Author(s): WAGNSSON, S., HERTTING, K., HÖGMAN, J., Institution: DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL STUDIES , Country: SWEDEN, Abstract-ID: 2162

Over the past two decades, participation costs in Swedish youth sport have increased substantially, reshaping how organized sport is understood, accessed, and justified. Within football, the rapid expansion of academy structures has introduced more professionalized, performance-oriented environments characterized by early selection, employed coaches, and intensified training demands. Despite parents being key financial and logistical enablers of participation, their perspectives on academy-related costs remain underexplored.

The aim of this study was to analyze how parents of children aged 10-16 years perceive and legitimize participation in football academies, with a specific focus on economic and time-related costs. Data were generated through 10 focus group interviews and three individual interviews with 41 parents (23 fathers, 18 mothers) affiliated with 13 certified academies across Sweden. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results indicate large variations in cost structures across different types of academies, ranging from relatively subsidized elite academies to highly parent-financed environments. Beyond formal fees, parents described extensive additional expenses related to travel, international tournaments, equipment, and private extra training. In some cases, annual costs exceeded 10,000 EUR per player. Notably, parents of girls reported higher out-of-pocket costs compared to boys in similar settings.

Despite these burdens, many parents perceived academies as meaningful investments. Academies were framed as more than sport, functioning as structured, value-driven environments promoting discipline, resilience, and personal development. Participation was also linked to aspirations, status, and responsible parenthood. However, parents simultaneously described stress related to selection processes, time pressure, and family sacrifices, with everyday life often organized around the academy schedule.

These findings suggest that football academies operate within increasingly market-oriented logics that shift financial risk and responsibility toward families. The study contributes to ongoing discussions about equity, access, and sustainability in youth sport, highlighting how cost structures may shape who can participate and under what conditions.