Cutting Costs
FOR OUR LITTLE COMPETITORS
BY JESSICA GREGG | PHOTO BY DAVID STUCK
ports are expensive. Over the
course of their childhoods, my
two kids participated in soccer,
ice hockey, snowboarding, baseball
and cheerleading. My youngest is a real
jock who currently takes two gym classes
(living his dream) and has a weekend
job coaching. And he’s growing. Like
all the time. So naturally it feels like
there is something to buy all the time
as well.

When we lived in Montana, I discovered
Play It Again Sports which kept my family
from going bankrupt or stir crazy during
the nearly eight months of winter sports.

A nationwide retailer, Play It Again has
locations in Ellicott City, Maryland, and
another in Leesburg, Virginia.

When we asked parents on social media
where they bought used sports equipment,
Play It Again came up again and again.

Parents can shop for used items in good
condition, such as ice skates and hockey
pants (or what we called “breezers” out
west) without investing too much money for
a pastime their kid may give up next year.

And if their child does put down his or her
hockey stick, parents can trade it in at Play
It Again for a tennis racket or other items.

playitagainsports.com ■
ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS/RASHADASHUROV
WHAT ELSE IS
OUT THERE?
Ski swaps were another big thing out west
and often take place within any ski community,
again, because of the high cost of equipment.

You can find DC Ski Swap on Facebook. In
Northern Virginia, NOVA Hockey Swap on
Facebook is a Buy and Sell group specifically
for hockey gear like skates, sticks, gloves and
blockers. You can also check out Facebook
Marketplace for families in your area selling
lacrosse sticks, baseball gloves and more.

There is also TotSwap in Maryland, one
mom reminded us. TotSwap hosts sale
weekends each spring in
Gaithersburg, Frederick,
Timonium and Howard
County. The Gaithersburg
sale runs June 24-28
at the Maryland State
Fairgrounds. totswap.net ■
WashingtonFAMILY.com 19