One man in Wood River, Ill. is making youth sports more affordable for local families. This week, Jason Quigley opened Quig’s Sports, specializing in used and donated youth sporting gear and equipment.
Quigley, who benefitted from a used equipment store himself as a student-athlete, has been dreaming of this store for many years. “It always stuck with me that I was able to find affordable used equipment, and that’s what I am trying to do here. It gives kids the opportunity to play sports when they otherwise might not be able to.”
Families and athletes can shop for low-priced, used gear at Quig’s, and they can donate some of their own gently used gear as well. On opening day, customers picked out things like baseball cleats, catcher’s mitts and basketballs.
Quigley’s community-focused efforts were not lost on the shoppers. One customer said, “It’s very important to get kids active in community sports, and the money we save will go toward more baseball gear.”
Getting kids active in community sports is a priority for many families and organizations, but the rising costs of youth sports isn’t lost on anyone. In a recent “State of Play” report from the Aspen Institute, researchers studied trends on the cost to play youth sports.
According to the findings in the report, 49 percent of families with children in youth sports said they were struggling with the costs. In the past few years, participation fees have averaged $161, and the average total cost of play for a youth athlete was $408. The report also found that 52 percent of respondents supported public funding for youth sports in order to make play more accessible for all. Ideas to bolster this funding include a sports betting tax, corporate sponsorships and revenue from federal income tax.
In 2023, a few congressmen introduced the PLAYS in Youth Sports Act. The bill wants a $75 million grant program to support nonprofit organizations focusing on youth health and development through sports.
These efforts are necessary as families across socioeconomic backgrounds are feeling the strain. According to the report, the families struggling the most to meet rising costs are Hispanic families, those making under $40,000 per year and those with parents between the ages of 35-49.
When one of the biggest barriers to entry is expensive gear and equipment, Quig’s Sports is filling a need for families like these in Wood River. It may not be a comprehensive solution to curbing rising participation costs or travel fees, but Quigley hopes affordable gear is the first step in widening player participation.
