Youth sports are now pay to play 

BC youth look to lace up their skates, cleats and gym shoes for another season of sports. But Behind the muddy jerseys and sweaty helmets is an ever-increasing price tag. Now, some families have started to reconsider if it’s worth their investment. 

Rising costs of youth sports in BC are being driven by many different factors. Facility fees, age fees, coach shortages, equipment fees, all things that are on the rise in price. These increases are often passed directly to families through higher registration fees. 

One of the bigger problems is the public facility fees. According to one 8forty reporter, Ice rinks, gyms and outdoor fields have gained a lot more interest compared to previous years. When paying for the registrations, he noticed that facility rentals have been bumped up by $100 in the last two years. High demand drives the hourly rate up which leads to teams having access to less practice time. Teams with bigger budgets often pick up more training time, leading to an unfair advantage compared to teams who practice the minimum.  

Another grab for cash is equipment fees, depending on the sport, fess can reach well into the $1250+ range. Although the technology has gotten better throughout the years, budget gear has become harder to come across as a beginner. For example, a new hockey player would need a handful of things, such as skates, a helmet, a stick, pads, gloves, even entry level gear would cost close to $850 at SportChek. For many new players this can be intimidating, yet there is no real way around it.  

Unavoidably, gear breaks. 

Hockey sticks, notoriously expensive, with high-end composite models charging upwards of $200. Despite their price, they’re prone to breaking in games or even practice. A small snap can turn a stick useless, forcing players to repeatedly replace them. The combination of high-cost and fragility makes sticks a frustrating and expensive piece of equipment for all levels of hockey. 

One 8forty reporter who plays volleyball reports that in today’s economy, a regular volleyball season can cost $1750+, that includes team uniforms, facility fees and equipment. In almost all cases, players will have to pay fees to enter tournaments and playdays, this leads to a handful of hidden fees that were not previously disclosed, bumping the total costs to well over $3500.  

In addition, academies and developmental camps also cost more money. For many, extra training at costs close to $200 seems unreasonable. Yet it seems that without this training, players get neglected and have a lesser chance of playing in higher levels of competition. 

A Burnaby athlete told 8forty, “Passion comes with a price, for me money held me back from moving forward.” 

However, when he considered joining a club, the fees pushed him away. The next few years he played for the school team, yet other players seemed to be passing him in skill. In the end, he caved, he played club but still tried to save money where he could. The tournament and travel fees caught him off guard, he ended up spending an extra $900 that wasn’t anticipated at the start. 

Although it’s unfair, it’s the reality.  

If money is a problem for a family, there are ways around to get support. For example, KidSport provides grants to kids from families facing financial barriers to help cover the cost of their sport registration fee so they can experience the joy of a season in sport. In 2024 alone, KidSport raised over $15 million and supported over 40,000 kids. The support comes from donations. In many cases, wealthier families donate to give back to those who might not get the same opportunities. However, there is not nearly enough cash flow to support less fortunate players, knowing this, KidSport prioritizes smaller payments rather than a full bill.  

As fees rise and access shrinks, youth sports risk becoming less about opportunity and more about income, leaving many athletes on the sidelines. 

Image Credit: San-D Surf FC