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The soaring price of youth sports: $50 to try out, $3,000 to play
Posted on 1/7/26 at 8:57 am
Posted on 1/7/26 at 8:57 am
WTF? this is INSANE
The soaring price of youth sports: $50 to try out, $3,000 to play
Lindsey Rector added up the costs as she waited for her son to finish his baseball lesson.
That was $60 a week right there. A new bat: $500. His club baseball team in Boynton Beach, Florida, and its three practices a week were $3,000 a year. Out-of-town tournaments cost extra. Last summer, the team traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This summer, it will be Cooperstown, New York. She figures she spends at least $8,000 a year on baseball for her 12-year-old son, Cruz Thorpe.
She knows he loves the game. She’s less certain she can afford it.
“You’re just trying to do everything you can to make these dreams come true for your child,” Rector said. “But it’s just so money-driven.”
She even tried a GoFundMe campaign to raise some of the $4,000 she’ll need to reach Cooperstown Dreams Park, where preteen baseball teams from across the country flock each summer for weekly tournaments. A single mom working for an online education platform, she felt a little guilty asking for help. But she’s not alone: GoFundMe said “competition travel” was the top sports fundraising cause in 2025.
LINK
The soaring price of youth sports: $50 to try out, $3,000 to play
Lindsey Rector added up the costs as she waited for her son to finish his baseball lesson.
That was $60 a week right there. A new bat: $500. His club baseball team in Boynton Beach, Florida, and its three practices a week were $3,000 a year. Out-of-town tournaments cost extra. Last summer, the team traveled to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This summer, it will be Cooperstown, New York. She figures she spends at least $8,000 a year on baseball for her 12-year-old son, Cruz Thorpe.
She knows he loves the game. She’s less certain she can afford it.
“You’re just trying to do everything you can to make these dreams come true for your child,” Rector said. “But it’s just so money-driven.”
She even tried a GoFundMe campaign to raise some of the $4,000 she’ll need to reach Cooperstown Dreams Park, where preteen baseball teams from across the country flock each summer for weekly tournaments. A single mom working for an online education platform, she felt a little guilty asking for help. But she’s not alone: GoFundMe said “competition travel” was the top sports fundraising cause in 2025.
LINK
63
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:00 am to djmed
Yeah.
Kids are expensive.
Dont have kids? I don’t know what to say. If playing actually made my kid happy $600 a month doesn’t seem that steep. A lot of these families have spare vehicles they don’t use with notes greater than that.
Idk this woman’s situation.
Edit - sorry yall are poor
Kids are expensive.
Dont have kids? I don’t know what to say. If playing actually made my kid happy $600 a month doesn’t seem that steep. A lot of these families have spare vehicles they don’t use with notes greater than that.
Idk this woman’s situation.
Edit - sorry yall are poor
This post was edited on 1/8/26 at 4:40 pm
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:00 am to djmed
Who cares? The ROI is gonna be insane when Jaxton gets his first round signing bonus with the Yankees.
I’ve already got my 2031 Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate picked out.
I’ve already got my 2031 Sierra 2500 Denali Ultimate picked out.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:01 am to djmed
Play for your school and do other sports during the offseason.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:01 am to djmed
quote:
She knows he loves the game.
Does he?
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:01 am to djmed
quote:
Cruz Thorpe.
Destined for the Banana League MVP
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:01 am to djmed
Where's that one dude that vehemently defends the youth ball industry?
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:02 am to djmed
quote:
Cruz Thorpe
I don't think she has a choice with a great travel ball name like that.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:03 am to djmed
Complete waste of money for 99% of kids. I have a friend whose son is a phenom at every sport, plus he loves practicing, watching film, working on his mechanics, etc. That's the type kid I would spend that money on. Little Cruz is probably a good park ball kid.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:04 am to djmed
That's only travel ball leagues. What is wrong with Little Dribblers and Dixie Youth Baseball, both of which are inexpensive? Very few kids on travel ball are going to play college ball. Especially basketball so paying thousands for travel ball is crazy.
I know the guy who owns 2D sports and he is making a killing.
I know the guy who owns 2D sports and he is making a killing.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:04 am to djmed
My Ex-Wife tanks me to the bank because of my oldest sons travel team in Missouri. He is a good player but Jesus, whats wrong with Parks and Rec ball? A lot cheaper option.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:04 am to djmed
quote:
single mom
Well there you go
I am sure there are teams in South Florida they can play baseball against
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:05 am to djmed
There's always middle ground. My kid plays travel and we rarely leave the state and don't spend NEAR what she is spending for it.
Can't afford it, play for a more local centric team. There are tournaments everywhere, don't need to drive across the country for Cruz's team to lose the first bracket game and go home.
ETA: the burn of rec sports hurts too. My 2 oldest are playing basketball, that was $350 sign up fee. 2 younger are playing soccer and baseball rec in spring, another $365. We will spend over 1k this year on rec sport sign ups for 3 kids.
Can't afford it, play for a more local centric team. There are tournaments everywhere, don't need to drive across the country for Cruz's team to lose the first bracket game and go home.
ETA: the burn of rec sports hurts too. My 2 oldest are playing basketball, that was $350 sign up fee. 2 younger are playing soccer and baseball rec in spring, another $365. We will spend over 1k this year on rec sport sign ups for 3 kids.
This post was edited on 1/7/26 at 9:10 am
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:07 am to djmed
just wait until she has to pay for his jimmy john surgery
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:08 am to stout
quote:
What is wrong with Little Dribblers and Dixie Youth Baseball, both of which are inexpensive?
Let me know where i can sign my kid up for Dixie Youth baseball in Baton Rouge.
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:08 am to djmed
quote:Maybe she should temper her son's expectations and invest that money in his education rather than waste it on baseball. But, stupid people do stupid things.
A single mom working for an online education platform, she felt a little guilty asking for help
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:10 am to Loup
quote:
jimmy john surgery
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:10 am to TeddyPadillac
Well, Dixie Youth changed its name to Diamond Youth
Is there not a league in Baton Rouge? Are there not alternatives that don't cost thousands?
Is there not a league in Baton Rouge? Are there not alternatives that don't cost thousands?
Posted on 1/7/26 at 9:11 am to stout
quote:
What is wrong with Little Dribblers and Dixie Youth Baseball, both of which are inexpensive? Very few kids on travel ball are going to play college ball. Especially basketball so paying thousands for travel ball is crazy.
The ability to for everyone to create a travel team has sucked all of the decent players out of those leagues. It's often hard for decent kids to have fun in those when the rest of the team cant throw across the field.
Most kids play travel ball because it's fun, they like playing with their friends, and they love baseball not because they all think they are going to college. Also no idea why this lady is buying a $500 bat and $3k plus another 4k for a tournament is insane.
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