Playing sports does not always mean playing AAA

I will admit that I have a very short fuse when I hear parents telling me that the child beside them that is desperately begging to play hockey will not be able to play because it is far to expensive.  I become very defensive and very hot very fast.  I know that is alot of very, but hey!  Why go half way?

Let me break it down for you real easy.  Yes, rep level hockey can get extremely expensive.  The problem is that it really is no more expensive then rep level anything.  Soccer, football, gymnastics, ballet.  If your child really wants to excel at anything it is going to cost you huge.  The kicker is, they don't have to play rep or above.  They just need to play.  Children need social interaction.  They need to sweat.  They need to work as a group and learn that sometimes, not all the time, but sometimes, the needs of the team outweigh their own needs.  They need a sense of accomplishment and a nickname.  A very well deserved nickname that they can own.

Children, at all levels of all sports do not need $200 hockey sticks.  $150 soccer cleats.  $150 ballet leotards and $300 make up sets for dance.  These are parent needs.

I will set the record straight right here.  In my home we have put a serious stress on sports and arts and we are very happy to pay for our children's success.  Now whether or not it is fair or the way it should be, if you want a Junior level hockey player, or a Provincial gymnast, it is going to cost you.  And we are very happy to bare the brunt of that cost.  And yes. A triple A hockey player does need a $200 stick and $500 skates, because the difference in technology could be the hurdle between making the team and not making the team.  My friends are always the friends of my son and daughter's team mates and we blow more on gas every month for travel then we do on groceries, and I wouldn't have it any other way.  I also am very happy in the knowledge that if they had decided to play at the house level my children would have been just happy to belong.

So, Cost, Is house hockey as expensive as other sports?  No.  No it isn't.  And I will prove it.

For a season of Novice Soccer in Petawawa (around 2-1/2 months) it costs $140.00  That does not include travel or tournaments or equipment.  A season of Novice hockey is $460.00 for 7 months.  Now basic division will tell you that  Soccer runs at about $70/month and hockey is $65/month.  Now the killer.  Equipment!!!  A bag of equipment from Canadian tire is $100.00, used skates, around $50 for a decent set and helmet is now free for novice players through Chevy.

Now if you had to buy that every year the season would work out to $85.00/month, but you don't.  Skates are usually a yearly buy, but after the initial hit for the bag of equipment you get gear as they grow, so shoulder pads this year.  Shin pads the year after.  Trust me, its doable.  So averaging it out over 4 years to replace we are down to $70/month for both sports.  Now, if your child does want that crazy stick, or gear,(which they will) it is up to you to say no,  But never hold back your child from a sport and what should be their right as a Canadian because you have "heard" or "know somebody who say's" because it is nothing but bullshit.

Remember that the fact that you also get an average of 2 practices a week and a game a week with hockey as opposed to one practice a week and one game a week with soccer, you are getting a considerable deal.  Hockey is one of the few sports around that you can play into your retirement years and while your child is young you get to help.  You get to volunteer, And best of all?  You get to share in the victory from the stands.  Once your child has started then make the decision if you want a child, or an athlete.  That discussion is for another blog completely.

Please parents.  Your child doesn't have to be the best, but how can they be if you don't ever let them have the chance to succeed.!!!