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Youth sports used to be a relatively simple line item in the family budget. Parents might pay a registration fee, buy a pair of cleats and celebrate the end of the season with pizza. That’s no longer the case.

Today, youth sports have evolved into a sprawling, multibillion-dollar industry fueled by travel leagues, private coaching, tournament circuits and a growing ecosystem of apps and specialized services.

According to recent data from Project Play , family spending on a child’s primary sport has surged by roughly 46% in the past five years, reflecting a broader shift toward year-round, highly structured competition.

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