Due to the cost of living crisis and inflation concerns, some after-school sports are considered a luxury.Photo/Provided
Extracurricular sports offer many physical and mental benefits to children while promoting character development.
Starting at the age of five, parents typically involve their children in out-of-school activities such as sports, music, dance, and art.
However, in today’s economic climate, characterized by a cost of living crisis and inflation concerns, some after-school activities are considered a luxury.
Given these challenges, are the costs of playing worth it? And while families face significant financial burdens, ensuring children enjoy the myriad benefits associated with sports participation What would be the best code to make it possible?
rugby
For rugby-obsessed moms and dads who want to see their kids become the next Beauden Barrett or Ruby Tui, rugby is one of the cheapest grassroots movements in Aotearoa.
- Seasonal fees: $50 to $130 per year.
- Playing jerseys are usually included in your membership. Buying socks and shorts will cost him $50, but they are not necessary.
- Rugby boots can be purchased from The Warehouse for as low as $25. Rebel Sport prices start around $50 and go up to $130. Mouthguards cost just $5.
Despite the low cost, overall rugby participation is declining and concerns about head impacts and long-term injuries are not helping New Zealand’s national sport.
football
The cost of participating in the world’s biggest sport varies depending on the ability and aspirations of the club and player. This can be compared to the age-old debate about whether to send your child to private or public school.
- Seasonal price: $100-$200.
- $400 for academy/first team players.
- The kit (shirt, pants, socks) costs about $100.
- Football cleats can be purchased from The Warehouse for as low as $25. Rebel Sport prices start around $50 and go up to $130. Shin pads start at $15.
Despite the various costs involved in participating in community football, it is important not to overlook the fact that the sport has reached its current position due to its accessibility. This accessibility has played a key role in developing some of the greatest players in history. Many of them honed their skills kicking and dribbling tin cans and rolled up newspapers around the streets of Brazil.
cricket
Playing cricket can be a bonus activity for children to participate in during the summer. Another popular Kiwi sport that teaches children the importance of skill, tactics and patience.
Cricket also gives players, and usually volunteer umpires, a respite from the stress and enthusiasm of parents on the sidelines watching the intensity of the game from afar outside the cricket oval.
Playing cricket is similar to rugby or football, but the equipment is more expensive.
- Seasonal rates: $150-$250.
- Some clinics offer $40 to $60 for a private coaching session.
- The kit (polo shirt and pants) costs about $100.
- Cricket bats may be provided at the junior level, but Rebel Sports sells children’s bats for $279.99. Helmets cost over $60 and pads cost over $40.
- For top quality gear, bats can cost between $400 and $2000. Gloves and pads cost more than $150 each, and helmets cost more than $300.
netball
It is a sport played primarily by women and girls, and is often played in schools rather than clubs. This makes the sport one of the cheapest options for parents to enroll their children.
- Seasonal rates: $30-$85.
- Uniforms are often included in the price.
The downside to the sport is that netball is sometimes notoriously toxic, “dominated by adults with big egos and warped ethics, and elite players with an incomprehensible sense of entitlement.” , writes one netball dad.
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swimming
Swimming is different from popular team sports such as soccer, netball and rugby. Enrolling your child in swimming lessons isn’t necessarily a passion project; it’s a life skill, much like riding a bike.
It is increasingly important that children grow up confident in the water and know the basics of swimming, especially in light of the increasing drowning rates.
However, some develop a passion for it as their children grow up learning freestyle or breaststroke.
- $154 to $195 per semester.
- Cheap togs can be purchased at Kmart for $12. We also sell goggles and caps. Branded sneakers cost about $40, and goggles cost at least $50.
golf
Some of New Zealand’s greatest athletes are golfers. Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Coe.
Golf can be expensive for juniors, but it often also offers great rewards. In 2023, Coe and male golfer Ryan Fox were named among New Zealand’s highest-paid athletes, joining stars such as Steven Adams, Chris Wood and Israel Adesiana.
- A one-year membership to a golf club costs about $160, but can cost more than $600.
- Private coaching lessons range from $40 to $80 per hour.
- The tournament entry fee is only $30.
- Rebel Sport sells a junior set of golf clubs for $250. Top-of-the-line club sets start at $480, shoes are over $100, and gloves start at $15.
tennis
Like cricket, tennis’s main competitions and tournaments are held in the summer, but like golf, tennis is an investment.
Playing interclub for a season is reasonable, but tennis coaching is expensive.
- One-year membership in the club typically costs between $75 and $300 nationwide.
- Coaching lessons cost between $150 and $300 per semester.
- It costs between $30 and $80 to participate in regional and national tournaments.
- Children’s tennis racket prices start at $50 but can exceed $200.
Tennis has huge financial rewards. Roger Federer and Serena Williams are among the highest-paid athletes of all time. However, New Zealand has struggled to produce top tennis players.
dance
For those who consider dance as a sport (It’s the 2024 Paris Olympics, after all) This is also one of the more expensive ones.
- Dance lessons (1-2 times a week) cost between $105 and $155 per semester. That’s $420 to $620 per year.
- Ballet and jazz shoes start at $20 and can top out at over $50. The leotard costs approximately $40.
- There may be additional costs associated with show costumes and contests.
gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport known for its high level of discipline. Its regulations call for physical exercises that require balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, artistry, and endurance, all of which contribute to the development of well-rounded athletes. .
- Approximately $150 per semester, approximately $600 per year.
- Cheap leotards at Kmart cost as little as $12, while more expensive ones can cost as much as $200.
- There may be additional costs associated with show costumes and contests.
Athletics
Track and field is a popular sport, especially in Olympic years, and New Zealand produces top medal-worthy track and field athletes. Perhaps it’s because the seasonal rates at the community level are very reasonable.
- About $90 to $120 per season.
- Club uniforms such as singlets, T-shirts and crop tops cost about $50.
- Spiked shoes for runners start at nearly $120 and can go up to $300.
cycling
Cycling, whether on the road or in the mountains, is another inexpensive option for extracurricular activities, but it is hampered by the sport’s critical equipment.
- Membership fees start near $20 and usually don’t exceed $50.
- Mountain bikes start at around $350 and go all the way up to $1000. Road bikes start at $500 and can go as high as $25,000 or more.
rowing
As with athletics, New Zealand also produces some excellent rowers, but the entrance fees in the two countries vary widely. Club membership is generally open to people 16 years of age and older. Young rowers attend school.
- Learning to row at a middle school or club can cost anywhere from $300 to $600. For more advanced rowers, it can cost up to $4,000 per year.
- Costs typically include training and regattas. Uniforms are often included as well.
equestrian
Equestrian is ideal for children because it combines physical activity with responsibility and empathy through bonding with the horse. Develops confidence, discipline, and social skills while providing therapeutic benefits. Overall, it provides children with a unique opportunity to grow physically, emotionally and socially.
- Annual introductory and competitive memberships range from $50 to $100.
- Depending on the competition a rider participates in, the levy can range from $5 to $155. He also charges between $60 and $100 to participate in the contest.
- Not all jockeys own horses, but if they do, they start at nearly $300 and can cost up to $20,000. There are additional costs for horse maintenance and care.
- Pony clubs operate under a similar structure to Girl Guides and Scouts. They hold regular rallies and riders work on certification programs. Many clubs fall in the $100 to $200 range per year.
* All prices are approximate and typically vary by region and suburb.
Bonnie Jansen I am a multimedia journalist for the NZME sports team. An avid footballer, she was active in the Alternative Commentary Collective and participated in Te Rito’s cadet scheme before becoming a full-time journalist.
