Common Financial Barriers for Soccer Families (and How PTJ is Working to Help)

Joining a soccer team is a commitment both on and off the pitch. Not only does it require your child to dedicate themselves to practice, skill-building, games, and tournaments, but it also demands a significant time commitment from you as well. 

Time is money, of course, but the costs don’t stop there. All sorts of financial barriers present themselves like a goalie in the box, blocking athletic pursuits and leaving you responsible for the following expenses: 

 🔨 Club Fees and Travel Costs

As most moms and dads already know, athletic programs are expensive to join. This is especially true for club or competitive teams and travel teams, with the latter placing the greatest burden on the average wallet. Summer travel teams often incur the most travel expenses and, therefore, result in the highest fees. 

Even non-travel teams incur transportation costs that can quickly add up. Driving your child to practice several times a week and to games every weekend requires a significant investment in gasoline, as well as potential expenses for car maintenance and toll charges.  

🤝 Private Coaching

While private coaching isn’t always a necessary expense, many parents choose to provide their kids with an advantage by seeking extra help and personalized, one-on-one instruction. This option is especially appealing for parents of children who have the opportunity to receive college scholarships, which can help reduce higher education costs in the long term and create various athletic opportunities. 

♻️ Equipment Costs

Soccer equipment, from cleats to shin guards and goalie gloves to balls, isn’t cheap. Compounding this issue is the fact that sports equipment rarely represents a one-time purchase: Feet and hands grow, shin guards crack, and soccer balls wear out from use (or disappear during crowded tournaments). This necessitates new gear, possibly multiple times a year.  

Fortunately, the price of equipment is one of the cost challenges that is easiest to overcome by buying used. PTJ Shoes launched "Cleats that Keep on Giving" for this very reason. PTJ’s program offers discount codes to those who donate their lightly used soccer cleats, which the company then passes on to young athletes in need. 

Gently used equipment isn’t just more affordable than new gear; it’s also broken in, which typically leads to greater comfort for the athlete, fewer blisters and sores, and a significant reduction in the number of toenails that go missing from the average player’s favorite foot.  

At PTJ Shoes, we strive to empower players of all levels to embrace their individuality and confidently play. We take pride in being a brand founded on passion, driven by family values, and designed for the next generation of game-changers.

Check out our elite collection of cleats here.