Soaring fees force soccer players to the sidelines

By Millie Winkett

Victoria is known as Australia’s sporting capital yet concerns are mounting for the future youth soccer as local clubs ask their players to pay expensive and rising registration fees. 

There were 82,949 players registered with Football Victoria last year. Participation and interest is high,  especially in the wake of the Women’s World Cup, but there is concern expensive registration costs are a barrier to growth of the game at the grassroots level. 

As the cost of living rising, soccer fees surge placing families in a difficult position. Soaring fees, on top of the expense of equipment and soccer boots, has forced some into the difficult decision to give up their passion..

Registration fees differ between age groups and clubs, clubs that host a  National Premier League or Victorian Premier Leagues side often raise their fees to be higher than a club without. 

Ringwood City, for example, lists fees for under 12/13 boys and girls starting at $700. The fees increase with age. In comparison, the AFL website breaks down the cost of fees ranging from $150-$500.

Rosie Monroe has played senior soccer at the VPL level but after 15 years of playing, she had to make the hard decision to not register for the 2024 season. 

Her initial plan was to play through the season after taking a break last season for the birth of her daughter, and she went to preseason and was excited for the year to come. But then she saw the amount her club wanted her to pay.

“I only very recently came off maternity leave so we only had my husband working and just couldn’t afford paying almost $900 dollars.”

Ms Monroe had to make the hard decision  not to play, though she is still training.

“I just wish I could actually go out there and play with my teammates.”