How much do you think you'll spend on softball in 2016?

[Static_97_North]

I have two also snowman76. Actually 3 but the one in college right now only does a few summer tournaments. I would say I spend about 12,000.00 year. This includes going and watching the oldest as much as I can in college as well.

 

[larrybowman]

Wow... some of the numbers on here are staggering! Im lucky enough to have family that live in Gahanna (suburb of Columbus) so we stay with them for anything down there... That is truly a blessing! My DD team doesn't go to Cali or anything that far west (thank God). Also there was a brand new indoor facility built in Massillon OH and its only a 5 minute drive from the house. I very quickly jumped on board there with a membership. In retrospect I'm pretty lucky as far as $ goes I guess compared to some of the numbers on here. I feel for yall who pay out the A$$...... But as stated in a couple of posts earlier it is all worth it, if nothing else just the time spent with a beautiful DD watching her doing what she loves, and knowing it wont last forever. Soak it all in everyone.....It wont be like this for long. What we really need to do is hit that powerball.....1.3Billion.....OMG what I could do with that!!??

 

[FastBat]

I think this is a great question and saw the following blog entry posted on FB. I thought I would share because when I start calculating the amount our family spends on softball/baseball it's scary!

This is written from a father's perspective about dance, for his three daughters, but it still applies to softball:

The other night someone asked me "Why do you pay so much money for your girls to dance?" Well, I have a confession to make, I don't pay for dance. Personally, I couldn't care less about dance. I grew up in a family of 4 boys and no girls. The "Nutcracker" was something you did on a dare off of the high dive at the pool or something you unpleasantly surprised your brother with. Up until the day I met my wife if I were asked to go to Swan Lake I would have asked if we were water skiing or fishing.

So, if I am not paying for dance what am I paying for?

- I pay for those moments when my daughters become so tired they want to quit but don't.
- I pay for those days when my daughters come home from school and are "too tired" to go dance, but go, anyway.
- I pay for my daughters to learn to be graceful.
- I pay for my daughters to learn to take care of their body.
- I pay for my daughters to learn to work with others and to be good team mates.
- I pay for my daughters to learn to deal with disappointment, when they don't get that part they hoped for, but still have to work hard at the part that they received.
- I pay for my daughters learn to make and accomplish goals.
- I pay for my daughters to learn that it takes hours and hours and hours and hours of hard work and practice to create something beautiful, and that success does not happen over night.
- I pay for the opportunity my daughters have and will have to make life-long friendships.
- I pay so that my daughters can be on stage instead of in front of a screen...

I could go on, but to be short, I don't pay for dance. I pay for the opportunities that dance provides my daughters to develop attributes that will serve them well throughout their lives and give them the opportunity to bless the lives of others. From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!

I am sure that other parents get similar questions. "Why do you pay for competitive baseball?" "Why do you pay for Quarterback training?" "Why do you pay for club soccer?" "Why does your kid swim year round?".... I just think it is important to realize what we are really paying for.

By Shad Martin
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...ymore.html?soid=1102365104775&aid=q_O90qniyoE

 

[yossarian]

From what I have seen so far I think it is a great investment!

That's a great post. Not that I need to justify the expense and the return on investment, but the next time someone says I'm crazy for spending the time and money that we're putting in, or the next time someone asks why I don't just drop that money in a college fund, I'll give my answer in the form of a question: "So you don't think your daughter's future, her confidence, discipline, grit and ability to work hard toward goals in her life is worth that much? Well, I do."

 

[larrybowman]

that's a great post. Not that i need to justify the expense and the return on investment, but the next time someone says i'm crazy for spending the time and money that we're putting in, or the next time someone asks why i don't just drop that money in a college fund, i'll give my answer in the form of a question: "so you don't think your daughter's future, her confidence, discipline, grit and ability to work hard toward goals in her life is worth that much? Well, i do."

agreed!!!!!!

 

[Louuuuu]

To the three previous posts: Amen!

If your answer to the question "Why do you spend so much money on softball?" is "To get a college scholarship", then you're in it for the wrong reason. (And have a 95% chance of being disappointed.)

 

[fpitchdad]

Under 50 bucks.

 

[WalkOffHR]

DD is playing for a well known 18U team. Very reasonable team fees of $750.

Nationals trip to Myrtle Beach will probably cost about $1,000 for hotel for a week, $200 in gas, and $300 for food for a total of $1,500

Weekend stay at Dayton tourney will cost about $200 for hotel, $100 gas, $100 food for $400

Drive back and forth to Laser Nation, ASA States, Stingrays and Loudonville which will run about $40 each in gas and about $160 in food for $200 times 4 so about $800.

Grand total with team fees is about $3,450.

Unless I hit a dead buck on I-71 and puncture 2 tires at 4 a.m. like I did at 10U. Then add another $250. Or I back the car in the garage door like at 12U, damaging the car and the garage door. Add $750. Or the simple stone chip in the windshield (multiple times) which adds $50. Then there was,the time at 16U where the gas station had diesel in the regular fuel pumps on the way to nationals. Add $750 (gas company did reimburse though). Or the time in Greenville when we had $25 worth of food on a window tray at Sonic and I hit the window button instead of the door lock and dumped it in the parking lot and all over the poor carhop.

Better just go with $4,000 come to think of it.

 

[brownsfan]

A major problem with the hotel issue is playing in PGF Tournaments that mandate teams to book hotels in their system, or they heavily penalize the teams that do not .

PGF is not the only one who uses this. I've seen ASA, TCS, and non-sanctioned tournaments. Other sports use it as well.

I'm a bit of a nut job when it comes down to spending. I don't use credit cards and every penny is accounted for. Those who know me know why. The past 6 years I've averaged $4,300.00 (yes, I just looked it all up). That's fees, cleats, gas, food, hotels, campgrounds, camps, spirit wear, pay-to-participate for HS, rental cars, and this is for two dd's. Not one penny as gone to for a plane ticket, and have driven everywhere. Drove twice to CA, twice to FLA, at least six times to TN. I have been able to grow closer to my dd's and that's priceless.

 

[BouldersDad]

Under 50 bucks.

it's good to be done