The $MONEY$ Question...What Does Girls Softball Travel Ball Cost?

[TheSoftballZone]

Alright, I realize everyone HATES to talk about money. But, I need some input here. My daughter played for "Team A" for years. We paid $400 a year, got 6-7 tournaments, winter ball uniforms out of the deal. I thought we had it pretty good. Now that "Team A" has folded, we have come to realize that we had it better than we thought! So, I'm wondering...how much does travel ball GENERALLY cost for most organizations. I'm also finding out that teams don't like to share that information until they offer a spot to a player. What's the big deal? If you're giving families what they pay for, why all the hush-hush about money? A HUGE deciding factor in whether a girl takes a spot on a team or not is the cost to play. So, anyone want to share YOUR TEAM'S annual player fee??? Maybe even shed a little insight into how many tournaments, etc. players get for their parent's hard earned dollars??? (Any brave souls out there??)

 

[DodgeMan]

We looked at a lot of teams this fall, at least seven or eight. My daughter's team last year all moved up to 14u, and she was the youngest, and stayed at 12u. Being a pitcher, I was also looking for a team that didn't have 5 pitchers, and played a competitive 'A' tournament schedule somewhere in the neighborhood of 8-10 spring/summer tournaments. Most teams fees averaged just under $1000, $850-$975 were kind of what I saw/expected. I seen as low as $475. I know its expensive and money is always an issue, but I think the fees should be around $1000. Coaches are volunteers, need equipment, practice fields, winter indoor place. I don't think any teams are getting rich off travel ball. Higher also makes it prohibitive to 'Jump Ship' - see the other post marked 'Grass is Greener'. I also think that's about the max most people would be willing to afford, and all the teams we looked at had some type of reasonable payment schedule. Start adding in lost work time, travel expenses, eating on the road, gas.. Anyway, I think the cost needs to be significant, but not prohibitive.

 

[Lenski65]

There are many factors that determine team cost. Number and quality of uniforms, matching helmets, bat bags, shoes, etc., number of tournaments, and cost of tournaments. On top of that you have costs such as food, fuel, lodging, auto maintenance, etc. I estimated a yearly cost of over $5K last year for fall ball, winter, and summer ball.

 

[KillingMeSmalls]

We have been on both ends of the financial spectrum. We have paid as little as $550 or as much as $1100 this year. On some of the lower costs teams we had to pay out of pocket for more equipment/uniforms, additional tournaments, pins for Nationals, etc. I would prefer to tell us upfront what is required than to nickle and dime us throughout the season. Now on the team that charges over $1000...pretty basic with 3 fall tournaments and full summer schedule and a National at the end. However, these are all showcases that cost almost double the entry fee to play. I can understand the extra cost in these cases and when couple with the uniforms we are definitely getting our money's worth. It's those teams charging you $1000 and you play a local flavor tournament schedule. If this describes your team, I would recommend checking around for other teams and fees and requesting a balance sheet to see how your money is spent.

For example, if you have a roster of 12 kids and charge them $750 you would generate $9,000. If your organization is buying the uniforms, they could be paying as much as $150 a player for two sets of uniforms, BB and helmet, total of 10 fall/spring tournaments at $500 each, $500 miscellaneous equipment account, $300 in sanction fees, and $800 in indoor practice fees you have spent a little over $8500. That leaves about $500 left...Like I said, ask the questions about the money and where it is going. My numbers are very generous for most teams, but you get the picture.

 

[CARDS]

I agree with Lenski, There are a ton of factors that go into team cost.

1st is the team coached by non parent coaches? If so, look at least 2k to cover their expenses.
2nd What age group? Under 14U fees playing in major tournaments will run around $600 for fall, winter and spring activities and should include two full uniform sets, bags and helmets. Ours included spirit wear too.
3rd If 14 and above playing in the best tournaments available plan on fees closer to $1000.00 or more. Some of the tournaments we played in had entry fees over $1000.00 for the better college showcase events.
4th Roster size...I kept mine at 12 but some of the teams we played at 15U and up had rosters of 15 or more...

I always was upfront on our team expenses and what the cost were. I did have some families decide not to play because of the cost and in some cases had to take players that could afford the travel . With this said, you do not have to spend a ton of money and play in the best tournaments to get college looks.
We did it because that is where the overall better competition was, but some of the players that did not play for me and did not attend the big events did the other things good players need to do to get looks and offers such as attending camps and clinics, Queen of Diamond events and events structured like QOD that can be more bang for your buck than playing in the high level showcase events.

 

[LADY_KNIGHTS]

The price to play travel ball has steadily increased because the cost of these tourneys are completely out of hand!!! There is no way a 4 or 5 gg tourney should be $775!!! It is absolutely ridiculous!!! How can you TD's justify charging that much...and the teams going...how do you justify paying that much!!!

 

[flygirlsdad]

I tend to agree tourney fees are getting a little over the top. You pay because everyone here keeps their costs similar. I have seen ASA tourneys posted in Tenn and some other states for about half the entry fee as in Ohio. Not sure why that is. Showcase events can be upwards of 1500 to 2000 for the big names. I guess if people pay, they will keep charging more. I have to think the main reason is that these tourneys are org fundraisers. When I played more slowpitch, it was easy to find a tourney for 100. Lots more were in the 200 range.

 

[BA824]

The thing that bothers me on rising tournament costs is for the last decade their expenses for the most part have not risen. Umps the same. Softballs the same. Trophies the same. Sanctioning and insurance the same. Very little if any change in chalk/diamond pro. The only expense that may have risen last 10 years could be field rentals. If their expenses dont rise why should entries tripled in some cases. How much money do they need to make? Just runs downhill to the parents

 

[CARDS]

BA824

When we started back in the early 2000s Fastpitch was nowhere close to what it is today. The level of play, number of teams, facilities, and the amount of playing options (sanctioning bodies) have all grown.
Like most things in life as the sport grew so did the corporate side of sport. I have helped run the Keith Carver event in Maysville KY for the past 6 years. Over the past three years the event coordinator has been approached by several sanctioning bodies to sanction the tournament that is currently an open event. If we were to sanction the event it would take the tournament fee from $300 to over $400 for the teams entered and that is “not” what the purpose of the tournament is as a scholarship event. Other events can be qualifiers, and team fundraisers or just a for profit event like most college showcases that dictate entry fees.

When you look at the various sanctioning bodies some require using their balls, and insurance and all want a cut of the tournament fees. If you want to make it a qualifying event there is additional fees. Umpires are another issue, The sanctioning bodies do not want their umpires doing non sanctioned events or working other sanctioning bodies events (we use KHSAA and DIII umpires). Talking with umpires at other events in some cases an umpire can have their status effected if they are caught doing other sanctioning events. Back in the day we would play USSSA one weekend and ASA the next with the same umpires different shirts.

What do you get for your fees? Lasers facilities are questionable but we played there because we got the best bang for our buck averaging 8 games for $600 so there was value in the additional expenses.
Looking at the tournament list and seeing showcase events with a 4 or 5 GG with entry fees over $700 seems to be the norm now. Basic qualifying events are over $400.

Tournament directors are getting more creative with how they can get your money or save you money. In 2011 MCH ran the event for $275 two and out blind draw Saturday Sunday tournament and you bought however many pool play games you wanted for $100 each starting on Thursday. I paid for three but we ended up playing four pool play because a team dropped out giving us 6 games for $575 in a showcase format.

Some tournaments are not doing a good job of partnering with the local business community. No breaks on hotels, food chain discounts, tournament park passes on top of huge entry fees.
I have seen some for week long events $50 to a $100 per person or $25 for a weekend pass per person some community parks even charge an additional $10 to park.

Over the past 5 years some events will not accept checks, You must pay with a credit card and guess what. If you do not stay at a tournament preferred hotel you get charged additional fee starting at $100…When price checking these hotels there is no discounts for teams. Basically; College coaches and umpires get a room reduction as well as tournament officials and the teams make up the lost revenue…

There are some good value events around Ohio, IND. KY and Tenn. Tennessee was always was a fun place to play with good pricing all the way around but if it has the words college showcase expect to pay double or more.