re: Parents of the OT, what sport is the most expensive for your child to play?

quote:

---

Equestrian and it's not close.

---

Cost of horse (for level you want to compete), tack ($3000-5000 French saddles are very in right now), board, feed, supplements, lessons, training, vet bills (this is the one that will get you), shoeing, hauling to shows, classes at shows, trainer fees at shows, riding apparel, etc.

I just don't see how anything else can come close.

And to be really competitive you are looking at mid to high 5 figures just for the horse.

This is coming from someone who is still broke with a free horse, cheap tack, and only occasional shows.

Even if you don't own animal and property you still usually end up having to lease a horse and pay board.

quote:

---

why would soccer be so high?

---

The better soccer travel teams(LCSL) pay their coaches a stipend, plus constantly travel all over the state and even out of state to play weekend tournaments. Every soccer club in every town hosts at least two tournaments to make money for their clubs. You should see the list on the LSA website. It's not just balls, cleats and unis.

quote:

---

I always thought baseball was one of the more expensive sports based on gloves, uniforms, cleats, bats, balls, etc

---

Baseball is expensive because the parents make it expensive. Travel ball + 2 "game" uniforms + 2 "practice" uniforms + each kid with their own bat or bats + $200 glove + personalized bag + $150 cleats, etc. etc.

In reality, baseball shouldn't (and it used to not) be very expensive at all. When I was younger (and it wasn't very long ago) the expenses of playing little league consisted of:

Glove (approx $20-$40); and you could use it for many years
Cleats (approx $20-$50)
Pants (approx $10-$20)
League fee (approx $20-$30)

You played in your town and each team was sponsored by a local business. That sponsorship paid for the uniforms (really just a t-shirt and cap); 3-4 bats for the team, catcher's gear,and numerous baseballs. That's all you really needed. Everyone played and practiced at the local park.

I know it was a different time, but it was amazing how all the good athletes were the best baseball players even if they didn't have all the expensive equipment. While all the bad athletes were still bad baseball players even though their parents spared no expense on equipment. Hell, we even had a few kids go on to play college baseball. To this day, I still don't no how they managed to do that with gloves that were purchased at Wal-Mart

Same with soccer. This kid bought 200 dollar cleats but he was terrible.

looking at academy and dicks I wonder if all these prices you list are for second hand items.

quote:

---

Cycling:
quote:
Riding a bike as a sport has one obviously large expense: the bike. New bikes can start at around $500 and the price rises with the level of features and the brand that you wish to purchase. Serious cyclers can spend thousands on a bike, and cycling shoes, helmets and clothing will run an additional hundred dollars or more. Each race will require a fee, usually $15 to $30, but the transportation to the race costs extra. This sport, which used to be considered obscure, is growing in popularity, but events can still be spaced thousands of miles apart and require much time and effort to get attend.

---

Yeah, bikes are ridiculous. My wife wanted a road bike for her birthday. I also went ahead and got one because I have knee problems running (ITBS) and wanted to be able to keep up my cardio while I can't run. I got mine used. Hers is new. Both are ENTRY level road bikes. $1700.

I laugh at all of these. Get your kid certified a jr open water scuba diver...add up certification costs, equipment costs, tanks costs, boat fees,travel costs, etc to actually participate in the activity and then come talk to me.

I'll take you on with my sport with a competitive kid. Hell, the horse alone can cost $50,000 to $100,000 depending on what the kid wants to do.

My team was the most diverse in BRSA. I was the only black kid, and we had 4 koreans, 2 indians, and the rest white.