Answer for Rising Costs of Club Sports? Involvement in Education-Based Sports in Schools

Earlier this month, a bill entitled “Let Kids Play Act” was introduced by several members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The bill targets certain groups that, according to the sponsors of the bill, have priced kids and their families out of youth sports.

Sponsors of the bill note that the cost to participate in youth sports has risen 46 percent in the past five years, with families paying more than $5,000 per child each year. The goal of the bill is to ban private investors and companies from involvement in youth sports, refund monies to families and return these programs to communities. 

A flyer from the bill’s sponsors states that “families are strong-armed into contracts that limit their choices with terms banning participation in competing leagues, locking them into multiple seasons, or steering them into costly travel programs with no real way to opt out.”

While the plan for reducing expenses for families to involve their kids in youth sports is laudable, there is no mention whatsoever in the “Let Kids Play Act” of the best solution: involvement of kids in education-based sports within our nation’s schools – beginning in sixth grade at the middle school level – where, by the way, costs are minimal, not prohibitive; opportunities to participate are open to everyone in most sports, not just those who have the financial means to do so; and winning is kept in perspective with an education-based model.

Although there are no ages attached to “youth” sports in the “Let Kids Play Act,” the 12-to-18 age period of middle school and high school is certainly a part of it. And for the majority of students ages 12-18 seeking to play sports, our nation’s middle schools and high schools are the perfect place, contrary to the thinking of some parents.

In some cases – unquestionably the minority – students are in an elite category from a skills standpoint and could benefit from out-of-school club sports at a higher level of competition in preparation for college. In most cases, however, parents are spending beyond their means – regardless of any recent rising costs – with the hope that playing club sports will be the difference-maker in their children receiving an athletic scholarship to an NCAA Division I school. However, in basketball and football at least, the odds are not good.

There are more than 540,000 boys who played high school basketball last year and fewer than 6,000 who played basketball at the NCAA Division I level where most of the scholarships are available. Stated another way, about one percent of high school boys basketball players will play at the NCAA Division I level. About 2.8 percent of the one million-plus boys in high school 11-player football will play at the Division I level.

The answer? Parents should encourage their kids to play multiple sports for their middle school and high school teams and save the money they would spend on club sports for college tuition if scholarship money does not materialize. Even in those situations where students are charged a modest fee to participate, school-based sports remain an incredible bargain when compared to club sports – even if the proposed bill were to come to fruition and costs decreased.   

In many cases, Division I football and basketball coaches are looking to recruit multiple-sport athletes. While there are a few sports where non-school competition is beneficial, college coaches will find those athletes who excel in school-based sports.

In addition, sports in our nation’s 19,900-plus high schools are much more focused on education, relationships, team unity, having fun and school spirit.  

School spirit is perhaps the defining difference between interscholastic and other levels of sports – having pride in one’s school, maintaining a connection to the school and coaches for life, supporting all school teams and programs whether a participant or a fan, and contributing to the bond between school and community.  

Students who become involved in sports take pride in their teams and school and tend to carry that pride to their future careers after high school. High school sports have the potential to boost the spirit of communities as well.

In addition to interscholastic sports, schools provide additional participation opportunities, including intramurals, clubs led by students, and opportunities for community-based activities.

The NFHS encourages involvement in any activity program that addresses the health and wellness – and growth and development – of high school students. Some of these other options may meet the needs of students who have not previously been involved in any school activity, and expanding opportunities for more student involvement should be an ongoing goal of every school. Inasmuch as facilities are available and adults are available to lead programs, expansion should always be the goal. 

High school-based sports have more interest, more media coverage and more fans than club sports, and the kids have more fun because they are representing their school and their community. And education-based sports within our nation’s schools are free from the outside interest groups and prohibitive costs associated with out-of-school youth sports mentioned in the Let Kids Play Act.

When it comes to youth ages 12-18, there is no better place to participate in sports than our nation’s schools.