths lead to beer league), the increased availability of ice team is a bit appealing.

Regardless, we've yet to make a decision about travel hockey (or baseball, which he also plays) in the future. He's only 8 and we already see the travel madness starting with some families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m told aviation is even more expensive.

My 18 year old niece just got her pilot's license. I don't even want to know how much this is costing my sister and her husband....

$5-$10k. Less if it is through a school. Good for her, though! It’s not easy.