3 Sports and Activities the Middle Class Can No Longer Afford

For many families, childhood sports have been a way of life for decades. They teach teamwork, perseverance and other important life skills. Unfortunately, like many other things, sports are getting more expensive — so much so that they’re beginning to price out lower- and middle-class families.

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According to a Survey done by Project Play, some parents have reported spending as much as $34,900 per year on sports when you add up registration fees, camps, equipment, travel, and more.

With numbers like this, it’s not surprising why so many kids give up sports before they reach middle school.

Here’s a look at three sports that are becoming unaffordable even for the middle class.

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Dance

Dance is a sport that I know very well. My daughter has been dancing since she was almost three and has been doing it competitively for the past seven years. However, it seems to be getting more expensive each year.

Dance studios are facing an increase in the cost to own and rent studio space, and the cost to retain good instructors are rising as well. In a normal month, our fees are more than $300; however, during months when costume fees or competition fees are charged, it’s not uncommon for the monthly total to rise above $700.

This is more than some families pay for their housing costs.

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Hockey

Hockey has long been known to be an expensive sport for kids to play.

According to the Project Play survey, parents spend an average of $2,583 per year on hockey. However, other sources said parents spend $10,000 or more each year.

When breaking down the costs, much of it comes from travel. Depending on the length of the hockey season, it could include five to 10 tournaments. Each of these include the cost of plane tickets, tournament entry fees, hotels, rental cars, and food.

Another significant cost is paying for ice time. Throughout Canada and the United States, the costs will depend on location, but many private rinks charge anywhere from $200 to $700 per hour. The more your team practices, the more your yearly fees are likely to cost.

Unlike dance, a big expense for hockey comes from the equipment players need. And since children are still growing, this could be an expense that occurs as frequently as each new season.

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Some of the basic equipment hockey players will need to purchase include helmets, neck guards, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, and more. And if you’re a goalie, the equipment needed is even more.

Skiing / Snowboarding

Another sport that’s becoming increasingly expensive for kids is skiing and snowboarding.

The equipment has always been a pricey part of the sport. For both snowboarding and skiing, you’ll need skis or a snowboard, bindings and boots. If you purchase these items, they’re likely to cost several hundreds of dollars and can easily cost over a thousand dollars.

However, where the cost has really started getting expensive is how much it actually costs to get out on the slopes. Depending on where you live, the cost is going to fluctuate greatly.

Current prices for a child’s Epic Pass, which includes access to resorts all across the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia, and Japan, are $534. Any child over the age of 12 would pay the adult price of $1,047. These prices are roughly 8% higher than they were for the 2023 to 2024 season, according to The Denver Post.

If you live in a ski location, having a season pass is the easiest way to save money. Purchasing individual day passes can get expensive quickly.

For example, daily child lift tickets during the peak season (February) at Breckenridge Resort will cost $183 when purchased at the ticket window and $155 when purchased online. At Vail Resort, the prices are even more expensive. Tickets purchased at the window would cost $220, and advanced tickets are $197.

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