The Abridged version:
- Families spend way more on youth sports than they did five years ago. One expert blames the pandemic.
- Registration costs keep going up to pay for everything from jerseys to insurance and game officials.
- Financial assistance is available for families in need, helping to keep youth sports accessible to any kid who wants to play.
Deanna Peabody experienced quite the surprise upon recently registering her 8-year-old son for the Woodcreek Junior Timberwolves pee wee football program in Roseville. Having moved here only a few years ago from Nebraska, she’s used to paying less than $100 to sign up for a youth sports program.
Not in the hundreds. Certainly not more than $1,000.
“As we started looking back into sports, I was very much sticker-shocked,” Peabody said. “It’s a $500 registration, and that’s just to be on the team.”
It wasn’t until after paying registration for the Timberwolves upcoming summer season she learned parents are also expected to put down a $500 deposit for volunteer time along with a $400 deposit for gear. And, she said, that’s not all. “We actually just today went (to Dick’s Sporting Goods) and purchased everything we need. It was $385.”
46% jump in five years, study shows
Peabody’s experience sounds familiar to plenty of Sacramento parents of young athletes. According to a recent report from the Aspen Institute’s Project Play initiative, participation in youth sports is getting significantly more expensive across the country. Families spent an average of $1,016 on their kid’s primary sport in 2024 — a 46% jump in just five years.
Based on parent survey results and other research, the Aspen Institute estimates that parents now collectively spend a whopping $40+ billion annually on their children’s sports activities. The New York Times reports private equity firms are investing in the youth sports boom, widening the wealth gap between families.
Not all parents aware of the costs
Parents like Peabody may simply not be aware of all the costs associated with running a youth sports program, many of which are nonprofit and supported entirely by volunteers.
After paying for her son to be on the Junior Timberwolves, Peabody got the official handbook explaining that registration fees cover jerseys, insurance, field and facility rental costs, referees and trophies for the players. Peabody did not see the handbook before signing up her son likely because it appears on a different part of the team’s website.
Another area mom also contacted Abridged and asked us to look at the “soaring” costs of registering her kid for Rocklin Little League each year, wondering how it compared to other area leagues.
Registration fees vary slightly
Little League costs do vary slightly in the Sacramento area. For example, Pocket Little League in Sacramento asked families to pay $150-$200 for this season’s spring season, depending on their child’s age and division of play. Rancho Cordova Little League similarly charges $100 to $250. That’s before the volunteer fee, which is treated by most youth sports organizations as a deposit, refundable after a parent fulfills a certain number of volunteer hours. Rocklin Little League’s highest fee this year is $290.
Rocklin Little League Treasurer Scott Brown wants parents to know that registration fees cover costs for insuring the league, paying utilities, maintaining fields and buying uniforms and baseballs.
“The main drivers of the increase were a return to MLB-licensed uniforms and increased electricity costs for field lights,” Brown shared in an email. “All fees are reevaluated and adjusted each season in accordance with the league’s plan.”
Pandemic contributed to higher costs
So why are costs getting higher? One of the coauthors of Project Play’s study says it is partly thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. It may have motivated some families to turn to socially distant sports like golf or tennis but also gave expensive versions of competitive club teams a boost because they offer higher doses of practice and play.
“The pandemic seems to have intensified the pressures around youth sports,” said Jordan Blazo, an associate professor of kinesiology at Louisiana Tech. “Instead of a reset, many families doubled down, trying to make up for lost time.”
Increased costs broaden divide
Some worry higher costs create a “have and have not” divide, limiting access for families who simply cannot afford it.
The Elk Grove Youth Sports Foundation is trying to help with that, featuring the following prominent words on their website: “Every kid deserves to play.”
Patsy Cosenza, who serves as the foundation’s treasurer, knows from experience raising her own kids as youth athletes just how beneficial sports can be for a young person. “It not only helps them mentally and physically, but it also helps them in school and helps them socially,” she said. “(Youth sports) gives them the opportunity to make lifelong friends and prepares them for a lot of life lessons.”
Most leagues offer financial assistance
Cosenza said the foundation has never turned away a family in need. It offers $100 scholarships per player for families in need in the Elk Grove-Laguna area. That used to cover most registration fees, she said, but with costs getting higher each year, the foundation may increase scholarship amounts if it can raise enough money, including at an upcoming golf tournament this summer.
Other area youth sports programs — including Little Leagues all over Northern California — offer financial assistance for families who might struggle to afford registration. Davis Little League, for example, offers a Registration Assistance Program. One board member said the number of assistance requests doubled this season, according to board meeting minutes on the organization website.
Do they really need a $400 bat?
Beyond registration fees, families contend with the increasing costs of equipment their kids need to compete. Some basic items, like cleats or bats, can vary widely in cost, not to mention parents often feel the pressure from their kids who all seem to want the latest and greatest gear that many oftentimes trendier teammates may already own.
Rancho Cordova mom Katie Barnes and her husband have three boys, so they always knew youth sports costs would add up for their family. Though they live in Rancho Cordova, their 13-year-old and 11-year-old both play competitive baseball for organizations in the Elk Grove area.
She and her husband have made one thing clear to their two boys.
“We basically told them our investment will match your commitment,” she explained. Her message for other parents is similar. “If your kid’s not hitting the ball very well, do they really need the expensive items? I can buy (my kid) a $400 bat, but if you’re still not hitting the ball, you can strike out cheaper.”
Carolyn Becker is a regular contributor covering youth sports for Abridged in her feature Beyond the Bleachers. She’s lived in Northern California most of her life and worked in journalism and communications in Sacramento for more than 25 years. She and her husband are raising two boys, both of whom play competitive baseball.