Children’s sport costs families more than $4,500 a year, research finds
Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
News
Documents & data
Context piece
- An Australian Sports Commission study found that community sport costs an average of A$4,567 a year for each child, including equipment, travel, coaching and lost parental income.
- The Harmsworth family’s three children compete at representative level, requiring extensive travel and careful planning across the year.
- Researchers said earlier estimates often focused on registration fees and missed the broader financial commitment to community sport.
For Aaron and Paula Harmsworth, keeping three children involved in competitive sport requires more than a registration payment. It means watching the bank balance, arranging leave and planning a year of travel across Australia.
Their children, Jace, 17, Sienna, 15, and Indy, 13, compete at representative level in several sports. Sienna has been selected for Queensland teams in hockey, netball and touch football in 2026. The family has already travelled from Hobart to Darwin, with stops including Goulburn, the Gold Coast, Mackay, Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Coffs Harbour and Hervey Bay.
It’s something we talk about regularly because we do look at the bank balance and go, ‘Geez, we’re spending a lot of money here.’
“It’s something we talk about regularly because we do look at the bank balance and go, ‘Geez, we’re spending a lot of money here,’” Aaron Harmsworth said. He and his wife balance that expense against what their children gain through sport, including the people they meet, the places they visit, respect and resilience.
There is no price tag on what the kids learn through sport.
New research commissioned by the Australian Sports Commission found that the average annual cost for a child playing in a community sport competition is A$4,567. The figure includes registration, equipment, uniforms, coaching, travel, accommodation and income parents lose because of sporting commitments. Adults who play community sport spend an average of A$2,894 a year.
Lead researcher Rochelle Eime said earlier research often concentrated on registration fees, while the new study examined the full financial commitment. On average, coaching accounted for A$1,400 for an individual sport, lost parental income for travel reached A$1,000, accommodation cost A$700 and travel added another A$500. Harmsworth said the sacrifices were not only financial, although the supplied article ends before detailing them further.
It seems like a really high number, but when you start looking at all the different categories, it all stacks up.
About this summary
Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
More Stories
From Our Blog
News in Translation: What Gets Lost, and How We Keep the Framing
Diaspora Media: How Communities Follow News From Home
Traveling Where the Press Is Not Free: How to Read the News There
The Digital Nomad's Guide to Local News
The Same Story, Different Countries: How Coverage Changes at the Border
