If you’ve ever had a child in sports, you know that it is expensive. But, there are many ways that you can continue to support your child’s love of the game without overspending. While you will spend money, some of the tips above double as excellent bonding opportunities worth any price.

Today’s post is just one of many free resources brought to you from Young Athlete Hub.

Take your kids to games. 

No matter where you live, there’s likely a local sports team near you. Minor-league teams offer almost as much excitement as the big guys. But, as your child gets older, you may want to treat them to a professional baseball game or soccer match. To save money, look for discounted tickets online via ticket reseller sites. If you have to travel away from home for the game, plan ahead of time to save money. Looking early can get you a great deal, and you can find discounted airfare through travel agencies or directly through the airline. Southwest is a great example, and its low-fare calendar can help even choose the least expensive time to travel.

Get them together with their teammates, and teach how to learn from failure

Kids sports are not just for the game but also for the friendships your children will make. Remember, while healthy competition is a great way to create drive in your children, make sure they also know that winning isn’t the reason you watch them play. Get them together with their teammates outside of the field, and you may see that they even work better together during play. 

Further, remind your children that the best lessons that they will learn are not how to hit a ball or tackle an opponent; they are how to bounce back from failure and recover from losses/disappointments. Counter to what many believe, the “winning at all costs” attitude does not factor into a healthy learning experience, not even in sports. 

Shop used gear. 

You can find high-quality merchandise by shopping yard sales, thrift stores, and other discount locations. LoveToKnow explains that there are even websites dedicated to helping you find garage and estate sales. If you live near a major sports high school or college, keep your eye out for sales in these areas. You can also find clearance sports gear online.

Sample sports. 

For the youngest members of your household who have yet to make their decision on their sport of choice, let them try many different options. You can usually find an affordable church or civic baseball, football, hockey, or tennis league. These are usually non-competitive, meaning your children get to experience the joy without the intense rivalries.

Learn the history of the game.

No matter what sport your child plays, it has a history, and likely a long one. Help your children better understand sports history and news, which can help them respect it even more. There are many sites and podcasts that chronicle the history of major sports throughout the United States. Another great option here is to visit sports museums; the Big Roads travel guide lists dozens of options throughout the United States for everything from surfing to baseball.

Supporting your child’s love of the game means more than just pulling out your wallet. From looking for inexpensive ways to visit an out-of-state game to keeping up with the history and news of their favorite team and learning from disappointments, there are many affordable avenues by which they can travel down to gain a greater understanding, love, and respect for the sport they want to play.

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Written by Charlene Roth.  She is the owner of http://safetykid.info.  You can read more articles by her and what her site is about at http://safetykid.info.