Stickhandling through high cost of kids’ sports

Equipment exchanges, buying used play role in dealing with expenses

It’s a battle between the Nova Scotia Tigers and the Chaleur Avalanche in Bouctouche’s J.K. Irving Centre on this frosty Friday afternoon in early February.

At the net, 10-year-old goalie Zach Fontaine is protected behind heavily-padded equipment that covers him from just under his helmet and facemask to his skates.

His father, David Fontaine, sips on a medium McDonalds coffee in the stands, able to identify his son only by his bright orange-and-navy blue team jersey with its number 31 on the back and sleeves.

Today, his son’s team emerges victorious, defanging the Tigers with a score of 5-1 in ringette tournament action.

He and his wife, Allison, have made a commitment to their five children to encourage them to lead healthy lifestyles and take part in sports.

Providing sons and daughters with opportunities to play sports is seen as part of being a good parent. It helps children develop great handeye coordination, tone and beef up muscles, learn to work with teammates, recognize the importance of discipline and persistence, and enhance their brains’ ability to repair itself and be mentally healthy and alert.

But buying equipment and travel costs and program registration fees, can be tough on the pocketbook.

“For a year, with the trips and everything, it’s close to $1,550,” said Fontaine.

Throughout Atlantic Canada, many families face the same financial juggling act as they try to stretch their household budget enough to allow their children to enjoy team sports.

Statistics Canada figures from 2016, the most recent year for which data is available, show the average family spends $561 on sports equipment and fees. Atlantic Canadians spent a bit less, coughing up $416.

But that’s just the average for equipment and fees. Those figures don’t include all the gas and wear and tear on the family minivan or nights in hotels during tournaments or away trips.

An Ipsos poll conducted for Global News last year shows some parents, most notably those whose kids are on teams, spend more. The typical Canadian family was reportedly planning to spend about $755 for their children who are on hockey teams last year, that polls reveals. By comparison, parents of swimmers were looking to budget about $193.

The Fontaines try hard to keep costs down by scouring websites and services for deals and buying equipment second hand at thrift shops.

“I’ve never bought skates that are new for my kids,” he said. “I buy them at the Salvation Army for around $10 to $15 for a good pair. But you need to go often and see what they have. That equipment, if it’s in good shape, it can last for years.”

The father of three ringette players, Fontaine also keeps costs down by maintaining the skates himself as much as possible.

“I bought a little tool a few years ago to remove the rust,” he said. “When we get skates, we sharpen them only once or twice a year. That’s good enough. Every time you sharpen skates, you lose a part of the blade – and it’s $6 a shot.”

During the summer, the Fontaine boys play baseball. The team jerseys, balls and helmets for batting are provided by the local minor league teams. Cleats, though, aren’t, so they rely on the league’s cleat exchange for those who outgrow their own.

At another second-hand store, Fontaine picked up five pairs of sneakers for only $5.

“There are a lot of parents who buy stuff new,” he said. “Today, with a lot of families with only one or two kids, maybe they can do that. But, me, even if

I could afford it, I still wouldn’t buy new because it’s like buying a new car. There’s a lot of depreciation.”

Bargain-hunting clearly goes a long way to keep costs down. But no amount of careful shopping can make up for an insufficient income to both take care of children’s basic needs and also buy them sports equipment and pay for recreational programs.

But there there are organizations willing to support those families most in need, including the national Jumpstart and KidSport programs which have local chapters.

The KidSport program provides funding annually to cover the costs of registration and equipment for sports programs.

Canadian Tire’s Jumpstart program is another national program that provides similar help.