With the cost-of-living crisis and inflation concerns, some after-school sports are deemed a luxury. Photo / Supplied
Extracurricular sports offer numerous benefits for kids, physically and mentally, while fostering character building.
Typically, from the age of 5, parents enrol their children in activities outside of school, whether it’s sports, music, dance or art.
However, in today’s economic climate, marked by a cost-of-living crisis and inflation concerns, some after-school activities are seen as a luxury.
Given these challenges, is the cost of playing worth it? And as families grapple with significant financial burdens, what code’s the best value to ensure children reap the myriad benefits associated with sports participation?
For the rugby-mad mums and dads who want to see their kid become the next Beauden Barrett or Ruby Tui, rugby is one of the cheapest grassroots codes in Aotearoa.
Despite the low costs, rugby’s overall participation is declining and the fears of head knocks and long-term injuries don’t help New Zealand’s national sport’s case.
The cost of participating in the world’s biggest sport varies depending on the club or the player’s abilities and aspirations. It could be compared to the age-old debate of sending a child to a private versus public school.
Despite the various expenses associated with participating in community football, it’s essential not to overlook the fact the sport reached its present status due to its accessibility. This accessibility has played a crucial role in nurturing some of the greatest players in history. Many of them honed their skills by kicking and dribbling tin cans or rolled-up newspapers around the streets of Brazil.
Playing cricket is sometimes a bonus activity kids will partake in during the summer. Another favourite Kiwi sport that teaches kids the importance of technique, tactics and patience.
Cricket also provides players, and typically voluntary umpires, with a respite from the stress and fervour of sideline parents, who watch from a distance, outside the cricket oval and the intensity of the game.
Playing cricket compares with rugby and football, but it’s the gear that lifts its expense.
A sport predominately played by women and girls, it’s a code often played through schools rather than clubs. This makes the sport one of the cheapest options for parents to enrol their children into.
The downside of the sport is that sometimes netball can be notoriously toxic, “dominated by adults with big egos and warped ethics and elite players with a hard-to-understand sense of entitlement”, one netball dad wrote.
Swimming differs from popular team sports such as football, netball and rugby. Enroling your child in swimming lessons isn’t always a passion project but a life skill, like riding a bike.
Especially considering the growing drowning rates, it’s evermore important that kids grow up confident in the water and know the fundamentals of swimming.
However, as kids grow up learning freestyle and breaststroke, some do find a passion for it.
Some of New Zealand’s greatest athletes are golfers: Sir Bob Charles, Michael Campbell and Lydia Ko.
Golf can be costly for juniors but often comes with significant rewards. In 2023, Ko and men’s golfer Ryan Fox were named one of New Zealand’s highest-paid athletes, amongst stars such as Steven Adams, Chris Wood and Israel Adesyana.
Like cricket, the main tennis competitions and tournaments are played in the summer, but like golf, tennis is an investment.
Playing interclub for a season is reasonable, but tennis coaching is expensive.
There are massive financial rewards in tennis. Rodger Federer and Serena Williams are some of the highest-paid athletes of all time. However, New Zealand has struggled to produce top tennis players in the past.
For those who consider dance as a sport (it is in the 2024 Paris Olympics after all) it’s again one of the more expensive ones.
Gymnastics is a sport known for its high level of discipline. Its code demands physical exercises that require balance, strength, flexibility, agility, co-ordination, artistry, and endurance, all of which contribute to building a well-rounded athlete.
Athletics is a popular sport, particularly in an Olympic year, and New Zealand has produced some top, medal-worthy track and field athletes. Perhaps that’s because season fees at a community level are extremely reasonable.
Whether it’s on the road or in the mountains, cycling is another cheap option for extracurricular activities, but the sport’s key piece of equipment will set you back.
Like athletics, New Zealand has produced some outstanding rowers, but the enrolment prices between the two vastly differ. Club memberships are typically for those over 16; younger rowers go through schools.
Equestrianism is ideal for kids because it combines physical activity with responsibility and empathy through bonding with horses. It fosters confidence, discipline and social skills, all while providing therapeutic benefits. Overall, it offers a unique opportunity for children to grow physically, emotionally, and socially.
* All fees are approximate and generally vary across regions and suburbs.
Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME Sports team. She’s a keen footballer and has worked with the Alternative Commentary Collective and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a full-time journalist.
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