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[ment2b]

Below is a link estimating the cost of several different sports for 10 years.  Do you agree?  

Soccer comes in at:
Estimated annual time commitment: 320 hours
Estimated value of total time: $52,064

Link to article:
http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/18/the-true-cost-of-being-a-soccer-mom-time-money/

[EWSoccer64]

The time estimate seems rather low.   For a 50 week year, that works out to just over 6 hours a week.
For a state league/rcl/premier/pdl team, I would estimate more like 12 hours a week, for 46 weeks, minimum.  Call it 550 hours for an unambitious team.  Many teams would have double that commitment -
3 practices a week, times 48 weeks.   Including travel time = 3 hours a practice = ?
1 match per week, including warm up time and one hour travel time, (spreading tournament time out over the weekends with no game as compensation) = 4 hours per match = ?
Meetings, fundraisers, organizational time = 10 hours per year.
I would say 600-700 hours a year plus any long distance (out of state travel)

[English1]

The time estimate seems rather low.   For a 50 week year, that works out to just over 6 hours a week.
For a state league/rcl/premier/pdl team, I would estimate more like 12 hours a week, for 46 weeks, minimum.  Call it 550 hours for an unambitious team.  Many teams would have double that commitment -
3 practices a week, times 48 weeks.   Including travel time = 3 hours a practice = ?
1 match per week, including warm up time and one hour travel time, (spreading tournament time out over the weekends with no game as compensation) = 4 hours per match = ?
Meetings, fundraisers, organizational time = 10 hours per year.
I would say 600-700 hours a year plus any long distance (out of state travel)

Plus if you manage, are treasurer, travel co-ordinator etc...add a few hundred more!

[plentyofgames]

Just think of all the TV you could be watching if you weren't involved with an activity with one of your children. Everything has a cost. If you subtract the value of doing something that is fun and helps your kids you're still money ahead.

[EWSoccer64]

Or if I had spent all that time working, or running my own business, I could pay 100% cash for my kids college education.

[plentyofgames]

Bet your kids were better off having you involved and a bunch of other kids were too. We all know too many guys who worked too much and never really knew their kids. Seems like a lot of the guys I know like that are now on their second families. I think you know the point I was trying to make and I know yours. It is a substantial commitment of time and money.

[MarkyMark]

I guess I have a couple of points to make on this topic. My Daughter has been playing soccer since she was 5 years old and is now about to enter into High School. I have really enjoyed watching her play through the years with lots of great memories. It is the highlight of my week when I get to see her play. I would rather watch my daughter's team play than any professional game. The Friendships I have developed with other parents over the years has been just wonderful. Yes there have been some crazy parents and egocentric coaches along the way but that is just the baggage that comes with competitive sports. One last thing, Every player on my daughter's team is a straight "A" student. Does Soccer have something to do with that? I don't know but I am not going to mess with something that's working.

[vms]

Bravo MarkyMark!
My wife was a team manager for years, always the"Team mom". I was always involved with being the unofficial team doc. Thousands of hours spent that were repaid in thousands of smiles! Great friendships forged during that time! We both miss it...a huge hole that is not filled by watching pro sports.  Even now with a son playing college soccer, the intimacy is not there. Enjoy your DD during these GREAT years!!

[English1]

I guess I have a couple of points to make on this topic. My Daughter has been playing soccer since she was 5 years old and is now about to enter into High School. I have really enjoyed watching her play through the years with lots of great memories. It is the highlight of my week when I get to see her play. I would rather watch my daughter's team play than any professional game. The Friendships I have developed with other parents over the years has been just wonderful. Yes there have been some crazy parents and egocentric coaches along the way but that is just the baggage that comes with competitive sports. One last thing, Every player on my daughter's team is a straight "A" student. Does Soccer have something to do with that? I don't know but I am not going to mess with something that's working.

Agreed!

[The Irish Guy]

Anyone notice their math is wrong? They say they used $16.72 per hour to come up with the estimate cost of the time spent. We can argue about whether the hours they say are too low or too high, and whether the $16.72 is reasonable, but the figures they came up with slipped a decimal, they are using $162.70 as the hour rate. Sure skews the results and implied costs. The costs for soccer come down to ~$5,300 versus the ~$52,000 shown

[tripleplay]

Anyone notice their math is wrong? They say they used $16.72 per hour to come up with the estimate cost of the time spent. We can argue about whether the hours they say are too low or too high, and whether the $16.72 is reasonable, but the figures they came up with slipped a decimal, they are using $162.70 as the hour rate. Sure skews the results and implied costs. The costs for soccer come down to ~$5,300 versus the ~$52,000 shown

They are talking about 10 years in the sport. So the numbers are accurate - given the assumptions.

Simplistic overall, but it does point out why the frequent obsession with "lowering the cost of soccer", referring only to reducing the dollar outlay, is irrational. 

[Islander]

After the week that I just shared with my daughter down at Regionals, every penny and every minute, Priceless.
After the loss in the final, with tears streaming down her face, she walked over, hugged me and said "Happy Fathers Day Dad."
God I love her.

[PKPOP]

After the week that I just shared with my daughter down at Regionals, every penny and every minute, Priceless.
After the loss in the final, with tears streaming down her face, she walked over, hugged me and said "Happy Fathers Day Dad."
God I love her.

That says it all

[mydogrosy]

If we eagerly jump out of bed early on a weekend to drive to Puyallap or Redmond or Bellingham... to stand in the rain (and the Snohomish mud), we must be getting something out of it.  For me, it's really getting to know them in the time you just spend chatting on the way.  You dont get that at home with the TV on or with them in their rooms with headphones on.  Happy to die penniless with these experiences.

[BIG GREEN]

Islander , your statement  is so very true, my girls were both playing that weekend one in puyallup and the other at starfire  both made it to the finals. one won it the other placed 2nd .  i drove that weekend over 200 miles  to watch both of them play and you now what i would do very weekend !!!!

And i had friends ask why do you spend thousand of dollars  a year for them to play soccer ?

And i come back with this , when you were there age  didn't your mom and dad  drive you and or your sister to football, basketball , baseball, dance class  ETC  so you could play the game, or activity  you loved to play or do

all they could say was TRUE!!!

Parents , we have to be some of the luckest people  to watch our girls and boys play this game  and yes it now cost $$$$ to play but , in may case i would move mountains  and sell my soul to thew devil  make sure my girls get to play or do soemthing they love.

mine did it for me , as my mom told me when i became a father , Now it your turn to drive miss daisy every where .