Sports have been a uniting force for many communities within the United States and across the world. But there has been an obvious obstacle hindering certain parts of communities from truly embracing themselves within the wider industry, especially if they wanted to go professional.
Money is the biggest divider between potential and professional athletes. While certain sports like basketball, baseball, and soccer have an incredibly low barrier to entry, once a person decides to put more focus on a sport, the bills can start to pile up.
Its one of the largest reasons why youth sports participation is drying up. As the years pass, an increasing number of low-income households and even middle-class families are being priced out of participating in certain sports.
Winter sports have been the biggest perpetrator of this. Wealthy families have an easier time affording the various costs of gear, lessons, and hospital bills that these types of sports may incur. And with how region-specific these sports are, unless a family lives in an area where winter is common, they’ll likely need to have the money to afford simulated environments for practice.
Regardless, interest in these types of sports has only spiked following this year’s Winter Olympics, making this a perfect opportunity to gain a whole new audience. Sports organizations would have a better time partnering with school systems across the country and actively helping fund sports gear expenses through grants. For many, schools have been the primary avenue to introduce people to new types of activities.
But for adults, it’s next to impossible. It’s organizations like the YMCA that have been able to fill that void, but they have seen a decline in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Support for these public organizations is key, so everyone, no matter their financial background, can enjoy recreational activities.
