Participation in football academies can involve significant financial, time-related and social commitments for families. This is shown by a new study from Karlstad University and Halmstad University, conducted as part of the Swedish Research Council for Sport Science’s government assignment on costs in children’s and youth sports.
The study is based on interviews with 41 parents of children aged 10–16 and highlights how costs arise, are experienced and are justified in different types of football academies. The results show that the costs of academy participation vary greatly between organizations and can range from a few thousand Swedish kronor per year to more than SEK 50,000 per season, depending on the club’s organization, resources and the content of its activities.
“Many parents describe how the total cost picture develops gradually over time,” says Stefan Wagnsson, Associate Professor of Sport Science at Karlstad University. “In addition to membership and participation fees, there are often costs for travel, tournaments, equipment and extra training. Time-related commitments, such as transportation and lost working hours, are also highlighted as a significant part of the overall burden. A recurring finding is that financial responsibility appears to rest more heavily on families within girls’ academies, particularly regarding travel and competitive participation.”
Parents’ Role Is Central
The study also shows that parents are not merely recipients of costs, but in many cases actively contribute to driving them, for example by investing in extra training outside the club’s regular activities.
“Parents describe a situation where it is perceived as important to provide the child with good conditions to develop and compete, which in practice may involve additional financial investments,” says Krister Hertting, Associate Professor of Education at Halmstad University.
The Academy as a Meaningful but Demanding Environment
Despite the extensive demands, many parents emphasize academy activities as a meaningful and development-promoting environment for children and young people. Parents and academies largely share educational ideals, such as order, discipline and clear expectations, as well as performance and learning to handle setbacks. At the same time, the results show that participation often affects the everyday life of the entire family, with leisure time, work and holidays being adapted to the demands of the activities.
“The study highlights a tension between the academy’s potential as a developmental environment and the demands it places on families. This is a balance that needs to be addressed in discussions about the conditions of children’s and youth sports,” says Johan Högman, Associate Professor of Sport Science at Karlstad University.
As a governmental research funding body and knowledge centre, the Swedish Research Council for Sport Science supports stakeholders in making well informed decisions through up to date research, analysis and evidence based knowledge. We work to be a resource for society as a whole, with the aim of strengthening knowledge about sport, physical activity and outdoor recreation, and their contributions to performance, public health and societal development.
