Your child is beginning their first season of soccer, tee ball, or hockey, and you can’t wait to watch them and cheer for them from the stands. However, before you can do that, something else needs your attention—sports equipment for your child.- Children’s Sports Equipment
Buying sports equipment for your kids is often challenging due to the significant dent it can put in your budget. Additionally, as your child grows, you need to get them more advanced or newer equipment because the sport demands it.
However, children’s sports equipment shopping doesn’t have to be expensive. You can use several tips and tricks to buy equipment for your children on a budget without sacrificing quality.
- Check Your Local Thrift Stores
Thrift stores are great for parents looking for secondhand sports equipment and clothing. In fact, using older equipment is a better option if your child is playing a sport for the first time and you aren’t sure if they will stick with it for the long run. This way, you don’t have to make a huge investment for a short-term hobby.
There are a few national chains of used sporting goods when it comes to thrift stores. Nonetheless, with a bit of research, you will be able to find standalone shops that specialize in a specific type of gear.
Before you purchase the equipment, ensure it meets the league’s standards. For instance, baseball has rules governing the size and weight of bats. If you buy equipment that violates those rules, your child won’t be allowed to use it. Furthermore, make sure the equipment is still in good working order and meets the safety standards.
- Organize a Swap Meet
Often, a lot of parents are in a similar situation as you are when it comes to buying sports equipment for their children. They don’t have a huge budget to spend on masks, gloves, shin guards, bats, or skates. So, what’s a better idea than getting all these parents together for a sporting goods exchange.
To begin with, send invitations to your friends, family, and other community members with kids who play the same sport. Make sure to outline the expectations for the exchange in the invitation. For instance, the date and time, the type of sporting equipment, quality standards, measurements, etc.
Lastly, also set guidelines on who can take what. For example, it wouldn’t be fair for others if a person who doesn’t bring any equipment walks off with five gloves. Instead, you might want to give people tickets for what they bring, which they exchange for other items.
- Check Social Media
Currently, there are communities and pages on several social media platforms where people can advertise what they are selling and what they are seeking. Consider writing a post telling people about the equipment you are looking for. You might get suggestions from other parents with children in your league about discounts stores where they found shin guards at a great price through the process.
Similarly, another parent might have the used equipment you need at a lower rate. Or your neighbor has the exact equipment you need and might allow you to borrow it for free.
- Check Local Advertisements for Discounts
Often, a lot of sports equipment stores have sales on their equipment or offer discounts through ads. So, make sure you constantly keep an eye on your local classifieds and check for posters on the community bulletin boards or street corners.
Similarly, if you are subscribed to their mailing list, you might also get coupons through marketing emails. This is particularly effective when you have to purchase protective equipment like kids prescription sports sunglasses which are better bought new than bought from a thrift store.
Another option is to take part in garage sales. Often, many families are interested in parting with items that eat dust in their house, including sports equipment. So, they hold the good old garage sale where they get to recycle and give the items another chance at a second home.
Consider visiting garage sales near your house to score some fantastic deals on sports gear, alongside some other items you might be interested in.
Purchasing Children’s Sports Equipment Doesn’t Have to be Expensive
The costs associated with children’s sports equipment can be high. However, with the right amount of research, and some proven tips and tricks, you can bring some of the equipment costs to the happier bottom line. After all, lower costs mean happier parents and more kids involved in sports.
