WHERE DOES ALL THE $$$ go to???

[Mykidcanplay]

Just curious where the $1200 travel team fees go.. 11 girls on the team.= $13,200

Eight summer tournaments total entry for all $4785

Jersey's -$275 per girl
Org fees - $100 per girl
If you total all those figures up you get $4125

add the two together you get $9075

total team fees for 11 girls is $13,200
Where is the left over $4290 going to??
we had no winter tournaments or Indoor training costs at all..
What would you do? Who would you address these things too.
The org's president?

I feel I'm being swindled out of $400

Concerned Parent ​

 

[Mykidcanplay]

Typo- if you add the total Torny cost and player uniform and org costs = $8910

Subtract total fees for all girls $13,200 - $8910 = $4290 unaccounted for?.....

 

[SOSoftball]

I would check with the Head Coach/Manager of the team before going to the Org's President. Give the Coach a chance to let you know where the money is going. If he doesn't want to share the information then there may be reason to be suspicious. There shouldn't be any reason for a team not wanting to share the financial information with the parents on the team.

Is the team buying other equipment you are not aware of such as helmets or bat bags. There are also other costs associated with the team including insurance, sanctioning fees, equipment etc.

 

[alborules]

Any organization should be able and willing to give you a cost break down for your team. Whether you play for a non-profit or not, the money has to be allocated in a financial book, excel spreadsheet, or accounting software.

I don't have a clue which org you play for, but it is not uncommon for some organizations to have the 14u and higher teams pay extra so that the 8u-12u teams are subsidized some. Keeping the cost down for the younger age groups helps draw in and retain families that are new to travel softball.

Other places the money might be allocated is to the coach in one way or another. Non-parent coaches do get paid by many organizations and their hotel bills are also absorbed by the team. Some coaches that are parents have their daughter's fees paid by the team in trade for their coaching time.

Anyway, you should be able to ask the organization where your team fee goes and expect to see it on paper or a computer screen.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

Every team I have been a part of has been transparent and HC have sent out spreadsheets of finances every so often. If they are hesitant, then I would start to be suspicious as SOSoftball said... but there are missing costs from the things you listed.....

 

[Mykidcanplay]

So I can ask the coach for the financial spreadsheet for the entire season? That's good to know. Btw, the $275 covers two uniforms helmets and bags.

 

[24GahannaLadyLions7]

Umpire fees for friendlies, coaches shirts and equipment, decals for helmets, helmet awards, fall shirts, banner, insurance, field rental for spring/fall, buying pins for WS, team catchers gear and I missing some other items too..

 

[Heavy Hitter]

As already mentioned, you should be able to go to the HC and he/she should be able to to give you a break down of cost. Just curious how did you come up with other cost?

 

[Mykidcanplay]

I was told by another coach on a different team within the org. He/she told me that all uniform and org fees were the same throughout the whole org. Age groups.

 

[Mykidcanplay]

I'm aware of all the little different fees that can add up ... i.e. Insurance etc. etc.. But, there is now way in "he double toothpicks" it would add up to almost $4300...

 

[SonicMojo]

I know there are some teams where the coaches' kids don't pay. And some coaches don't require pitchers to pay if that's what it takes to woo them. Sometimes if the fees are too high for a family, the coach might cut a break as well. Are you sure that all 11 players paid that much?

 

[wow]

I agree ask the coach for a print out. Pretty simple. If the coach gets upset, tell him your just asking for transparency.

 

[Mykidcanplay]

I'm not sure sonic- considering all the coaches have kids on the team I'm starting to think maybe none of them paid for their kids to play...

 

[pride1]

Our fees aren't that much but as a head coach I know me personally have spent 3-400.00 a year on my teams out my own pocket. Indoor facility for winter workouts are pretty pricy to fortunately we have our own but we allocate x amount of dollars per girl to cover facility costs!

 

[hammerhead20]

If you team is part of a larger organization, then it goes to the pool so to speak. You also have to factor in insurance, bags, equipment, etc. Plus, a lot of places the Head Coaches daughter will play for free or they might get a small stipend to cover hotels and things like that. I know a few organizations that charge the same for every team from U-8 to U-18 and charge the same for the B and C teams as they do their A. A college showcase will cost quite a bit more than a U10 B/C tournament yet everyone is paying the same base cost.

 

[LakeErieHillbilly]

Cost of indoor places are really expensive. They know there is not a lot of choices out there so they can run higher prices. Like said above some of the things covered is..........
1. set amount of tournaments played
2. team insurance
3. sanction fees
4. uniforms
5. helmets and bags

Most coaches are set a certain amount of money set for tournaments their teams play in. You are talking around $4000 to $6000 depending on age group, being younger ages play year round and more tournaments.
Organization I was with the past two years gave all us coaches an updated financial report each month and told us what our updated budget was and where all money went to.
Travel ball is not a cheap date when you put all this together.

Those looking for a lesser amount for player fees would need to expect fewer tournaments and smaller ones at that. Don't expect Stingrays at $650 a pop, it would be a 4gg at a much smaller cheaper tournament around $400.

Ive seen the cost of where we practice the past two winters and it is expensive! A lot of then organizations money went there.

 

[Dawgsdad]

Did you receive a proposed budget for fall and winter events and spring and summer events at tryouts or before you committed? We pass one out to every parent at tryouts so they know our potential plans and costs associated with those plans.

 

[FastBat]

Umpire fees for friendlies, coaches shirts and equipment, decals for helmets, helmet awards, fall shirts, banner, insurance, field rental for spring/fall, buying pins for WS, team catchers gear and I missing some other items too..

Any sanctioning fees including ASA/PGF/USSSA, recruiting materials, guest coaches, expenses if the team does qualify for nationals, extra indoor practice rentals, outdoor field rentals...I'm missing some, too.

I could be wrong, but I feel like $1200/player, will not be enough for 14u? I hope it is, but realistically the tournament fees seem to increase as they get older.

 

[dad_on_the_bucket]

I have been doing this for 5 years and it costs a minimum of $12K to run a season. It is more than just tournament entry and uniform that go into season. 24Gahanna nailed it with uniforms, entry, sanction, shirts, background, equipment, friendlies, decals, practice location, etc. I don't know an single coach that doesn't also put several hundred dollars of their personal money into running a program. The Storm organization has open book policy, any parent can see the financial statement at any time and team treasurer has to submit monthly statement to organization treasurer for review. I would start with asking for a statement.

 

[cz fastpitch fan]

I have been doing this for 5 years and it costs a minimum of $12K to run a season. It is more than just tournament entry and uniform that go into season. 24Gahanna nailed it with uniforms, entry, sanction, shirts, background, equipment, friendlies, decals, practice location, etc. I don't know an single coach that doesn't also put several hundred dollars of their personal money into running a program. The Storm organization has open book policy, any parent can see the financial statement at any time and team treasurer has to submit monthly statement to organization treasurer for review. I would start with asking for a statement.

I concur with everything he just said. Every coach out there is WILLING to provide a complete budget, financial statement, everything. No coach ever wants there to be any suspicion that there might be some embezzlement going on....not even a hint of that. Best course of action for all parties is for the coach to provide a budget at the beginning of the season and even a couple of mid-season statements, just so everybody can see where the $ goes.
I can tell you that indoor practices can run over $100 per practice. if you practice from Jan until the 3rd week of February, that's 800-1000. Toss in friendly costs, equipment costs (think ball are free, hitting nets, etc...those things need purchased and at the end of the season those belong to the team.
I know it's hard to turn over that much money.....just consider it a deposit on your daughter's development but also ask for a statement.
If you do this the right way, the coach won't feel as though you don't trust him....you just would like to see the statement.
Transparency is the best!