Extracurricular sports offer numerous benefits for kids, physically and mentally, while fostering character building. Typically, from the age of 5, parents enrol their children in activities outside of school, whether it’s sports, music, dance or art. However, in today’s economic climate, marked by a cost-of-living crisis and inflation concerns, some after-school activities are seen as a luxury. Given these challenges, is the cost of playing worth it? And as families grapple with significant financial burdens, what code’s the best value to ensure children reap the myriad benefits associated with sports participation?
For the rugby-mad mums and dads who want to see their kid become the next Beauden Barrett or Ruby Tui, rugby is one of the cheapest grassroots codes in Aotearoa. Despite the low costs, rugby’s overall participation is declining, and the fears of head knocks and long-term injuries don’t help New Zealand’s national sport’s case.
The cost of participating in the world’s biggest sport varies depending on the club or the player’s abilities and aspirations. Despite the various expenses associated with participating in community football, it’s essential not to overlook the fact the sport reached its present status due to its accessibility. This accessibility has played a crucial role in nurturing some of the greatest players in history. Many of them honed their skills by kicking and dribbling tin cans or rolled-up newspapers around the streets of Brazil.
Playing cricket is sometimes a bonus activity kids will partake in during the summer. Another favourite Kiwi sport that teaches kids the importance of technique, tactics and patience. Cricket also provides players, and typically voluntary umpires, with a respite from the stress and fervour of sideline parents, who watch from a distance, outside the cricket oval and the intensity of the game.
Playing cricket compares with rugby and football, but it’s the gear that lifts its expense. A sport predominately played by women and girls, netball is often played through schools rather than clubs, making it one of the cheapest options for parents to enrol their children into. Swimming lessons aren’t always a passion project but a life skill, given the growing drowning rates; it’s vital that kids grow up confident in the water and know the fundamentals of swimming. Whether on the road or in the mountains, cycling is another cheap option for extracurricular activities, but the sport’s key piece of equipment may set you back.
Overall, extracurricular sports can provide invaluable benefits to children, but the costs associated with each sport vary significantly. Depending on financial constraints and personal preferences, families can choose the sport that best fits their budget and values to ensure that children can participate and enjoy the numerous advantages of sports engagement.
