6 Ways to Support Kids' Sports Interests Without Breaking the Bank

[emattson]

Post by Charley Sunday

Sports are great activities for kids. They help kids burn off excess energy, stay in good shape and develop teamwork skills, but sports can get expensive. If you want to help your kids enjoy sports without breaking the bank, use these five tips shared by Uechi-Ryu Karate.

1. Create Space for Your Kids to Practice

Many kids develop their love for sports by playing in the backyard, but having a space to practice is crucial. This is especially true if your child is learning martial arts. One cost-efficient way you can support your kids' interest in sports is by creating a safe place to play. Talk with a landscaper to see how you can create a practice area in your yard. You can often find deals offered by various landscaping companies to save you money on the project.

2. Buy Health Insurance

Purchasing health insurance through the ACA exchange for yourself and your family is a prudent choice. With quality insurance, you're assured of your family's healthcare needs being met, granting you peace of mind. Moreover, this insurance can also lead to savings on sports physicals, ensuring that your young athlete can chase their dreams unhindered. To simplify the process, it's recommended to learn how to scan a document, particularly crucial insurance paperwork, using a mobile scanning app. This ensures easy access and safe storage of vital documents, Additionally, embracing digital solutions like mobile scanning can make managing and retrieving your insurance details more efficient when needed.

3. Carpool to Competitions

Driving back and forth to away matches and practice can severely strain your wallet because you are paying for fuel and lodging. If you work with the parents of your child's team members, you may be able to find someone you can carpool with and take turns driving to matches that are far away. This practice can save you a significant amount of money on gas, but you may miss a few of your child's competitions. If you aren't willing to carpool because you don't want to miss your child's performance, think about carpooling to practice to save gas that way.

4. Find an Affordable Coach

Working with a martial arts instructor who specializes in a certain sport is the best way to improve your child's talent. One study found that nearly 23% of parents hire sports coaches for their kids, but coaches can be expensive, and you'll have to pay for every practice session. The more well-known your child's coach is, the more expensive they will be. Look around your community to see if you can find coaching candidates who have the same qualifications but are lesser known and may not charge as much per practice. The most important thing is finding a coach that your child gets along with.

5. Buy Gear On Sale

Having high-quality sports gear is important for success, but you don't have to spend top dollar on the most extravagant brands. Shop sales and find discounts and good deals on your kids' gear for competition. Gently used second-hand martial arts gear is very affordable, so shop around to find the best gear at prices that are friendly to your budget.

6. Practice Competitive Skills at Home

The kids who put in the most practice will be the most talented in sports. You can help your kids practice at home by getting out in the yard and working with them. You don't have to pay a coach for this opportunity, and you don't have to spend money on extra practice. This habit also gives you an opportunity to show your kids the difference between healthy and unhealthy competition.

You may also want to consider adding a home gym, which can be beneficial for both you and your young athlete. A home gym may even add value to your home. Just be sure to keep good records of any upgrades you make!

While winning is fun, it shouldn't be your child's ultimate goal. Losing is a fact of life, and when kids can embrace it, they can learn from the losses instead of being angry about them. Playing sports can be expensive, but you don't have to blow your budget to allow your kids to enjoy sporting events. You can support sports in an affordable way by using these tips.

[emattson]

Many athletic activities can be inexpensive and don't need to be organized--walking and jogging require just sneakers. Every community should be required to have a large forest nearby for people to spend time hiking through. Other great activities are ball catching and frisbees.