Canadians top per capita spenders on youth sport

[jpg75]

https://www.tsn.ca/video/westhead-per-capita-canadians-spend-the-most-on-youth-sports~1623761/westhead-per-capita-canadians-spend-the-most-on-youth-sports~1623761

Interesting short video. Apparently the full doc will be shown on W5 this weekend.

[devioustrevor]

Well, when elite travel hockey costs $20K+, it sort of throws the average off.

 

DNRTA

[dyslexic nam]

2 minutes ago, devioustrevor said:

Well, when elite travel hockey costs $20K+, it sort of throws the average off.

 

DNRTA

Elite hockey may be the outlier, but the numbers aren't just driven by hockey.  In a 12 month period my kids are typically in:

3 swimming cycles ($100+ per cycle per kid =  probably about $750 all in)

Soccer - summer and winter/indoor ($100+ per cycle per kid =  about $400)

Basketball  ( 1 cycle each @ around $100, plus high performance training @ $250, plus March break training camps @ $85 each = $620)

Volleyball  ($80 per kid = $160)

That is around $2000 for a couple of kids that aren't in any elite training camps - and if they ever show enough aptitude for those programs things will get more expensive again. 

I miss those federal tax credits...

[SpursFlu]

Ya its true.. when you travel to other countries you realize we are pretty obsessed with organized youth sports. I havent seen the doc but a main reason for the spending is you have to construct facilities to do things in Canada because the weather

[johnyb]

4 hours ago, dyslexic nam said:

Elite hockey may be the outlier, but the numbers aren't just driven by hockey.  In a 12 month period my kids are typically in:

3 swimming cycles ($100+ per cycle per kid =  probably about $750 all in)

Soccer - summer and winter/indoor ($100+ per cycle per kid =  about $400)

Basketball  ( 1 cycle each @ around $100, plus high performance training @ $250, plus March break training camps @ $85 each = $620)

Volleyball  ($80 per kid = $160)

That is around $2000 for a couple of kids that aren't in any elite training camps - and if they ever show enough aptitude for those programs things will get more expensive again. 

I miss those federal tax credits...

Wow, where do your kids play soccer for $100 per cycle? Even Tidbits in Winnipeg is more than double that. My 2 boys cost me about $3000 a year not including Travel and tournaments. 

[dyslexic nam]

PEI. 

Reg fees for summer are about $125 each.  Reg fees for winter are actually $130 - and I am only putting them in one (of three) winter cycles.  So realistically, it is over $500, and only that low because I missed a few winter cycles I could have put them in but didn't due to other commitments. Plus there was a cancelled keeper clinic (another $100).  Could easily be over $1000.

[johnyb]

Just now, dyslexic nam said:

PEI. 

Reg fees for summer are about $125 each.  Reg fees for winter are actually $130 - and I am only putting them in one (of three) winter cycles.  So realistically, it is over $500, and only that low because I missed a few winter cycles I could have put them in but didn't due to other commitments. Plus there was a cancelled keeper clinic (another $100).  Could easily be over $1000.

Thanks, sounds like your "cycles" are short compared to here. We have 2 cycles, Indoor (winter) and Outdoor (summer). Might explain some of the cost differences. I pay about $700 per cycle.  

[dyslexic nam]

Seems cheaper here - but most of the "coaches" are parent volunteers (my kids are still just 10 and 13).  I expect costs would be higher if things were more professionalized (or at higher levels).

[1996]

On 3/1/2019 at 2:44 PM, dyslexic nam said:

Seems cheaper here - but most of the "coaches" are parent volunteers (my kids are still just 10 and 13).  I expect costs would be higher if things were more professionalized (or at higher levels).

Yes it’s  expensive usually right at the young ages like 10 years old or younger. Theory being you want knowledgeable coaches which usually means paid coaches at the young ages too. Kids at the young ages are like sponges this is when they can absorb the most teachings , therefore you want to teach them the proper soccer skills when they are young so they master the basic skills early and develop with the proper skills and technique. It’s tougher for older players that have not been taught proper skills at a young age to develop when they are older, by 13 if you have not been taught to how for example to properly bring down a ball in the air, or pass a ball with different part of your feet it will be harder to master. Therefore , training and getting proper coaching  will be just or more expensive at the younger ages . However, saying all that I’m a big proponent of say letting 5 to at least 10 year olds at least have one session a week of say house league type soccer just letting the kids play with no real coaching and letting them make mistakes and let them be creative and figuring things out for themselves on the field. Moreover, in the end kids at the younger ages just want to go out there and dribble and shoot and want to score without constantly having someone bark out instructions every second, so we need to just let them play at the very least one time a week, but ya I feel for you parents now a days it can get very expensive in the end.