Public service announcement: guys need to spend time together drinking beer and playing sports. Calm yourselves, naysayers, it’s proven by science. While I may enjoy a local brew, I’m way more into the sports. Every week I play soccer with the guys and come winter, hit the slopes. Sports is a way for me to clear my head and get caught up in the rush of adrenaline. Since nothing in life comes free, here’s what it costs to get into two of the best sports around.

Soccer

My parents weren’t much for physical activity. I was a scrawny four-eyed piano-playing Asian kid. In 8th grade, I asked if it was ok to try for the soccer team. They humoured me and allowed it, not expecting me to make the team; I did (so there). Since that day, my appetite for the beautiful game has only grown, but so too has the cost of being able to play.

The startup costs for playing soccer are relatively small. Technically, all you need are a pair of cleats, shin guards, a pair of socks and a ball. These items can be used for several years before needing to be replaced. Fields and goal posts can be improvised. Since it’s a team sport, you’ll need some friends too.

Equipment Cost

My affinity for the number 13 and fine footballing apparel come from teenaged years growing up in Germany; Like Michael Ballack, I’m partial to the brand with the three stripes. Though my days of $200 cleats are well behind, I’m still very particular about the shoes that I wear. Here’s what it costs me to suit up:

[table th=”0″]Adidas COPA Mundial Cleats, $100,
Adidas Mundial Team Turf (50% off!), $75
Adidas Mundial Goal Indoor, $100
Adidas Shin Guards, $65
Pair of Socks, $10
Cost, $350[/table]

Recurring Costs

There’s only really one ongoing cost: league fees. I’m currently playing once a week at an indoor turf field at a cost of $100 for 8 games from October to December. In general, costs per team can range from $1500-$2000 per season, depending on the number of games, and is divided among all the players of the team. Good leagues provide referee(s), the nets, and the ball. They’ll also keep track of scoring online. After the season ends, I’ll continue to play indoor through the spring at another $100 and then switch to outdoor when the temperature warms up. I usually play in multiple leagues during the summer which brings the cost up to $200 per the summer season.
Cost: a minimum of $400/year

Snowboarding

There is a higher cost barrier for those interested in getting into snow sports. I picked up snowboarding during my second year of university. My first time out, I rented the gear and hit the slopes in my thickest sweater and a pair of splash pants; it was a cold, wet and incredibly awesome day, and I was hooked. After my third time out, I realized that $46 equipment rentals on top of $62 lift tickets were going to get expensive quickly and I opted to purchase my own gear.

Equipment Costs

I’m not aiming to be the next Shaun White; I purchased my board and pair of Flow bindings at a year-end clearance sale. I really care less about how the board gets me down the hill as long as it does. As for the upgrade in bindings; I can’t be bothered to sit and strap in every time I get to the top of the hill. Again, the one-time cost items can be reused for many years. Here’s what it costs me to feel the rush:

[table th=”0″]”Board, boots and bindings”, $350
Goggles, $80
Face Mask, $20
Gloves, $80
Winter Jacket, $200
Snow Pants, $100
Toque, $15
Socks, $15
Cost:, $860[/table]

Before you get your goggles all fogged up, most Canadians have winter jackets, toques and a pair of gloves lying around. For all intents and purposes, I’m including the costs for consideration sake.

Recurring Costs

While I haven’t been able to hit the slopes as much as I wanted since the little guy showed up, an average of four times a season used to be the norm. There aren’t too many options in Ontario, but single day lift tickets at Blue Mountain are $62. Four trips quickly add up to $250. If you need to rent equipment, add another $46.

Since Blue is 150KM away, it’ll also cost roughly $150 for a round trip at a rate of 50¢/KM (factoring gas and car wear/tear). If you don’t pack a lunch, you’ll have to grab something from the chalet at a minimum of $10. If you wanted higher hills and longer runs, you could make a trip out to say Jay Peak in Vermont or to Mont Tremblant in Montreal; in that case, accommodations will also come into play.

[table th=”0″]Lift ticket, $62
Rental (own gear), $0
Gas + Mileage, $150
Lunch, $10
Accommodations (for day trip to Blue), $0
Cost:, Starting at $222[/table]

Other Costs: Performance Gear

The decision to shell out for performance gear depends solely on personal preference. Anyone can play soccer in a regular cotton tee or go boarding with a sweater under their jacket. A cotton tee drenched in sweat can make it harder to move bringing on fatigue. Wet sweaters don’t dry quickly when you’re on the slopes and will keep you cold. Instead, I’m a fan of moisture wicking fabrics that move sweat away from the body. Dri-fit shirts keep you dry, comfortable and warm when you layer them correctly. Shirts like these start at $30.

Options for elite gear are endless and each sport their own benefit; from $250 cleats with replaceable studs to $600 waterproof Gortex shells. In the end, they are all optional. Whether they make you a better athlete is another question. To each their own – buyer beware.

Keeping Costs Down

There isn’t much to be done about the cost of lift tickets and league fees, but there are a few ways to help curb the equipment costs:

• Ask around. A friend may work at a sports store and give out employee discounts. A friend of a friend may be knowledgeable of the best deals for sports gear in town. Through word of mouth, I stumbled on the best kept secret for cleats in Toronto. Whether it’s for ultimate Frisbee or football, SVP Sports is the place to start if you’re looking for cheap cleats. They often sell at 60% off MSRP at what I assume must be overstock. The caveat – size selection may be limited.
• Wait for Warehouse Sales. There was a Nike warehouse sale earlier this fall. A buddy scored $1 soccer socks and a stash of $5-10 Dri-fit shirts.
• Look for Employee Pricing. I bought my Adidas Mundial turf shoes at the corporate store employee pricing sale for 50% off.
• Visit Trade shows. The annual Toronto Snow Show is North America’s largest showcase of snow sport paraphernalia. In addition to discounts on new gear, they also host a snowboard swap and have lots of new previous season equipment up for grabs.
• End of Season/Clearance. Stores need to make way for new spring arrivals. Feel free to help them open up the floor space.
• Play it again. Buying used gear doesn’t work as well with soccer but you’ll have more success with snowboards; you can easily find used snowboarding gear on Craigslist, Kijiji or specialty sport equipment stores.

As with all deals, your mileage may vary. You may have to line up early to get into warehouse sales, corporate stores may not have your size and selection at tradeshows might not quite be what you’re looking for.

Play on

There are a couple of things to consider when thinking about starting a new sport. There are the upfront equipment costs like cleats or goggles and the recurring costs such as league fees or lift tickets. Some sports are inherently more expensive than others. Snowboarding has some rather large upfront costs, but in the recent years, it costs me to play soccer (granted, I play soccer weekly as opposed to boarding only 1-2 times a winter). Either way, the satisfaction of a well-earned win or the achy feeling after a day on the slopes is well worth the money spent.

How much does it cost to play the sport of your choice? How do you try to minimize the costs?