Kids sports-Eeeep!

[tinabohio]

So, we got through t-ball. That was easy, no real equipment or anything to buy (used some hand me down gloves). Now, soccer on the other hand... yowzers! She needs shoes and socks and shin guards and a ball and shorts... and she's only going to be 6! I have to go buy all of this before Saturday, so I'll be at the store(s) tomorrow.
What was I thinking getting her into sports ! It's not thritfy at all! Esp in this age bracket and her gender. I'm sure if she was a boy it would be easier to find stuff, but I cannot put her into boys stuff (as someone who was picked on a bit as a small kid I just cannot do it- therapy isn't cheap either).
How does everyone here with sports minded children do it?

[Beana913]

Maybe try a second hand sports store, or find older girls in the league who've outgrown their things?

[justusgals]

when my dd was in soccer, i bought two dozen soccer socks off ebay, and went the to replay sports (the used sports equipment store) for the shin guards and cleats. i belong to freecycle (a nationwide yahoo group) try to join the one in your area and you can ask if anyone has any, i have seen a lot of offers for sporting equipment recently so that might work for you.

[cpaige]

Most of the equipment for soccer is unisex. Shin guards, ball, cleats....unisex. Shorts are too, unless you want to get her pink ones, of course. Piece of advice for buying the cleats, make sure they are soccer cleats and not for softball/baseball. Some may tell you there is no difference, but as someone who played sports my entire life (and worked in a huge sporting goods store), there is a difference. If you aren't sure, ask!!! You can get all this stuff at Target, Walmart, etc and do not have to get it at a sporting good store.

[momof2inohio]

Just wait until she is older and still in sports. My son plays football, lacrosse and wrestling. Lacrosse equiptment is really expensive. We spent around 300.00 just for that. Then we had to buy his football stuff which was around 200.00. We got some of the stuff at play it again sports but I will not buy cleats and certain stuff there.

[Sprite_babies]

wow. this stuff is expensive. we want to get our 4yr old daughter into soccer.

[krmore]

Soccer isn't to bad check the thrift stores they always have cleats in pretty good shape because they don't get worn that much. A lot of the time they have shin guards too. The kids can wear whatever for practices and their game uniforms should have been included in however much it cost to sign them up. I just bought 2 pairs of extra soccer socks per kid and we were good to go.

[jenrose]

DS played soccer thru the local parks and rec at age 3 but we didn't have to buy anything for that. They actually did his age group in the gym. Not even on the field which was fine with me, no need to worry about the weather. He is not an aggressive kid and didn't really like the sport so since then it has just been T-ball. I bought him a tball bat on clearance last year and a mit with matching ball before he played the first year. He is turning five in a couple weeks but even for tball the only requirement is that they have a glove.