How much is your child worth? To most parents, this may be an insulting and even angering question to dare ask. Yet, in reality, many are asking this quiet question as soon as they see their kid can put a ball in their hands or they show an interest in any type of competitive endeavor. Perhaps not in those same words, but calculations are being made. There is no way to deny it.
Any parent who has a child in sports knows that aside from the team uniform, athletic equipment, and snacks they need to bring during the week to cover a sport, there are endless unaccounted for costs to having a child athlete. There is also the time and gas to drive them everywhere for games and practice to consider. Moreover, there are the visits to the doctor and therapy sessions when they get hurt. Then, of course, there are the endless chats and pep talks needed when they lose or even win a game, so they grow from these experiences instead of being demolished or inflated with egos too big to handle.
If you take a step back and look at some gross figures after the childhood aspect of it is over and high school comes into the scene, let’s be honest, aren’t most parents considering that college ticket? In the United States, Division I and II universities offer an average of $2 billion in athletic scholarships per year. This sounds huge, right? However, this amount is only spread out among an average of 126,000 students, which accounts for only about two percent of those hopeful high school athletes. This averages out to $15,000-$35,000 per year for each athlete, for as much of that college year’s expenses as that money can cover. Depending on if it is a public or private institution, this amount could equal a free ride or not go far enough.
When all is said and done, perhaps the real question should be if a return on your investment is what your motive is for enrolling your kid in that sport to begin with, maybe you shouldn’t get so mad when others see potential in them and put a price on how much they’re willing to invest as well. Is what they are willing to invest fair to that athlete’s investment? After all, a good athlete will have to practice, accept possible risk of physical injury, as well as give of their time and energy to ride the physical as well as emotional roller coaster that comes with a competitive endeavor.
Ultimately, it is a matter of perspective and where you place your values. If change is found to be necessary, one must be objective and look at the whole picture before casting a blanket opinion on how a whole system works or how it should be changed. Nothing that involves so many moving pieces is that simple to change without affecting every single piece of the puzzle. When forming an opinion or making a decision, let it be an educated one. After all, along with good sportsmanship, it is probably the best lesson you can teach your child throughout their athletic endeavors.
Blog by Clea P. Tucker