In the softball thread a poster posted that he has to pay a lot of money to have two kids play softball and baseball. As I told him I've been out of the game for a while so I'm not sure how common it is.

 

So...for current or recent parents how much did you have to pay for your child to play high school sports?

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In Kentucky its chump change compared to other states.

In Ohio I have heard many of places charge up to 400 bucks per sport. In my day, yes I am dirt old nobody charged you to play sports in school. American greed running wild.

In Ohio I have heard many of places charge up to 400 bucks per sport. In my day, yes I am dirt old nobody charged you to play sports in school. American greed running wild.

 

Not sure it’s “greed”. School funding has been cut for years in many states. Where it hasn’t been cut there has been no adjustment for inflation. Schools have to make hard decisions and sometimes that is cut athletic funding.

I don’t agree with it. Extracurriculars create better students.

Not sure it’s “greed”. School funding has been cut for years in many states. Where it hasn’t been cut there has been no adjustment for inflation. Schools have to make hard decisions and sometimes that is cut athletic funding.

I don’t agree with it. Extracurriculars create better students.

 

Yep. I don't think schools are charging the money to make sports a profit center. It's expensive to run sports teams. And aside from Football and Basketball, none of them generate very much money.

What happens when the poor family can't afford the fee?

What happens when the poor family can't afford the fee?

 

Great point. Sports should be equally available to all students. Athletic scholarships give some kids educational opportunities that they might not otherwise get.

 

Though something tells me that if the child is extremely talented the school or coach will find a way to get him/her on the team regardless of ability to pay.

I am sure fees vary by sport and by approach to cover the costs associated with the particular sport.

 

The most costly approach is to simply allocate out the costs as a fee to each player. The least costly approach is to have a fund raising mechanism that can cover the costs, resulting in no fees to players. And there is a lot of hybrid of the two.

 

We paid as much as $1,000 for hockey that was mostly funded from straight fee and had costs that include $200/hour ice time, referees, transportation to away games. We paid as little as $0 (except for overnight summer camp - about $125 for that) for football. The reason the fee was $0 was we had a $40,000 target for the media guide advertisements. Lacrosse was somewhere around $400 I believe.

 

For some families these costs are no big deal. For some, they are an extreme burden. Parents have ways of funding things in most cases but It seemed there was always a benevolent family willing to help if needed.

What happens when the poor family can't afford the fee?

 

Sorry, no pay, no play.

Kenton Co. charges $40 per season for any sport you play, which is very reasonable. Up till this year, it was $30. Now, if they want spiritwear, warmups, etc, then there is more expense, but that is optional. Often, sports fund raise for the extras.

When my son was in band we paid $300 a year in fees for him. On Senior Night the Senior parents were given a nice school stadium blanket. Nicest $1200 blanket I ever owned. :lol2:

Mayfield has no fees. Heck, they don't even have lunch cost. Free lunch for everyone. Saved me a lot of money when all four of my kids were in school at the same time.

At my high school in Alabama it's costly for extracurricular activity. My brother has two daughters in the band. $250.00 each for fees. 1000.00 dollars each for a trip to Disney to march in a Parade. When I went there was no fees for anything.

it's a growing trend and with school budgets the way they are I'd say look for it even more around here, and if paying already look for costs to go up.

Owen co was 250 per sport/activity.