Travel sports can cost families thousands of dollars a year. Here are the real costs, the tradeoffs parents are making, and whether a college scholarship is a realistic return on their investment.

Handsome black senior father coach and his beautiful young daughter player on their way to soccer training by car in the Netherlands

Millions of kids are playing organized sports in the U.S. About 27 million participated in 2022 and 2023 combined, according to the Aspen Institute's Project Play survey.

Roughly 1 in 5 of those kids is competing in travel sports, where the commitment — and the cost — goes well beyond a Saturday morning game across town.

Originally published on nerdwallet.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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