Sport costs 'too high' for many Canberra families, The Smith Family says

Charities say the rising cost of organised sport in Canberra is too high for many families.

The Smith Family program coordinator Bill Caddy said many families are struggling to afford to participate in sport.

An estimated 1,000 people have told The Smith Family that the registration fees and equipment requirements are too expensive, he said.

"We are constantly being approached by families that would love their kids to play in sport and want them to be involved in the community but they are just finding registration fees too expensive in mainstream sport," he said.

"We can help by assisting them with registration fees, but there isn't anything formal set up in the ACT and most sports don't have a social equity program."

Mr Caddy warned the number of isolated families could be much larger than the estimated.

"They are the ones we are involved with at the moment, yet there are many other organisations whether it be St Vinnies, or Marymead or other charities also involved with families.

"I'd say that 1,000 would be a low estimate of the number."

Jon Wells, the executive officer of ACTSPORT which represents Canberra's sporting associations, said it was difficult to hear children were missing out on exercise when obesity was such a problem in the community.

"We acknowledge that there is quite a serious problem [with costs]," he said.

"What my organisation would like to do is look in to this, and see what the degree of the problem is and see if we can look in to some answers to resolve it."

He said some sports were offering discounted registration to encourage active participants.

"Sometimes a sport might have an individual cost for one or two children, then if there's three or four children they might be free, or can sign up at a discounted rate," he said.

"Especially if the parents are also involved as referees, administrators or officials, or on a committee in some way."