We all know things have gotten more expensive lately and we can argue over the cause, but here is one thing to remember: Our kids still need sports to play. And while we, at CoachDeck, know that travel sports are an essential part of the youth sports landscape, let's remember that recreational sports are a much more cost-effective and some may say fun and sane option for families with sporty children. If the equipment, fees and travel expenses of competitive sports don't fit into the budget this year, there is no shame in taking a step back and enrolling in your local recreational league which is much more affordable.