Forming a New Team - Recouping Team Fees Idea -- Positives and Negatives

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

I am possibly eyeing a HC position in the future for my youngest daughter. She is an 09 and loves her team, but they are an 07 team and even though it would be pretty cool to play up, I would like to see her grow with a team her age in the future. 4 years at 10U is going to be a hoot though... Has anyone heard of something like this........

**1st Year 9U team
Team Fees of $1000, but team fees can be recoup up to $250 with seeing a professional Hitting/Pitching coach or attending a camp during Fall/Winter. Receipts can only be turned in March after the entire team membership fee has been collected. All team fees need to be paid by February 15th.

What are you thoughts on this?

 

[wow]

First off God bless you with 3 under 12!

Second Convincing 9U parents they need hitting /pitching coaches? Good luck. I do however agree its needed, just convincing dad, who was all city with the new market mallers in 1987 ( Al Bundy reference there in case you missed it), that his DD needs a coach other than him? That's difficult.

The idea of incentivizing it is interesting but if everyone gets it there is no need to do that.

Keeping a 4 year kid at 10U is very smart. Playing up is WAY OVER RATED. Just play the best competition. If yr involved with the lasers and bandits you already get that.

I think you're on the right track though.

 

[Freeze Mizer]

Matt- it's not unreasonable to expect travel players to take lessons from professional instructors. Particularly pitchers.
I'd recommend, instead of recouping $$$, that you use that money to hire an instructor to work
with the girls as a group. This does several things:
1) It gets the girls, coaches and parents on the same page with regards to technique, etc
2) Builds team chemistry by getting the girls together.
3) It will help those parents new to travel ball see the importance of independent instruction.
Good luck!

PS- I smell a Lasers Magenta '09 team coming up!

 

[Long Baller]

That’s definitely an interesting concept. There are a couple of things I would struggle with though.

-$1,000 team fees at first year 9U, second year 8U, or whatever it is, seems crazy. How much more is a kid going to get at that age for $1,000 than they would for the $50 community league? I’m not saying that rec is better, but I don’t think there is a whole lot of bang for the buck at that age. I’m sure you’d get some people to pay it though.

-Each kid is different, but I don’t think that many kids that age would get a whole lot from mandated private instruction and camps. Again, I am not going to go as far as saying that it would be a waste of money, but most kids would not get a whole lot out if it at that age. It’s one thing to tell a 14U parent to “give me $1,000, and here is the contact info of all the organizations approved hitting, pitching, speed/agility, and fielding coaches”, but I think that would be fruitless 9U.

-While it’s a novel idea to build a team young and grow it together, we all know that doesn’t happen. By 12U, the only kid left would be the coach’s kid and maybe her best friend. I have personally seen so often that the “10U stud” turns into the “12U dud”.

Here’s what I would do if I were determined to give it a go. I would pick the kids with the best attitudes and the most athletic ability. Instead of telling them to all go seek outside lessons, I would bring in coaches/instructors that have a history of working well with young children and are sound softball fundamental teachers. Have them instruct practices periodically, like once every couple or few weeks. In the other weeks, drill what the instructors are teaching. That way, they are all learning the same fundamentals and you don’t have to deal with the “If your personal coach is telling you that, then keep doing it, but if your dad is telling you to do that, then we need to change it” situations. I think that the parents would more willingly buy into this as opposed to the “find your own” route. Then hopefully, the team would only half way turn over by 12U.

 

[Long Baller]

Additionally, if you bring in your own instructors vs having the kids find personal coaches and camps, you can insure that they are being taught the hitting/fielding philosophies that you approve of. When my oldest was playing 2nd year 10U, the coach flat out told me that "I don't like your hitting coach and I think you should find a new one". I about fell over, since his only hitting experience was playing high school baseball and slow pitch softball vs the lady the played fast pitch at the highest level. We found a new team the following year.

 

[FastBat]

I have a birth year '12 and I feel like she is already behind! Although, this year she is considered softball 4 (years old).

I have never heard of something like this. But, I don't mind the requiring privates, they do in other sports. What I think will be a turn off is the initial cost of $1000.00, big cost for a 9U team.

 

[Captain_Thunder]

Why does everyone think $1000 per kid for a full Travel Ball experience sounds crazy, whether it is 9U or 16U????
If you are on a quality team that plays a full Fall & Winter schedule - $500+ per kid will barely cover the tourney fees
Uniforms, bags, helmet, team gear will be around $350 - 400 per kid
Winter work out facility will be at least $100-150 per kid
Insurance, Organizational Fees, Team Expenses, etc is another $100 per kid

That is at least $1100 per kid!!! Now many, like my team do lots of fund raising to make the actual out of pocket close to half that total.
But many would just as soon write a check & not worry about it.
But thinking you are gonna run any quality team on a limited budget is going to be your downfall from the beginning...........
Also, at least 80% of my 9U team sees additional instructors for pitching, hitting, catching......

Knowing Matt, if he does it, it will be done right!

 

[thestuff142]

Because they are 7, 8 & 9 years old...and that's silly to spend that kind of money... if there are proven fundraisers that cut everyones costs dramatically...then I get it. He didn't mention that in his thoughts though. Today's parents will line up to pay $1000 to not get left out.

 

[Long Baller]

You need to keep in mind the expectation of the parents as well. If they are new to travel ball, they are going to think that their kid is going to get great coaching because they are playing in a highly regarded organization. It's quite the eye opener when the parents learn that the coach isn't a coach, but just a manager, and that they have to go out and hire a personal coach.

The mindset isn't going to be "Good, we get some money back at the end of the year". It is going to be "We just paid $1,000, AND we need to hire a coach at $50/lesson? WTF!!!!!!!"

I think that you would be better off not giving refunds, but using that money to bring in notable softball personas to be present at some practices. The parents will see the value in that. That is not taking into consideration if kids that age would get anything at all from hiring these people to come in and instruct....

 

[Pacerdad57]

i'm still lost on the spend $1000 and recoup money from paying for private lessons....at best isn't that just robbing peter to pay paul?
i agree about just bringing in "celebrity" players instructors and getting the full work out with your money. we all know there isn't anyway to play and save!!! lmao!!
good luck with your program, it basically sounds like a pretty solid plan.

 

[CARDS]

$1000.00 for any team under 12u is a little pricey... 12u and under teams should be able to play year around for that amount and have top notch uniforms, bags, and training facilities.
Get the right Head Coach and the team does not have to bring in coaches for hire... (I never really did buy in to doing this especially at the younger ages)...I could write a whole story on why...

If you have a solid practice plan a couple nights a week, play leagues and tournaments that matches the team goals...Have four ladies that want to pitch and, make sure you are getting all the ladies infield and outfield time then at the younger ages you as a coach are doing what you need to be doing. Proper practices and pitching and the wins will come as the ladies grow... Remember we are talking 8,9,10 year olds...Its about learning the game, then learning how to play the game as a team, then learning how to play fast...

 

[mike_dyer]

If you take your kid to a tryout for a team 12 years old or younger and they tell you that you have to pay you need to have her play less and start training more.

IOW, don't pay a dime for a team that is 12u or under.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

I appreciate all the replies and different ways to look at it. I was looking at it more as getting continued work outside of practice. (we all know those girls who don't pick up a ball/bat in between practices) I agree that Local Camps at the 8,9,10 can be a little elementary for a travel girl, but I also look at it as getting reps is never a bad thing, plus you meet new people, make new friends and get your name out there. I tell my girls, if a local camp coach tells you to do something different than what you have learned, then shake your head and try it. Have an open mind, learn new things. Getting reps never a bad thing and same way as those young PITCHERS who are still playing rec ball getting work in. Contrary to those parents at the park, who think it is just a chest beating session mowing down rec girls, the pitchers ARE getting work in not only on the field, but in the bullpen sessions also. (people out there will say, I'll save my 75$ and take my daughter to the field every Tuesday and Thursday and Saturday morning and she will get way more reps... if you can do that with the strict regimen as being on a team... more power too you)

The other reason I was looking to do that was to give a break to those who do see a professional. I took for granted all those years of not seeing a professional hitting/slapping coach. My oldest (second year 12U) never has had a lesson, and my middle (second year 10U) has had maybe had 2-3. Especially now that I have a wannabe pitcher, dang it's pricey!! And she goes once every two weeks and splits time with another girl. WOW!!! A girl who is seeing a pitching coach every week is paying dang near double membership fees if you include those numbers.

I really like the idea of using the money to bring in a professional at practice so every is on the same page, same terminology used at practice, etc -- I agree with CapThunder that $1000 is not crazy out of the norm to have for a 9U or 10U team.

I want my head coach to manage the team. A guy/gal who not only knows X's and O's and puts a line-up together, but is a teacher of the game, sets team meetings, coaches meetings, delegates jobs, is organized, shows great enthusiasm, sells his team on social media, has great communication and creates great rapport with girls and parents and there is way more... (i'm picky) Coaches have to be upfront with parents on their strengths and weaknesses. They need to rest their ego and ask for help sometimes. Can't stand a coach, who says "well they aren't a good coach, because of this or that" Just because my philosophy differs from yours doesn't mean that they are horrible. There is probably something there that you can take away that will help your team. Coaches always have to be learning new techniques, stealing ideas from other coaches, and adapting their team.