The High Price of Youth Sports: Navigating Dreams and Financial Challenges
The Financial Strain of Chasing Athletic Dreams
Young athletes often face a costly journey to success, involving pricey private coaching, financial risks, and no backup plans. This leaves many struggling by their 20s.
Karan’s Cricket Aspirations
Every day at 5 am, 13-year-old Karan wakes up for cricket coaching. His family relocated across the city and enrolled him in open schooling to accommodate his sports schedule. Karan’s cricket dreams come with a hefty price tag of Rs 3 lakh annually for coaching and gear, plus travel expenses.
Wealth’s Influence in Sports
Coaches reveal that most children in full-time coaching for expensive sports like cricket or tennis hail from wealthy families or switch specialties based on affordability. “If batting gear is too costly, you opt for bowling; it’s cheaper,” explains Syed Z, a Bengaluru-based coach.
High Risk, High Reward
In cricket, the risks are high, but so are the rewards. Success brings significant earnings. However, popular sports have tougher competition, and coaches and gear become increasingly expensive. It’s not just outdoor games that pose financial challenges.
The Financial Burden of Chess
International travel becomes essential in chess after a certain point. Initially, the parents of Grandmasters Vaishali and Praggnanandhaa borrowed money to fund their travels.
Middle-Class Parents’ Struggles
Pullela Gopichand, former badminton champion turned coach, advises middle-class parents to reconsider pushing their children into sports due to the costs and limited job prospects later. His comments received mixed reactions.
Lower-Income Families’ Potential
Ironically, coaches find that children from lower-income families often show greater promise. “They give it their all, with no distractions,” says chess coach Ramesh Babu. However, these families usually lack the resources to afford coaching.
The Need for a Supportive Ecosystem
“Instead of discouraging them, we should create an ecosystem where they can afford coaching,” suggests Ramesh.
New Opportunities in Sports-Related Fields
J Meghanatha Reddy, member secretary of the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu, highlights the emergence of new opportunities in sports-related fields. “Ex-players become scientific analysts, strategists, psychologists, administrators, and more in IPL, sports associations, and leagues.”
The Demand for Skilled Coaches
Syed Z observes a growing demand for good coaches due to rising competition levels. “I was a university-level cricketer, but I enjoy coaching.” Coaching can be a viable career path for those from lower-income families.
Balancing Sports and Studies
Coaches and former players agree that competition makes it nearly impossible to balance sports and full-time studies. “Serious sports require nine hours of practice daily. You can’t pursue a career as a doctor or engineer alongside,” says Pradhnya Gadre, former national badminton champion.
The Importance of Exit Plans
Gopichand believes there should be exit plans at different stages for all sports aspirants who sacrifice their education. “The answer is not free jobs but skilling. Find a bridge between sports and academics and make all sports aspirants employable.”
The Value of Employability
China and the USA successfully reintegrate former sportspersons into the system. At UCLA, which boasts 34 Olympic medals, athletes study alongside training, with scholarships, tutoring, and sponsorships. By 17, those who don’t make it receive a one-year foundation course. “India needs a model,” says Gopichand.
The Benefits of Sports Beyond a Professional Career
Not all parents view a professional career as the sole measure of success. Karan’s parents express that they aren’t chasing a guarantee. “Whatever the outcome, he’s learning something he may not have learned in school, such as handling failure.”
