Club Soccer Costs

What national surveys say

The most useful national number comes from the Aspen Institute's Project Play. Its 2024 survey of 1,848 youth sports parents found that families spent an average of $1,016 per child on their main sport, up 46% since 2019. Add a second sport and the total comes to nearly $1,500 per child per year. Parent estimates ran from nothing to almost $25,000.

Soccer spending rose about 69% over those five years, which is steeper than the overall increase. Aspen's survey did not publish a soccer-only dollar figure that we could confirm, so we won't print one.

Keep one caution in mind. That $1,016 is an average across every sport and every level, from a town rec league to a national club. A family on an elite club team will pay well above it, and a rec family will pay well below. Use it as a reference point, not a budget.

Typical costs by level

We can't responsibly give you a dollar range for each level, because fees differ widely by state, club and age. What we can describe is how the shape of the bill changes as you move up.

Ask any club for last year's real total for a family on the team you're considering, and not only the posted fee. Good directors will give you a rough answer.

What the club fee usually covers

Clubs differ, so read the fee sheet line by line. In general, the season fee pays for the coaches, field or facility rental, state association and league registration, referees, insurance and some administration. Many clubs include a game kit, and some include one tournament.

Ask what is not included. A club with a lower fee may charge separately for items another club bundles in, so compare totals, not headline numbers.

• Coaching and training sessions through the season.
• League and state association registration.
• Referee fees for league games.
• Insurance and administrative costs.
• Fields, lights and facility rentals.
• A game uniform, at many clubs.

Extras that catch families off guard

This is where budgets break. The base fee is the part you can plan for. The rest depends on the schedule.

• Uniforms and training gear, sometimes replaced each year or when the club changes sponsors.
• Tournament entry fees, which clubs often split among team families.
• Travel: gas, flights if the team goes to national events, and rental cars.
• Hotels, which can be the largest extra for out-of-town weekends. Families often share rooms to save.
• Private or small-group training, which many parents add on their own.
• Team events, photos, bags, and coaches' gifts.
• Fundraising buy-outs, if the club expects you to sell or donate.

The Aspen survey names registration, travel and equipment as major cost drivers, though it doesn't give a dollar breakdown by category in the release we reviewed. Ask your club for last season's schedule, count the away weekends, and price them out. That's the quickest way to see the true cost.

Private training deserves a word. Some parents feel it's required. It isn't, at most ages. A child who's getting a lot of touches in a good team practice rarely needs it before their early teens, and a good coach will tell you honestly if extra work would help.

Ways to save

• Ask for the all-in cost before tryouts, and compare clubs by total.
• Choose a team that plays mostly within an hour of home. Travel is the biggest variable.
• Ask about payment plans, sibling discounts and early-registration pricing.
• Buy used cleats, shin guards and training gear. Many clubs run a gear swap.
• Carpool to practices and games, and share hotel rooms with other families.
• Join the club's fundraising if it offers fee credits.
• Skip add-ons like private training until your child asks for them.

Another way to save is to stay at the level your child fits. Our guide on choosing a club explains why a strong team in a middle tier is often a better value than a lower spot in an elite league. You can also compare what the different levels involve in the leagues guide.

Scholarships and financial aid

Most clubs have some form of financial aid, though they don't always advertise it. It can be a fee reduction, a payment plan, or a scholarship fund paid for by donations and fundraisers. Look on the club's website for a financial aid or scholarship page, and if there isn't one, email the director. It's a common request, and you won't be the first.

When you ask, be specific about what would make it possible for your child to play. Some clubs ask for a short application or proof of income. Others work it out in a quick conversation. A good club will keep the request private and won't treat your child differently.

Costs keep some kids out entirely. In Project Play's April 2026 survey of players in New York City and North Jersey, 32% named expensive team fees as a major issue, rising to 41% for children from low-income households. Many state associations and local community foundations also run programs for players who need help, so check with yours.

If aid isn't available, don't give up on soccer. Rec leagues, school teams and community programs offer real playing time at a fraction of club fees. Some clubs also run low-cost developmental programs designed to be a first step.

A practical budget exercise

Before tryouts, write down four numbers for each club you're considering: the season fee, the uniform and gear cost, the tournaments and travel on last year's schedule, and any training you expect to add. Total them. Then decide your ceiling before you hear an offer, since it's easier to say no when you've already settled on a number.

To find clubs near you and compare their programs, go to clubs by state. The tryouts guide covers timing and the questions to ask.