Delaware’s First Play It Again Sports Store Is Open in Newark

The used sporting goods store buys and resells equipment, working toward closing the economic divide in youth athletics.

Enrolling children in extracurriculars keeps them active, social, and confident; however, participating in a club or playing a sport also introduces stacks of unwelcome bills. In athletics, these costs come from necessary replacements of worn equipment and outgrown clothing, as well as team fees and other travel expenses. These hefty price tags can become overwhelming. That’s where experienced resale stores like Play It Again Sports come in.  

With requirements for well-fitting cleats, working bats and helmets, tightened tennis rackets, and more, many parents find themselves lost in high-end sporting goods stores—if they don’t opt out altogether. Casey and Amy Taylor, with three active children of their own, know the feeling all too well. “It’s almost like you don’t want to buy it because you know it will only get used for a couple of weeks,” Amy shares, as she recalls the three pairs of cleats she recently purchased for one season of play.   

Immense conflict can arise when families are faced with economic barriers that make it difficult for their children to explore and learn. According to Project Play, which conducted a study with leaders in the youth sports space, the average family pays the staggering cost of $883 annually on just one child’s primary sport. Half of survey respondents said they have struggled to afford the costs to participate in youth sports. The cost of youth sports has an impact on where children play, with whom, and what skills and experiences they take with them. It’s a devastating road block that makes certain sports inaccessible for certain kids.

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Delaware’s Own Play It Again Sports

Play it Again Sports, a national retail resale franchise, has locations worldwide. After stumbling across a store while traveling for a sporting event, the Taylors realized the loss Delaware faced in not having one. After research and careful thought, Casey and Amy’s decision to purchase a franchise and install the store in Newark married the family’s desire to own a small business with the mission of bringing affordable equipment to the community.  

“If you outgrow something, you can bring it in to us and we’ll pay cash for it,” Amy says. “It keeps the equipment and money in the community and allows kids to stay active.” Beyond offering the exchange service, the store sells gently used equipment at substantial discounts, brand-new items, customization, skate sharpening, lacrosse stringing, and other services.  

The Taylors plan to work with various teams in the area to provide them with personalized clothing and gear, which families can purchase through team stores. Amy further emphasizes the importance of customizing gear so that team-based items match, regardless of the price point. Whether a top-of-the-line pro or entry-level item, the store’s services ensure that each helmet, bat, or jersey looks the same to eliminate competition between players and reinforce fairness.  

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Play It Again Sports also offers a program allowing folks to put the money from their used equipment toward their team. Rather than choosing to take the money for their used equipment, they can donate it to a team-based fundraiser.  “They can reinvest into their program and subsidize costs of team fees and player costs that maybe some kids can’t afford,” Amy says.    

Play It Again Sports is staffed by athletically experienced employees, whether student players or those who grew up playing sports. Customers with questions regarding what to buy, how it should fit, or what they can expect in their season can use the staff’s knowledge and exceptional customer service skills to their advantage, Amy emphasizes.  

“The best thing for me is seeing the kids leaving with something that they’re really excited about, with parents feeling relieved that they can provide something rather than that sense of spending dread,” Amy says. “And guess what—when their kids outgrow it in a month or two, they can bring it in, and we’ll buy it back.” 

University Plaza Shopping Center, 29 University Drive, Newark

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