Recently, I had a conversation with Jack, one of our interns here at Eppler Capital, that gave me pause. Jack plays lacrosse at Monmouth University and mentioned he had just spent $100 on a single lacrosse head. Before factoring in a shaft, helmet, pads, gloves, or cleats, total equipment costs can exceed $700.
As someone who had never followed the sport closely, I was surprised. But the more I looked into it, the more I realized this is not a lacrosse problem. It is a youth sports problem across the board.
The average U.S. family spent $1,016 on a child’s primary sport in 2024, plus another $475 on additional sports for the same child. That brings the average to nearly $1,500 per child per year, and it climbs considerably for families with multiple children or kids playing at the club and travel level.
The costs vary significantly by sport. Here is how some of the most popular ones compare annually.
What is driving all of this? Youth sports have shifted away from local recreation leagues toward year-round club programs, private coaching, and national tournament circuits. Private equity firms are now backing large-scale tournament operators, training facilities, and multisport complexes. The result is a professionalized landscape where families feel pressure to invest more, earlier, and at higher levels.
The scholarship math makes this even more worth examining. Families routinely justify the spending as an investment toward college funding. But across most sports, the odds of earning a meaningful athletic scholarship are slim, and the average award covers only a fraction of total college costs.
Nearly 20% of parents report going into debt to afford youth sports, and 21% have considered pulling their children out due to cost. The experience builds character, discipline, and relationships that last a lifetime. But it’s important to have a clear picture of the true costs involved.
I shared some of these numbers with Jack and he was not surprised. They aligned closely with what he had already experienced firsthand. For families navigating these costs, awareness is the first step.
I hope this context is useful. If your family is involved in youth sports at any level, I trust you are already familiar with much of this. If not, I hope it provides a helpful perspective.