Why Youth Sports Keep Getting More Expensive (And It’s About to Get Worse)

👨‍👩‍👧 FOR PARENTS NAVIGATING THE PROCESS The Parent’s Recruiting Survival Guide Avoid the 5 critical mistakes that derail most families 👉 https://www.keithmondillo.com/the-par... 

Youth Sports Is Becoming Big Business (Private Equity Is Coming) — How to Stop Overspending in Recruiting

Keith Mondillo, a longtime college basketball coach and athletic director, explains how youth sports has evolved over 15–20 years from affordable local seasons into a year-round, travel-heavy system that can cost families $3,000–$8,000+ annually, with parents spending over $40 billion per year nationwide. He argues families often confuse paying for “exposure” with paying for access to events, and that highlight culture and large-scale destination facilities have made the model scalable and revenue-driven. Mondillo warns private equity is already investing in platforms, club operators, and facilities—redeveloping spaces like malls into sports hubs—so costs are likely to rise. He emphasizes recruiting hasn’t changed: athletes must fit the level, be known, and communicate, using events strategically for film and targeted outreach rather than chasing schedules.