Kids' sport challenges families struggling with cost of living pressuresBy Chloe HenvilleABC Midwest & WheatbeltTopic:Cost of Living1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 1:26amThe Allum family are saving hard so 13-year-old River can represent WA for soccer. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)In short:Some families are struggling to participate in both community and higher-level sporting events due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.A sports science professor says people in regional areas are also faced with higher associated costs compared to their metro counterparts.What's next?A national study of the cost of sport around Australia will be released in coming months.abc.net.au/news/cost-of-living-pressure-on-sport-fees-participation-in-regions/105243892Link copiedShareShare articleRiver Allum will be a long way from home when he runs out to play in Kuala Lumpur later this year.The 13-year-old from Geraldton, 420 kilometres north of Perth, has been honing his skills on the soccer field, while his parents have been sacrificing to save the $3,630 needed for travel costs, tournament fees and gear.His mother Rachell Allum said she had already spent about $1,700 on her son's soccer-related costs this year.She said the rising cost of living was making it harder to afford.Ms Allum says she and her husband are sacrificing and saving. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)Australian government data showed 6.3 per cent of children surveyed could not afford sport or the associated travel costs as recently as last year.Ms Allum said her family was budgeting strictly for the Kuala Lumpur trip as River was not eligible for any grants she could find.She said living in regional WA had also multiplied the cost of participating in sport over the years, as River often travelled to Perth for competitions such as Country Week."We have to miss out on a few things ourselves, but we wouldn't deny him that chance as much as we possibly could," Ms Allum said.River says he is grateful for his parents' ongoing support. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)"We've got to find accommodation for ourselves, let alone petrol … the petrol prices are ridiculous."But she said the costs were worth it to see River excel at a sport he loved."Every annual fee is expensive, and he's growing — you know, new boots, new uniforms, new everything — but we are very, very proud of River," Ms Allum said.Understanding the sacrificeThe high-school student said he was aware of the financial strain."I do feel a bit bad about all the costs," River said.River has been playing soccer since he was six. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville)He said sport helped him work through emotions such as sadness and anger."I can just go to soccer and just wipe my head away from it, and it makes me feel a lot happier again," River said.The teenager said everyone should have access to sport as an outlet, regardless of their financial position.It is a perspective shared by Federation University sport science professor Rochelle Eime.She has conducted a national study in conjunction with the Australian Sports Commission.Yet to be publicly released, the study found fees were a growing barrier to club sport participation.Rochelle Eime has conducted a study on the cost of sport across Australia. (Supplied: Rochelle Eime)"Cost has always been an issue, but more of an issue now with the rising cost of living," Professor Eime said."Participation is much lower in areas of lower socio-economic status."Critical opportunity missedProfessor Eime said lower participation had huge implications for physical fitness, mental health and social connection, especially for young people. "Without those opportunities to play sport, they're missing out on a lot of life skills," she said.Professor Eime said though sport was often the "social fabric" in regional communities, participants could incur more costs than their metro peers, something the Ballarat woman was familiar with.Professor Eime says sport is important for social connection in small towns. (ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt: Chloe Henville )She said her 18-year-old son, Jay, was travelling to China to compete in a tennis tournament, but even local travel took a toll."He's commuting an hour-and-a-half to training several times a week … now that he can drive, that saves me," Professor Eime said. Along with the price of fuel, she pointed to other travel fees including overnight accommodation to join metro competitions.Professor Eime said geographical barriers and cost burdens could limit the sporting potential of some talented regional players.ABC Midwest & Wheatbelt — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each ThursdayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 1h ago1 hours agoThu 8 May 2025 at 1:26amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)SportAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media Industry'You don't need to know specifics': Blues coach bristles at questions over star's injuryTopic:AFLPhoto shows Charlie Curnow points a finger after kicking a goal for Carlton.Heartbreak for Arsenal as PSG claims Champions League final spotTopic:SoccerPhoto shows GettyImages-2213307878'I actually felt bad': Thompson claims fifth-straight win over rising starTopic:TennisPhoto shows GettyImages-2209207285Young skipping stars take sport to next level at world championshipsTopic:Feel GoodPhoto shows A young boy holding a skipping rope around his shouldersTop Stories'He was that toxic': 600 unused posters tell the story of Dutton's failed campaignTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Backlit photo of a Dutton press conference, his silhouette centred in front of a microphoneAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media IndustryAlbanese to speak with King Charles, Labor factions hash out next ministryLIVEPhoto shows Albanese, at a press conference, raises his hands while speaking.Doctor told Erin Patterson she might need liver transplant, court hearsLIVEPhoto shows A digital drawing of Erin Patterson wearing a pink shirt'Offensive': PM unleashes on ousted Greens MPTopic:Government and PoliticsPhoto shows A composite image of two men wearing suits sitting in the House of Representatives.Related storiesThousands of kilometres — and dollars — just to make the starting lineTopic:SportPhoto shows A girl beside a pool smiles while wearing medals'The math isn't mathing': Middle-class consumption now feels closer to luxuryTopic:Cost of LivingPhoto shows Beer in a glass on wooden tableIs there a 'moral argument' for rural Australians to pay less tax?Topic:Rural and Remote CommunitiesPhoto shows A woman in a white top smiles and her 2 year old son sit at a table, look at the camera smilingRelated topicsAustralia SoccerCost of LivingGeraldtonRegional CommunitiesSportTop Stories'He was that toxic': 600 unused posters tell the story of Dutton's failed campaignTopic:ElectionsPhoto shows Backlit photo of a Dutton press conference, his silhouette centred in front of a microphoneAustralia's best sports rights in the hands of a Soviet-born, former oil tycoonTopic:Media IndustryAlbanese to speak with King Charles, Labor factions hash out next ministryTopic:Government and PoliticsDoctor told Erin Patterson she might need liver transplant, court hearsTopic:Law, Crime and Justice'Offensive': PM unleashes on ousted Greens MPTopic:Government and PoliticsJust InWoman with more than 1,000 minions in home wins Guinness World RecordTopic:Human Interest11m ago11 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:22amANZ profit rises as NAB boss tips rate cuts and housing boomTopic:Banking18m ago18 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:15amNepotism, financial misconduct claims rock Aboriginal land councilTopic:Local Government5m ago5 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 2:29amGrazier recovering from grain silo collapse running for his rescuersTopic:Emergency Services42m ago42 minutes agoThu 8 May 2025 at 1:51amMore Just InBack to top