The Cost of AAU Youth Sports: Is Playing Sports Out of Reach?
The Cost of AAU Youth Sports: Is Playing Sports Out of Reach?

Author(s): Elizabeth Ekmekjian, Allison Snyder, Tricia Coxwell Snyder
Subject(s): Social differentiation, Economic development, Sports Studies
Published by: Scientia Moralitas Research Institute
Keywords: youth sports; household spending; family income; socioeconomic disparities;
Summary/Abstract: Close to 60 million United States (U.S.) school-aged children and seventy-five percent of American families participate in organized sports annually. American families spend around $40 billion per year on youth sports, and it is estimated that this amount will exceed $75 billion by 2026. This expenditure represents more than 7% of their total household spending. The average family spends between $700 and $1,000 per month on children's sports, with spending increasing by more than 50% during the past decade. This study examines the amount of money that the typical American family spends on youth sports and where they spend it. It also examines whether income, race, gender, and geographical location impact spending and the hours kids participate in youth sports. Using a survey questionnaire to gather data, we estimate a two-stage least squares model that examines the time and money families spend on youth sports and the demographic factors that impact whether a child participates and how many hours they play sports.

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