There are a few things you need to consider when you’re thinking of getting involved with a sport. Not the least of which is how much it’s going to cost you. There are plenty of benefits to joining a league in a sport you love, but they can start to seem less and less beneficial the more you have to spend on equipment and registration fees. The truth is, the barrier to entry with a lot of sports is just too high, and tragically, that stops a good number of people from participating. Ball hockey is different though. At Ball Hockey International (BHi), individual registration fees start at just $113.00 plus tax, and compared to other organized sports, there’s far fewer pieces of required equipment. So if you’ve been thinking about joining a sport to stay active, few options are as accessible and fun as ball hockey.
Let’s take a look at the registration fees for the fall season at BHi. If you’re looking to sign up for Men’s A-E divisions, 12 games plus playoffs will run you $150.00 (taxes included). Co-Ed & Ladies leagues which include 8 games and playoffs comes to $113.00 taxes in. Youth leagues are similarly priced and are broken up between 4-6 age divisions, and divisions ranging from ages 7-15. Compare that to an ice hockey league. A quick google search will yield registration fees for leagues starting at $660.00 per player! At almost over four times the registration fees of BHi, the decision seems pretty clear to us. Plus, the fees at BHi include a properly organized league, with professionally managed rinks and properly refereed games.
Let’s say that you’re fine with paying a little more for the registration fee. We haven’t even touched on the cost of equipment yet. One of the beautiful things about ball hockey is the relatively small amount of equipment required to play. Chances are, you’ve already got a stick lying around somewhere. After that, all you need is a pair of running shoes and gloves, and you’re good to go. We recommend that you consider wearing pads and a helmet as well, but these items are not strictly required for adult players (youth divisions require: gloves, shin pads, elbow pads and a helmet). Compared to ice hockey, that’s a world of difference. Ball hockey doesn’t require skates that need routine sharpening, shoulder pads, or hockey pants. All of this required equipment can start running you into the high hundreds, and if you’re looking to get your kid into the sport, they’ll outgrow the stuff, and before you know it you’re buying it all again. Once more, when stacked up against the competition, ball hockey is far more cost efficient, and just as fun to get involved with.
Let’s keep talking about ice hockey, and one major barrier to entry that we haven’t touched on yet…skating. While as Canadians, a good number of us probably know how to skate, not knowing how shouldn’t get in the way of playing one of the greatest games ever invented! Ball hockey brings the excitement of ice hockey without the prerequisite of having to know how to skate. This is a huge bonus for kids just starting out, or adults who don’t feel comfortable In a pair of skates, but still want to get out there to play. Not to mention, all the running you’ll be doing will majorly increase your cardio. Not only is there less of a barrier to entry, but not having to skate could actually have benefits for your health!
Whether you’re looking to get your kids active and instill a love and appreciation for a sport, or are looking for an outlet yourself, we think you’ll agree that ball hockey is one of the more easily accessible sports that doesn’t make any concessions as far as fun or competition are concerned. So what are you waiting for? Come on down to BHi today and check out the rinks for yourself. We can’t wait to hear from you.