Being a parent is a lot of fun, but expensive. Having a child means having to adjust your budget in ways you never anticipated. Hockey is a costly sport to participate in and watch, even for those of us who like to assume it’s free. Here are some cost estimates for junior hockey in North America.
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Junior Hockey Equipment
One of the biggest costs associated with junior hockey is the equipment. You’ll need helmets, jerseys, pants, and gloves to play the game. Not to mention the fancy equipment you’ll need for practice, such as golf carts, pucks, and goalie masks.
You may be able to find cheaper options for some of these items, but not all. For instance, you’ll want a good-quality helmet and jersey to protect your child from head injuries. You may also need to splurge on a pair of goalie gloves to ensure your young hockey player doesn’t end up with hand injuries like you did as a child.
You’ll also need equipment for the coach. There are few things more intimidating than having your five-year-old daughter ask you for help with her karate homework while you’re trying to coach her team. You’ll need equipment to help you keep your balance while coaching your team (aka: golf cart or mountain bike), and warm clothes to keep you cozy during practice and games. To sum things up, the cost associated with junior hockey equipment can be a lot of money.
Travel & Stands
One of the most expensive items associated with junior hockey is the travel and stands that be. If you have a road trip planned, you’ll need to rent a van to transport your family and all of your equipment. Also, you’ll need to find a place to stay while you’re out there. Finally, you’ll need to purchase tickets for the games your child is participating in. All these expenses add up quickly.
Traveling to different places to watch your child play is expensive. It’s not only the costs of the flights and the accommodations, but there are also the costs of the food and entertainment (ie: hockey games and practices). If your child is old enough to understand the concept of budgets, having them travel for hockey could potentially break the bank.
Instructional Staff
Another expensive item in the budget of a junior hockey team is the instructional staff. You’ll need at least one person who is qualified to teach your child (and your family) the game. Besides, you’ll need someone to help you get started (ie: coach), and a teacher or coach during the day. After all, it’s not easy to find someone who is willing to spend their free time coaching your child’s team. You’ll have to pay them generously if you want them to bother with your little sprout, otherwise, they’ll have a hundred other demands on their time. In most cases, finding a babysitter who is also a hockey pro is almost impossible. There are just too many demands on their time, and you’ll have to pay them accordingly.
Rent Equipment Room /amp; Playground
If you’re fortunate enough to have a large backyard, you’ll likely want to equip it with a hockey rink. Although it would be amazing to have your own private rink to practice on, cost-wise, it may not be feasible. This is why you’ll need to look into renting a place for your child to practice and play hockey. You’ll also need a hockey mat, puck, and other equipment to get the games started. If you don’t have a large enough backyard, you’ll need to look into purchasing a hockey table or putting one together piece by piece. In both cases, the initial costs are quite high.
Amateur Hockey Association (AAA) Hockey Club
If you’re an official member of the amateur hockey association (AAA) you may be able to get some discounted rates when renting equipment and using the association’s rink. It’s worth asking about, and it may save you some money on the travel costs if your child is participating in a lot of games. If you’re not sure how much hockey you’ll need, ask the association for help. They will be able to give you an idea of what your costs will be for the upcoming season.
As you can see above, the cost of participating in junior hockey can be quite high, especially if you want to do it right. Even if you are fortunate enough to have a lot of support financially from family and friends, it may still be difficult to find the money for all the necessary equipment and travel to as many games as your child is playing in. It’s also important to realize that paying for all these things does not mean your child will enjoy the sport more. It may even be the opposite, as they may feel excluded from the activities of normal children their age because of the equipment they have to wear.
To help you save as much money as possible, we’ve compiled a list of everything that you’ll need to know as a new hockey parent. From deciding on the right equipment to buying, and much more, this article will assist you in becoming a better parent and hockey player together.