Participation in school sports by children from households with less than $60,000 in annual income decreased 10 percent during the 2013-14 school year compared with the 2011-12 school year, according to latest University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health.
The poll, which was taken earlier this month, asked about participation, or so called “pay-to-play,” fees for school sports. It found only 30 percent of lower-income families, which the study describes as families with less than $60,000 in annual household income, have a child playing school sports. That compared to 51 percent among families earning more than $60,000 per year.
Notably, among the 58 percent of parents whose child did not play school sports at all, 14 percent cited cost as the reason for non-participation.
Surprisingly, among households earning more than $60,000 a year, nearly 10 percent said their child had decreased sports participation because of cost twice as high as reported in 2012.
The poll found the average school sports participation fee was $126 per child; while 38 percent paid $0 in participation fees-some receiving waivers for those fees-18 percent paid $200 or more. In addition to the participation fees, parents in the poll reported an average of $275 in other sports-related costs like equipment and travel. That put the average cost of participation at $400 per child.
