RJM, I am mad at myself, but also JUSTIFIABLY at the team as well, as they never told me they were going to have 17 players on the roster. So you think $2000/player is acceptable? Like I said, I had a 13U and 14U travel team. The most any of these teams should be charging is 1000/player. 2000/player is excessive in my opinion.You must be one of these high priced travel team owners as you are defending them so much.
There's no such thing as an excessive price for travel ball. It's part of the free market system. The cost is what the market is willing to bear. What you charged when you ran a team is irrelevant. I ran 13u, 14u and 16u (for fifteen year olds) teams for $500 for ten tournaments.
A fifteen year year doesn't need to showcase unless he's on the verge of becoming one of the jaw dropping, top shelf, 1% studs. If your son is a D1 prospect chances are teams will be coming to him. My son played on a subsidized showcase team and a free scout team.
The problem is you may not have a business plan. You're helping spaghetti off the wall to see what sticks. Make a plan. It may be hard for a 15yo. You may have to wait a year To properly evaluate his college potential.
Go watch college games at each level in person. Make an honest assessment of your son. Make a list of colleges conferences he could compete (not the ones you dream about). From those conferences decide which schools are an academic, social and cultural fit. Write to the coaches. Ask how to get in front of them. Then create a plan that includes the right showcases and team.
Large rosters on showcase teams is normal. By then some players are pitchers only. My son's team had either regulars and four part time pitchers for longer tournaments.