Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series exploring the rising costs of youth sports and college sports opportunities.

Most parents want to sit in the stands and watch with pride as their child hits the winning basket or scores the go-ahead goal. They want to lean over to the person sitting next to them and say, "That's my boy who just had the game-winning RBI." It may be what parents dream of, but at what cost?

The days of signing a child up for Little League, buying him a bat, ball, glove and cleats and then watching him play once or twice a week are over. So is signing him up for baseball in the spring, soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter, at least if you want your child to be among the elite. If excellence on the diamond, pitch or hard court is in your child's future, be prepared to not only dip into the wallet but perhaps take out a second mortgage. The cost of high-level sports, even at the little league level, can exceed $7,000 per year, and is possibly much more.

Specialization is the name of the game. Year-round training, extra camps, more coaching and traveling to face other top athletes in the country are all part of making your child the best of the best. And don't think it can wait until they begin playing in high school.

"My son that is in high school is much easier than my 12-year-old," said Jim Teahan, who has a son, Sam, who recently graduated from Alta High and played both football and baseball for the Hawks, and 12-year-old Nathan, who plays baseball for a little league all-star team. "Sam had some 7-on-7 camps and stuff for football, or he practiced baseball, but it was nothing like it has been for Nathan. He is playing, practicing, working out or going to some type of camp or clinic almost every day, it seems."

It is a reality that many parents are facing when it comes to their children playing sports. Want your child to get a college scholarship? Be prepared to ante up. Even if your child does excel at the game, there are only so many scholarships to go around. Playing competitive sports isn't cheap. And there isn't really any end in sight.

"It just keeps getting more and more expensive every year," said Travis Allen, whose 14-year-old son, David, plays on a competitive soccer team. "From club dues, to needing to have the next and greatest new equipment, to travel costs for tournaments, pretty soon you may see some of the average Joes priced right out of having their kids play at the higher levels."

Certainly, there are still the recreation leagues out there for pure enjoyment, but they are shrinking. Recreation soccer leagues are jam-packed for beginners and youngsters. There are plenty of participants, coaches, venues and referees. But once players reach around age 12 and up, the options shrink, participation is down, and some rec leagues can't even field enough teams to play a full schedule.