The High Cost of High Youth Sports

Putnam Valley High School cross-country runners in action.

See that photo? It might be the most inexpensive high school sport. You just need some great running shoes and a good pair of shorts.

Don’t be surprised if photos like that become more and more prevalent – especially with the rising cost of youth sports.

I saw something on the news that kind of made my blood boil: the cost of youth sports is up 46 percent in the last seven years. Granted, everything from groceries to plane tickets to automobile purchases are up. But this seems exorbitant for something that we should be bending over backward to try to provide at a low cost.

Private equity firms are now apparently buying up youth sports leagues. They want their share of what is estimated to be a $40-billion-a-year business. Let’s face it: who among us as parents wouldn’t want their kids to be playing with the best equipment? That’s why some experts are now calling youth sports a recession-proof business.

For God’s sake, the top-of-the-line softball bats from Easton can now cost up to $400. That’s insane.

But I guess youth sports have always been expensive – ask any hockey parent. Between the equipment and the ice time, the cost can be outrageous. Always has been and always will be.

That’s why high school booster clubs, for instance, and the involvement of the community have been so important. Unfortunately, a cupcake from a high school bake sale just isn’t cutting it anymore.

But a 46 percent increase is ridiculous.

We have to start looking for ways for our caregivers to make it less expensive for kids. We can’t let cost be a prohibitive factor for our youth to play an organized sport.

And private equity firms are not the answer.

Boy, I sure miss the days of Carvel Ice Cream and Bob’s Auto Body sponsoring a team.

Rich Thomaselli is a longtime sports reporter in the Hudson Valley, and currently covers Putnam County. He can be reached at rich.thomaselli@gmail.com.