The costs involved with sports-mad children are never-ending but Rotorua parents seem to be committed to ensuring their kids don't miss out on sporting opportunities.
PLENTY TO DO: The Stevens kids, Taron (left), Jodi and Brooke, are a sporty bunch who play a variety of sports.
Dana Stevens has three
daughters living at home, all heavily involved in sports but despite the costs involved, he and wife Jacqui support the girls in their endeavours. The couple, who have played a variety of sports themselves over the years, have five daughters and they are all sporty. One has left home and is studying at university while their second eldest isn't playing sport this year.
Taron Stevens, 14, and twins Jodi and Brooke Stevens, 12, all play waterpolo, volleyball, netball, basketball, touch and hockey. They also do triathlons and go to swim classes.
They play at school level but the twins also play representative basketball, waterpolo and netball - which mean extra costs. Dana says as the girls have grown up, each of them have seen their elder sister get involved in many sports and have wanted to do the same.
"My wife and I encourage it," Dana says. "We try to allow our kids to try different things. We wouldn't deny them."
Dana says he is constantly forking out cash to pay for things such as fees, entry into venues, new equipment and clothing. However, it's the travel involved with the different sports events, trainings and competitions - especially with the representative teams - that incurs the heftiest costs.
He is unsure how much he will spend on his kids' sports but says he knows what they play and they can budget for them. He says winter can get really expensive because many of the sports his children are involved in are played then.
"We sort of find ways to minimise the costs."
The hands-on parents do more than just support their kids' sports with money. They are heavily involved, taking the girls to training and games and are often managers of the teams in which they play.
Dana says it allows them to bond and spend more time with their children as well as mix with the parents of other children in the teams. He says you can't put a value on time spent with yourchildren.
Despite the costs and time Dana and Jacqui put into their children's sports, he says it's important to nurture their talents and interests.
Having children who are heavily involved in sports also means they stay out of trouble, he says. They are too busy putting their energy and focus into their sports.
"At least we know where our kids are."
He says some families can find it hard to cover the costs involved with children's sports.
"I think some families can't afford it but for some, it's not a priority."
For Rotorua's Nikki Harrison, who has a house full of basketballers, making sure they're given opportunities to get recognised is expensive but important.
Until recent years, Nikki shared her home with husband Russell, her stepsons Dylan and John, her two boys Isaiah and Jalen and her and Russell's twin girls Maia and Tyra. Basketball was the main sport in the house, although 13-year-old Isaiah also plays hockey and is talking about volleyball.
Basketball is an expensive sport, Nikki says. Making representative teams that travel to places such as Australia can cost each player about $3000 but she says it's about giving the boys a chance to go as far as they can with their chosen sport.
She knows of parents who organise fundraising raffles to pay for their children's trips.
"If you don't pay the money and go to these trips, you don't get recognised."
Her eldest boys, Dylan and John, have left home and the younger boys are now coming up in the sport while the girls play miniball.
Nikki says when all the boys were growing up, basketball was a big part of their lives with the whole family enjoying the sport.
"They just live and breathe it - it's basketball 24/7. Sports is a good focus and it keeps you fit and healthy," she says.
Rotorua Community Cricket manager Amanda Gallacher says Rotorua Cricket has among the highest numbers of junior cricketers in the Northern Districts region and she believes they charge the lowest fees to cater for low decile schools.
Most popular sports for juniors (Under-19s)
Netball 1600
Waterpolo1177
Soccer 1128
Basketball 1122
Hockey 1037
Waka Ama 1030
Rugby 950
Touch 900
Cricket 575
League 500
Source: 2011 Rotorua Sports Field and Sports Facilities Review
Summary of club fees
Netball: About $400 for a junior team
Waterpolo: $100 to $120 per junior
Football (soccer): $50 to $80 per season
Basketball: About $35 for primary and intermediate students; $45 secondary school
Hockey: $33 to $80 per junior
Waka Ama: About $8 for under 13s, $8.50 for under 18s
Rugby: $10 to $25 per junior
Touch: $200 to $350 per junior team
Cricket: $25 per child per term for primary, intermediate and secondary school competitions. Because they offer a T20 midweek comp as well as Super Saturday Cricket for intermediate and secondary school students, school teams that play in both are charged $40 per term. Senior reserve and premier mens teams $1000 per team per season.
League: $60-$80 per player.
Source: 2011 Rotorua Sports Field and Sports Facilities Review