Communication by sports clubs about fee assistance programs for children from low-income families: an exploratory mixed-methods study

Despite fee assistance programs, sports participation among children from low-income families in the Netherlands remains relatively low. Sports clubs may play a crucial role in providing information about these fee assistance programs, potentially lowering financial barriers to sports participation. In the context of the municipality Utrecht, this study explores (1) sports clubs’ familiarity with five fee assistance programs for children’s sports (2), their communication practices, and (3) clubs’ needs to improve youth access to these programs. This exploratory mixed-methods study combined a survey of 29 clubs across districts, (median 250 members, 59% team sports) with an analysis of 71 websites, applying descriptive statistics to survey data and thematic coding plus descriptive statistics to web content. Survey results showed that of 29 clubs, 10 reported always informing parents about the City Pass, while most (14–28) never mentioned the other programs. Website analysis showed similar patterns: 49 of 71 sites referenced the City Pass, compared to 0–8 for other programs. Lack of awareness about programs was the main barrier. Clubs expressed a need for clear program overviews and practical tools to improve communication with parents. In line with previous research, this study suggests sports clubs could play an important role in informing parents about fee assistance programs. Future efforts should focus on increasing clubs’ awareness of these programs and, within clubs, implementing proactive multi-channel communication (including face-to-face) and developing practical tools to improve communication, thereby helping reduce financial barriers to sports participation.