Child Support in Atlanta: Does It Cover Sports Equipment?

According to Project Play, some families in the United States spend up to $25,000 per year on youth sports. The average family in 2024 spent about $1,000 per year on youth sports, and these costs are rising each year due to inflation. These expenses are challenging enough, but they can be an impossible burden for single parents. Is it possible to increase your child support in Atlanta to cover these costs?

The Cost of Sports Equipment Is Not Included in Georgia Child Support Calculations 

Family courts in Georgia focus on the most important needs of children when calculating child support. As a result, they tend to prioritize things like food, shelter, education, healthcare, and clothing when calculating appropriate child support amounts. In comparison, the cost of sports equipment is a less important consideration.

Much Depends on the Income of Each Parent

If you want to increase child support to help cover sports equipment and related expenses, you may need to consider the other parent’s income. If the other parent earns a relatively high income, the court could be more understanding of your need to increase child support. If the other parent earns a relatively small amount of money, the court may be reluctant to enforce an additional, potentially unsustainable burden on them.

Consider Negotiating With Your Ex in Private

Although it may be possible to formally modify your child support agreement in court, the most obvious first step is to simply discuss the situation with your ex. Most parents understand how important sports are to children, and your ex may be eager to contribute. If you can agree to increase child support obligations without going to court, you can modify the agreement before asking a judge to sign it. This process should be quite easy.

Consider a Less Expensive Sport

Some sports are much more expensive than others. Generally speaking, sports that require a lot of padding (hockey and football) tend to be more expensive than sports with less padding. Soccer is known as the “world’s game” specifically because of its affordability, as the only real requirement is a pair of cleats.

It doesn’t make sense to sacrifice food security, shelter, education, or healthcare simply so your child can participate in an expensive sport. Parenting is all about difficult decisions, and your child should understand that sacrifices are sometimes necessary. That being said, your ex should also contribute and help your child excel in extra-curricular activities if they have the income to make this possible.

Can a Child Support Lawyer in Atlanta Help Me?

Although the cost of youth sports is not included in Georgia’s official child custody calculations, parents may be able to increase Atlanta child support to make sports more accessible for their young ones. The most obvious course of action is to discuss your unique situation with an experienced child support attorney. Reach out to the Atlanta child support lawyers at Buckhead Family Law at 404-390-0000 to learn more.

Source: 

projectplay.org/news/2025/2/24/project-play-survey-family-spending-on-youth-sports-rises-46-over-five-years