The cost of living crisis is forcing people to choose between doing sport or buying food, according to a new report.One rugby club said it was seeing children stop playing as parents cannot afford boots or petrol for travel.
The Senedd's sport committee called for a "radical rethink" after finding living costs were preventing participation in disadvantaged areas.
The Welsh government said it was committed to "promoting equal access to sport across the country".
The committee's report said while the Welsh government had "well intentioned" commitments, there was not a "clear and defined approach" to increasing participation in these areas.
Poverty and lifestyle challenges sport'Poor children lose out on exercise''Work needed' to close school sports gap
Since forming in 2017, Caerau Ely RFC, in Cardiff, now has more than 150 players in its mini and junior section, attracting children from some of the most deprived areas of the capital.
"I've noticed families with two or more children, they may not be coming because they can't afford to replace two sets of boots," said club manager Johanna Cotterrall."We have lost a lot of parents over the years to mental health and suicide," she added.
"What do you do with those parents who no longer have partners and husbands, but who come here on a Sunday morning to watch the kids with a coffee and see friends?
"And what do you do with those 150 children - there is no other sport in Caerau and Ely that is that cheap."
'They are missing being a child'
Ms Cotterrall said she worried about the viability of the club, which has often struggled to access grants that would reduce fees and ease the financial burden on parents.
"If they live on the other side of Ely, they can't afford the petrol. On the flip side, you see children still coming but they haven't got what they need.
"The kids are missing that connection, they're missing fun, they are missing being a child. So they really need to come back and be children."
The report highlighted other issues like poor transport links, lack of confidence and gender inequality, which it said were also barriers.
The committee made 12 recommendations, including:
Calling for a "national approach" to address the issue, including setting targets to improve accessOpening up schools and other community facilities, so people have better access to facilitiesMore funding to address the problem of low participation levels in disadvantaged areas
The committee also recommended the Welsh government follow New Zealand in setting up a pilot to offer children funding to cover the costs of equipment, kit and fees.