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Parent Coach Playbook

Tools · Cost calculator · Methodology

Where the numbers come from.

Every profile carries an explicit source list. Numbers are anchored to public data, not pulled from thin air. If something looks wrong, we want to hear it.

The base sources

Three sources sit underneath every profile:

  • Aspen Institute Project Play — State of Play (annual report on youth-sports participation, including family spending data by income, sport, and level).
  • Project Play — Costs to Play (national survey of youth-sports family spending).
  • TeamSnap — State of Youth Sports (annual industry report including family budget data).

Sport-specific profiles add additional sources from the relevant national governing body or club association (USA Hockey, USAV, USAG, US Lacrosse, US Youth Soccer, USTA, USASF, USA Swimming, ECNL, AAU Basketball, NFHS, USA Football, Little League International, Perfect Game, JVA, NUVO, Dance Studio Owners Association). Each profile lists which sources it draws from.

How the defaults get assembled

For each sport-and-level combination, defaults come from a synthesis of three things:

  • Published fee structures from the relevant governing body or representative club programs (registration, club dues, tournament fees, membership).
  • Project Play and TeamSnap national survey medians, weighted toward the level (rec/school/travel/elite).
  • Reader-submitted budget data through this site, which gets cross-checked against the survey medians.

Hotel and travel cost defaults assume mid-range chain hotels and the IRS standard mileage rate ($0.67/mile in 2026). Equipment and apparel defaults assume mid-range new gear with a 2-3 year replacement cycle averaged annually.

What we don't try to model

Three things vary too much for a default to be useful:

  • Region. Hotel costs in Houston are different from Boston. Gas costs in Wyoming are different from Manhattan.
  • Family logistics. Two parents and one kid is different from one parent and three kids. Carpools, shared hotel rooms, and split travel changes the math.
  • Time cost. The hours a parent spends driving, organizing, coaching, and managing the season have real value. Surfaced as an optional line item; not priced for you.

What we do try to surface

Four things parents consistently underestimate:

  • Tournament travel hotels. The single most underestimated line in travel sports.
  • Equipment replacement. Most parents budget the initial purchase, not the annual replacement.
  • Team apparel. The required spirit pack, second jersey, and warm-ups that often run $300-600/year at travel level.
  • Per-game-played cost. Annual cost divided by games where the kid actually got real minutes. The metric most parents find most useful — it works the same whether you're at $400/year or $14,000/year.

Update cadence

Defaults update annually after the Project Play State of Play release (typically September) and after a winter pass through reader-submitted data. Profiles in the calculator carry an "as of" year reference; if you spot a number that's clearly off, email us at [email protected].

Per-profile sourcing

Every profile in the calculator and what's behind it:

Generic (any sport)

Generic (any sport) — Rec · 14 games estimated

Generic rec defaults blended from Project Play national survey medians and TeamSnap rec-league data.

Generic (any sport) — School · 18 games estimated

School-sport defaults blended from Project Play State of Play (school athletic fee data) and NFHS participation surveys.

Generic (any sport) — Travel/club · 50 games estimated

Travel-tier defaults synthesized from Project Play Costs to Play, TeamSnap travel-family medians, and reader-submitted data.

Generic (any sport) — Elite/showcase · 70 games estimated

Elite-tier defaults synthesized from national showcase event budgets, ECNL/MLS Next/Nike EYBL fee structures, and reader-submitted data.

Baseball

Baseball — Rec · 16 games estimated

Little League International local league fees range $100-300. Equipment ($250 average) covers glove, bat, helmet, cleats with a 2-year replacement cycle.

Baseball — Travel/club · 60 games estimated

Travel baseball club fees average $1,500-3,000. Tournament fees, private lessons, and equipment (especially bat upgrades) compose the bulk of total cost. Perfect Game and other tournament organizers publish entry fee schedules.

Basketball

Basketball — Travel/club · 60 games estimated

AAU basketball mid-tier program fees average $1,500-3,500 (Nike EYBL/Adidas Gauntlet teams run $3,000-5,000+). Tournament fees and travel weekends compose the bulk of total cost.

Cheerleading

Cheerleading — Travel/club · 10 games estimated

USASF publishes all-star cheer program structure. Monthly tuition at competitive all-star gyms typically runs $250-350. Worlds and Summit-track gyms run higher. Uniform and choreography fees are widely published by gym programs.

Dance

Dance — Travel/club · 10 games estimated

Dance Studio Owners Association publishes industry benchmarks. Competitive dance studios typically charge $300-500/month for class tuition. Competition entry fees ($80-150 per dance) are published by NUVO, JUMP, The Dance Awards, and other major events.

Football — Tackle

Football — Tackle — School · 10 games estimated

NFHS reports HS football participation; school athletic pay-to-play fees range $0-500 by district. School provides pads and helmet; family covers cleats, gloves, mouthpiece.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics — Travel/club · 8 games estimated

USAG publishes Junior Olympic Program structure data. Monthly tuition at competitive USAG-affiliated gyms typically runs $300-600 at Levels 4-7. Meet and competition leotard costs are widely published by gym programs.

Hockey

Hockey — Rec · 16 games estimated

USA Hockey publishes equipment cost guidance; rec registration ranges $200-450 across affiliated leagues. Equipment line averaged across skate replacement cycles.

Hockey — Travel/club · 60 games estimated

Tier I/II travel hockey club fees published by USA Hockey-affiliated programs typically run $4,000-7,000. Equipment includes skates, full pads, sticks, helmet, with annual replacement averaged.

Lacrosse — Boys

Lacrosse — Boys — School · 18 games estimated

US Lacrosse equipment guidance publishes typical kit costs. School lacrosse programs typically require family-provided equipment beyond uniforms.

Lacrosse — Boys — Travel/club · 45 games estimated

Top regional lacrosse club fees ($2,500-4,500) plus East Coast tournament travel (Crab Feast, Naptown Brawl, Inside Lacrosse 100) compose the largest costs.

Soccer

Soccer — School · 18 games estimated

School soccer follows generic school athletic fee patterns. Most equipment is family-provided (cleats, shin guards, ball).

Soccer — Travel/club · 45 games estimated

US Youth Soccer affiliate club fees typically run $2,000-3,500. Tournament travel adds substantially. Equipment includes cleats, shin guards, kit, multiple jerseys.

Soccer — Elite/showcase · 65 games estimated

ECNL and MLS Next clubs publish member fee structures averaging $4,500-7,500. National showcase event travel is the largest variable.

Swimming

Swimming — School · 14 games estimated

School swimming follows generic school athletic fee patterns. Equipment (suit, cap, goggles, parka) is family-provided.

Swimming — Travel/club · 30 games estimated

USA Swimming publishes annual membership and meet fee structures. Year-round age-group club fees average $2,000-3,500. Tech suit cost ($150-400) drives equipment line.

Tennis

Tennis — School · 14 games estimated

USTA publishes junior program participation and cost data. Tennis lesson rates ($60-100/hr) are widely surveyed. School tennis equipment is family-provided.

Volleyball

Volleyball — Travel/club · 50 games estimated

JVA and USAV publish club program structure data. National-bid 14U/15U/16U club fees range $3,000-5,500. Qualifier weekend travel is the largest variable.

Submit your numbers

If your real numbers diverge significantly from the defaults, email them. The more reader data we have, the more accurate the calculator gets. Especially helpful: which sport, which level, which region, your annual all-in cost, and a flag for any line that surprised you.

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