The True Cost of Softball

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so it got me thinking (it doesn't take much) how much does softball really cost my family? in terms of monetary value, can i realistically tabulate the everyday, weekend cost of playing summer ball and even school ball? So I want to provide u, dear reader, with a clear and concise evidence that softball is definitely an investment if one is willing to put that time into it.

Why? believe it or not, it is not an effort to beef up my posts...lord knows, i have that down already. This will be statman's last go-round, the last hurah, the end of the picture! My oldest dd will be playing her last year at 16's. My younger kids will be needing more time from me so this will probably be the last year i really post anyway, until the little DD gets ready to play in about 7 years. With the economy the way it is, maybe others can read what i spend, relate or help me cut costs some how. We are a thriving online community of friends and supporters, might as well try something new.

So what r my rules? I figure to tabulate the following:

a. mileage--to and from practices, shopping for softball and traveling. I figure i will average the amount of gas it will actually cost
b. equipment and lessons--to b a competitive 16u athlete, one needs to keep themselves well equipped and well trained, so any expense from hitting lessons to new shoes will b recorded.
c. team fees
d. hotel fees for stays out of town
e. concessions (hopefully not too many walking tacos!)
f. groceries that directly relate to softball...gatorades, water, fruit we stockpile on the weekend, propane for the grill, etc. I wont list everything, just a running tab of expenses. imagine the amount and prices of bags of dill pickle seeds?
g. extra school expenses (pictures, uniforms, etc)
h. time (this, to me is the most expensive tabulation but most likely the most rewarding)
i. statman equipment (glover's book refills, pencils)
j. gate/parking fees/t-shirts
k. college preparations (skills videos, etc)
did i miss anything?

i will most likely keep it in a blog to keep it out of the main thread (maybe not)..but will look forward to people's comments and maybe realize what not to spend the next weekend. also, i'm hoping to actually finish something--statman's biggest loser became "summer of the french fries". Failed on that attempt (thanks to wgman, i may get started back again in the fall once school starts). Ranking team schedules? hey, when no one responds cant do that either--although, i am trying to coordinate a 16/14 fan poll. we will see how that goes.

So, we begin today. DD's tryouts are over. So no expenses to report as of yet. Stay tuned.

 

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didn't have to drive to tryouts?

 

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I don't know of any other parents who spend as much time with their daughters as the travel ball parents. The conversations we have with our daughters during those drives are priceless. The discussions we have about softball definitely translate into so many other areas of our daughters' lives. Travel softball has been an excellent parenting tool.

 

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didn't have to drive to tryouts?

i didnt count this year's tryouts cause i barely thought about it now..haha, plus i wanted it to be make the team and now see how much it cost

 

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For some reason....I don't believe this will be your last year...

I enjoy your posts Statman, keep them coming!

 

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Statman,...Take up coaching if you really want to spend some money !!

 

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no thanks! been there, failed at that! i did get a chance to get some coaching in this season after some unfortunate circumstances...i grade myself a c+

 

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Stat:

I know that it CAN be done to pack meals on the away weekends, but I'm betting that most of us hit fast food or even Chipotle/Applesby's, etc to take a break from the heat, wind down at the end of the day, or simply because we didn't get our act together to pack enough food for the weekend.

Also, I don't think you should leave out the gate and/or parking fees, which can really add up.

And finally, for some teams that have a ton of players doing other sports, the fall and indoor tournament opportunities only come with putting together a composite team that charges extra fees for those tournaments or leagues.

 

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Stat:

I know that it CAN be done to pack meals on the away weekends, but I'm betting that most of us hit fast food or even Chipotle/Applesby's, etc to take a break from the heat, wind down at the end of the day, or simply because we didn't get our act together to pack enough food for the weekend.

Also, I don't think you should leave out the gate and/or parking fees, which can really add up.

And finally, for some teams that have a ton of players doing other sports, the fall and indoor tournament opportunities only come with putting together a composite team that charges extra fees for those tournaments or leagues.

good points!

 

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A lot of good comments!

 

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to me the cost is just part of it... I've always been broke... at least now I get to have the most fun in the world with the DD's and 'that's all I can say about that' (not trying to go all Forest Gump on you...). Paying out into travel ball is like an annuity towards the chance or hopes of a college scholarship. That's what I tell the DW, shhhh.

 

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dont get me wrong, i love it! the time i spend with DD..wow, what a difference

 

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Bout 2 million, but it could save DD a few thousand in College.

 

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Uhhhh, I don't think I really want to know. By the way, anyone have a gently used CF3 there looking to get rid of? Oops, there goes a little bit more.

 

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Statman,
Now that dd is an older 16, what about exposure camps, skills videos, profile sheets, time to research college programs and email coaches? How about dining out due to a late practice? Scary how quickly this can build up!

 

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I figure I aint gonna take it with me anyway, so a few dollars here, or there, I don't keep track of it as a total, so it's just a blurr to me.

But the time spent with the DD's is irreplaceable! You'll never say you didn't spend time together and wish's you did. Can't put a price on that.

 

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Gets me out doing something that doesn't involve bars, beer and golf (not necessarily in any order). Either way I'm spending a bunch of money. And the golf trips involve after golf G-clubs that eat a lot of money. So I get to spend some time with our youngest DD and I love the game. When she is gone it will be back to the other, God willing.

 

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15heat, good point, will adjust..

 

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Gets me out doing something that doesn't involve bars, beer and golf (not necessarily in any order).

Agree- except for me, "gets me out of cooking, laundry, etc." lol PLUS I get to sit outside and work on that wonderful 'softball' tan! But seriously- the time spent watching dd is priceless!

 

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Its a lot, I try not to think about it LOL

This past year our team made out of town trips to; Florida, Akron, Ft. Wayne, Cleveland, Columbus x2, Elgin ILL., South Carolina and South Dakato. A few other out of town practices and a few out of town camps, new equipment, team fees, etc.

Its cost me a ton! I am proud to say I paid cash for everything, so I won't be paying for this past year next year. The cost of paying cash was I missed a ton of her game, although a positive was my wife and DD got some bonding time before she goes off to college, in the past my wife always had to miss a lot due to work and I think she felt a little left out.

Either way I don't regret spending a dime to give my DD a ton of memories and a positive childhood spent with family and the ton of wonderful people we have met through softball.

As my oldests softball travel career is coming to an end, she is a senior to be, we are starting all over with my middle DD who is a 3rd grader to be and will be playing for her first travel team next year, and we can't wait!