Gone are the days when youth sports meant signing up through your local parks department, joining a team with your neighbors, and playing a sport during its designated season. Now, youth sports have evolved into a year-round commitment with travel, intense training, and often a hefty price tag. While I don’t always agree with the current youth sports climate, my kids are involved in sports that require serious time and financial investment. My oldest plays club volleyball on a national team, my middle daughter is in competitive all-star cheerleading, and my 4-year-old plays t-ball. Add in school cheer, track, and full-time jobs for both parents, and our life is often a juggling act.
Don’t get me wrong — we are incredibly grateful for the opportunities our kids have to participate in these activities, but it can also be exhausting, financially draining, and challenging for our family. It’s all too easy to get caught in the whirlwind of tournaments, competitions, practices, and travel, so we had to come together as a family and come up with some strategies to stay sane while navigating this chaotic lifestyle.
Here’s how we’re making it work.
1. Divide and Conquer at Tournaments and Competitions
One of the biggest shifts we made this year was adjusting how we handle tournaments, games, and competitions. Previously, we’d all travel as a family to every event, which meant long, exhausting days for everyone. The kids would sit in bleachers for hours, and one parent would end up missing out on most of the action because they were running after younger siblings or trying to keep them entertained. On top of that, the cost of snacks, admission fees, and gas adds up quickly.
This year, we implemented a new rule: You’ll always have someone there cheering you on, but not everyone will be there at the same time. Instead of both parents attending every event, we now divide and conquer. One parent stays home with the younger kids, while the other attends the event. This has worked wonders for our sanity. The parent who attends the event gets to actually watch the competition without being interrupted, and we get some one-on-one time during the drive. Plus, the athlete in question gets to pick where we stop for dinner on the way home—an added treat that makes the long day feel more rewarding.
We apply this rule to travel tournaments as well. It’s saved us a lot of money, as we don’t have to pay for plane tickets, hotel accommodations, and meals for the entire family. But we still make an exception for the annual cheer competition in Orlando. That one is too much fun to pass up, and it’s a family trip we look forward to every year.
2. Cutting Costs Where We Can
Youth sports can get expensive, and while we’re fortunate to be able to afford the costs, we’ve worked hard to find ways to save. Here are some strategies that have helped us stay financially afloat:
- Packing Snacks: Long tournament days mean constant trips to the concession stand, which can quickly add up. We now pack our own snacks and drinks, saving money and avoiding the overpriced snacks on offer at the venue.
- Driving Instead of Flying: Whenever possible, we opt to drive to out-of-state tournaments instead of flying. We’ve saved a significant amount of money this way, and it gives us a chance to see more of the country.
- Chase Southwest Rewards Card: I use our Chase rewards card for big purchases throughout the year, which earns us points toward free flights. This helps us cut down on travel expenses for distant tournaments.
- Saying No: It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a tournament or competition and feel the pressure to buy the $70 sweatshirt or the $15 acai bowl. But we’ve learned that it’s okay to say no. While we want our kids to feel supported, we don’t need to buy everything they sell at every event.
- Save for the Big Expenses: Another strategy I’ve found helpful is saving for the larger, known expenses ahead of time. Just this morning, I opened a 6-month CD account to put aside money for next October’s cheer competition fees. By setting aside funds early for these major costs, I can avoid scrambling at the last minute or racking up credit card debt. It’s a simple way to stay ahead of the game and ensure that we’re prepared for the bigger financial hits that come with kids in sports.
3. Build Your Village
Another major help in managing the chaos has been finding and relying on our “village.” If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it takes a community to juggle multiple kids in competitive sports. Here are some ways our village has helped:
- Carpooling: We are lucky to have a group of families who help each other with carpooling to practices and tournaments. This has been a lifesaver, especially with the cheer gym being 30 minutes away and the volleyball club an hour away. Not only does it save us time and money, but it also gives us the chance to connect with other parents and share the load.
- Family Support: We’re also fortunate to have my mom, who helps watch the younger kids when Heath and I both want to attend an event. It’s a big help and allows us to fully participate in our older kids’ activities without worrying about who’s watching the little ones.
4. Embrace Technology
In today’s world, technology has been a huge asset in managing our busy schedule. For example, one of the dads on my daughter’s volleyball team streams all their games on GameChanger, so if one of us can’t make it, we can still watch the game in real time. Likewise, during cheer competitions, we often FaceTime during the routine so we can still be part of the action even when we’re not physically there. These little technological tools help us stay connected without missing out.
5. Remember the Big Picture
At the end of the day, we have to remind ourselves that while youth sports are a big part of our kids’ lives, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. We are actively trying to avoid letting the sports calendar dictate our entire family dynamic. We want our kids to enjoy their sports, but we also want them to have time to just be kids, spend time with friends, and relax.
It’s all about balance, and we’ve found that by being intentional with our time, cutting costs where possible, and creating a support network, we can navigate the current youth sports climate without letting it ruin our lives.
If you’re in the same boat, I hope some of these strategies help you find the balance you’re looking for. The key is to find what works for your family and stay true to what’s important: quality time together, enjoying the journey, and not getting lost in the chaos.
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