IN SPORTING parlance, nobody digs deeper than parents helping their kids chase their athletic dreams.
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The mums and dads may not be the ones ‘giving 110 per cent’ on the pitch, but they’re paying a tidy sum to keep their kids registered and kitted with the latest gear.
The NSW government will lighten the load from January 1, 2018, offering $100 rebates for parents to enroll their kids in sports.
The “active kids rebate” has been widely welcomed. But some think it could go further and help parents pay for necessary gear and clubs running local competitions.
Don Lewington sees the plight of parents from a range of perspectives as a local retailer, father of sporting kids and he’s also involved with Tamworth soccer and cricket clubs.
“As a father of four kids, all playing soccer, it’s great because the costs just add up and up,” he said.
Mr Lewington said the constant rise to the cost of living hits a lot of parents when it comes to sport.
He said numbers in junior sport weren’t as high as they once were with cost posing a major barrier.
He said government incentives could go further with similar vouchers offered to clubs to help with the cost of running sports, as well as parents buying equipment for their kids.
‘It becomes costly at rep level’
Tamworth mother Hailey Craigie has three kids playing a range of sports including: tennis, OzTag, touch football and rugby league.
For Ms Craigie, the costs stack-up outside of registration with expenses incurred for travel to representative games and additional gear and clothing.
While she estimated it could be up to $1000 per child for registrations per year, there was a priceless aspect to sport in her mind.
“I want to to keep my kids active and for when they hit their teenage years,” she said.
She said sport gives them something productive to do and would hopefully keep them from straying down the wrong path.
“I’m also big on the social experience they get out of it, meeting new friends,” she said.
Ms Craigie said the costs really add up outside of rego fees with children going to play at representative level.
“It becomes costly at rep level, it’s not a part of rego fees so you have to pay again,” she said.
“You have to pay for the clothing that comes with that.
“But, I believe in keeping kids active and they enjoy it socially too.”
Help to hurdle costly barrier
As part of the state budget measure, parents can claim up to $100 per child, per year for registration fees for a range of sports.
These activities could include sports such as netball, football or basketball; swimming classes or lessons; as well as other fitness or physical activities such as gymnastics or athletics.
A comprehensive list of eligible sports and activities will be finalised following community consultation ahead of the start date early next year, to allow providers to register with the NSW Office for Sport.
“Tearing around the sports ground is the best thing about being a kid, but sports registration and lesson fees can really add up for families,” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said.
“Our Budget will lower that cost for every school child in NSW, making sport more accessible, helping families out and reducing barriers to healthy activity.
“The health of our children is a priority for every parent and I hope this rebate is the difference it takes to enable parents to enrol their child in the sport of their choice.”