For many, sports are relaxing and fun. In other families, however, affording athletics can be a huge burden. Costs can range upwards of $1,000 for the most expensive school sports, and club sports often cost even more. Many athletes who can’t afford large financial commitments are often at a disadvantage due to lower-quality equipment and decreased opportunities for improvement, such as training outside of the sport. However, even with limitations, athletes have found it is possible to become great at a sport on a low budget. 

Although many athletes’ coaches or clubs provide them enrichment opportunities, these are hard to take advantage of due to finances. Sophomore ballet dancer Charlotte Hanley (she/her) said that ballerinas are often expected to take supplemental classes that cover technical skills in addition to attending rehearsals. She said these classes can cost anywhere from $15 to $40 for drop-ins in addition to the $100 to $700 for monthly tuition. 

“In general, most people in ballet are rich,” Hanley said. “If you’re not in a more well-off family, then it can be hard.”

Many of these classes are necessary for improvement, and it can be difficult for low-income families to consistently pay for them. 

In addition, specialized sports equipment allows athletes to perform at their best. Unfortunately, high-quality equipment like rackets and footwear typically cost $100 to $1,000, and even basic gear like swimsuits and leotards can cost a significant amount of money, which isn’t feasible for many families. Hanley said that one leotard — which is just spandex — can cost between $150 and $200.

This can be impactful to athletes and their performance as sportswear and equipment are basic necessities for sports, and low quality equipment can lead to reduced performance. Senior swim captain Lilian Berrios (she/her) has often tried out new equipment, and realized it is low-quality and hard to perform her best. 

 “When my goggles fall off, then I’m like, ‘Oh, I can’t see,’ but I still have another 100 [yards] to go, or another 50,” Berrios said. “Or, if my swimsuit’s feeling a little weird, then maybe I’ll perform a little differently. Quality definitely impacts performance.” 

Many athletes like Berrios share similar struggles with performing well while using poor-quality equipment. In a survey of 35 Inglemoor students, more than half had their sports performance negatively impacted by equipment.

Single-season sports, like skiing, pose unique costs and challenges. Senior Daniel Oskov (he/him) is an alpine ski racer, which is costly for both in-season and post-season training.

“Training in the sport is expensive for a club alone, and then also training outside the sport, because to train to ski competitively, you have to be physically fit or else you just get hurt,” Oskov said. 

He trains at a private gym several times per week and has to pay for racing skis, ski boots and specialized suits. Oskov estimates that the overall cost per year totals several thousand dollars. 

Although the equipment or other needs of some sports are provided by teams, the overall cost of paying for multiple seasons can be overwhelming for some families and may not be sustainable long-term. To counteract this, there are additional resources available for athletes who can’t afford to pay on their own. Junior Brielle Winston* (she/her), who does crew, said that she receives assistance from a scholarship set up by the George Pocock Foundation, a non-profit that helps low-income youth participate in rowing. This scholarship is accessible to athletes in different clubs across western Washington. 

“If it wasn’t under any scholarship, I really don’t think I’d be able to do both seasons,” Winston said. “I’d probably have to pick one or not do it at all.”

 In a survey of 35 Inglemoor students, five have had problems paying for sports, like Winston. Scholarships can greatly ease the financial burden of a sport. This was a key cause of Inglemoor alumna Aylin Dutt (she/her) and the Pocock Foundation’s pursuit to bring the Pocock Scholarship to Inglemoor, which allowed Winston and other students to receive assistance. Dutt became captain of the crew team in her junior year, which was the same time that prices for the sport rose from $145 to $806 per season. When she saw the price increase, Dutt said she knew something had to change. 

“I was doing a lot of research and looking around, trying to look at alternative sources of funding that we could possibly get grants from or sponsorships,” Dutt explained. 

She also stresses the importance of using resources to find these scholarships, not just for her team, but for any students who are interested in scholarship opportunities and maintaining long-term support.

“When looking for these fundings and these partnerships, it’s important to think about long-term connections and building those relationships, rather than a one-time $500 grant or a one time fundraiser,” Dutt said. “How can you set some money aside and basically build a more stable financial future for your sport rather than just year to year and constantly dealing with a shortage?”

Crew is not the only sport that has become very expensive to participate in, but there are many resources available to help students in need. Sports clothing can be found at Viking Village, thrift stores or local stores like Play It Again Sports in Woodinville. Many scholarships that provide tuition, transportation, clothing and other necessities are available for diverse sports, and can be found through schools, teams, churches and other community organizations. Sports can be made accessible, and being able to find resources that are available can minimize financial barriers. 

“It may seem like there’s a ton of barriers,” Winston said. “But if you really get down to it and find those resources, it’s accessible for anyone who wants to do it.”

*Name randomly generated for anonymity