CLEVELAND, Ohio – I don’t like hockey tournaments.

I know that’s a scandalous opinion for a hockey parent. I can assure you that hockey is a magical way for me to spend the winter. I rarely miss one of my son’s games. And even though the season runs from August to March, it’s never long enough.

What I don’t like is taking days off work, pulling my kid out of school, and spending hundreds of dollars in mediocre hotels in suburban wastelands just to play during the bad times, often against unequal opponents. And occasionally watching parents fight.

What I hate is that companies make big money out of amateur sports.

Hockey is the most expensive youth sport at $2,583 per year, according to the Aspen Institute, which annually studies youth sports nationwide. And American families spend $30 billion to $40 billion annually on their children’s sports activities, according to surveys of parents and national sports participation data.

That’s more than the annual revenue of any professional league. And it could turn families away from the sport. The tournament costs add up.

According to the Aspen Institute, the number of American children ages 6 to 12 who participate in regular sports fell by 6% between 2019 and 2022. That’s 1.2 million fewer children playing, exercising, building their self-esteem and experiencing the adrenaline rush of teamwork.

Although participation is increasing in low-income households, according to the Aspen Institute, a gap still exists: 25% of children from households earning less than $25,000 play, versus 39% of children from families earning $100,000 or more. And these kids are likely to spend much more on equipment, private lessons and travel.

Unfortunately, life is not a Mighty Ducks movie. The fighting team doesn’t always win in the end (usually).

My 13-year-old son has been playing hockey on the road for six years. Travel, not club: a distinction I definitely couldn’t grasp when I first enrolled my children in learning programs at our local recreation center.

It’s complicated, but generally speaking, travel is a step up from home league. Whether we’re talking about hockey, soccer, or lacrosse, the teams are generally run by city recreation departments or local nonprofits and play against other local teams. They accept anyone. Club is an elite level that requires tryouts and bigger commitments, both in terms of time and money.

I figured out these differences the same way I learned how offside works. Slowly, by observing, listening and asking lots of questions. By watching, cheering and loving the sport.

I love the speed of hockey. I love how the game changes in an instant, with a solo effort, a great pass, a lucky shot. I love how seamlessly these kids move, gliding and turning and switching, as if their feet were born with blades.

But the money-making annoys me.

Related: Warning to parents. This could cost you thousands.

In hockey tournaments, you have to pay to play. You have to stay in the hotels designated for the tournament. You have to stay a certain number of nights. You can’t use hotel points or discount sites because you have to book through the tournament, which is often at a higher price. And you can’t stay with your grandparents who live in the same town.

So you spend about $400 on the hotel for two nights.

Added to this are the remaining costs of a tournament: eating out, petrol costs and possibly accommodation for the dog.

I think it’s expensive – and we can afford it. What about families who can’t afford it? What about families who would rather spend their family travel budget on a destination that everyone can enjoy?

Why do we exclude children from a sport because of the high travel costs?

As part of our partnership with WKYC titled “How to Win in Youth Sports (Without Going Broke or Falling Down),” we spoke with experts, coaches and families about the current situation and what we can do better to develop healthy, balanced players.