Feels like I am on the wrong planet.
I have paid approximately $40k per year for my daughter to play travel softball. Club fees = $5000-6000. Equipment = $1000. Travel and tournament fees = $1500-2500 per weekend.
Am assuming baseball will be the same. Please tell me something different. I am not rich.
@DD 2024 posted:Feels like I am on the wrong planet.
I have paid approximately $40k per year for my daughter to play travel softball. Club fees = $5000-6000. Equipment = $1000. Travel and tournament fees = $1500-2500 per weekend.
Am assuming baseball will be the same. Please tell me something different. I am not rich.
I think it's the club fees and the travel. In baseball, it SEEMS like the summer club fees would be closer to $3K. And, the travel part wouldn't be every weekend. Maybe once or twice we're on a plane and spending thousands on travel in the summer. The rest of the time it's by car, no more than 2 hours each way, and only occasionally requires a hotel stay. But, I realize softball is a different animal.
If it makes you feel any better, I spend $3K a year on a training facility. That is on top of summer ball. And, it's been GREAT there. But, he's only really there like 7 months of the year because the in season schedule doesn't allow much time for training. And, last year, with COVID-19, he wasn't there March through October. It was literally money burned.
One thing I have realized through this journey with three baseball players and a son who coaches travel softball, the better player you are and the higher competition you play the cheaper it seems to be. I can guarantee you that the top teams in any travel sport are paying for their A team with other teams or have sponsors to pay for it. The top team members are not paying to play. Some of you will never recoup your money. I cannot imagine paying $10,000 a year to play baseball, softball, or basketball to try to get a college scholarship or any other reward. I thought ours was crazy when we were spending $2-3,000 a year to hopefully one day get a scholarship that is worth a few thousand dollars. I do not understand paying thousands of dollars in training facilities and club fees to play on a team that will get your son/daughter to a small school. Almost every top player in every state has an opportunity to play for free, some choose not to because they would rather play with a certain club but they have been given the opportunity. There are true scout teams that the major league teams pay for everything out there also, not every team that calls themselves a scout team. You have to ask yourself what is the end game. If you pay more than $5,000 what are you wanting to get out of it. What kind of scholarship will you get or what kind of team will they play on or what other thing are you wanting to get out of it? Just know that the top guys are not paying that for any aspect of it. There are guys out there that know their stuff and are willing to lessons for hitting or pitching for $40 an hour. No one cares the name behind the lessons they just want to see the results. They realize that the best guys in the lesson business do as many or more lessons for kids who will never play college ball as they do for those who will become pros. The bad lessons are easier than the kid who is already defined. it is a lot easier to teach a kid to just throw the ball than it is to refine a kid who is at the top of the game and wanting to add a fourth pitch or add 3 mph. If your kid is not a D1 player, there is no reason to go to the big tournaments or travel around the world. Stay near home and play on a team that will be seen by the schools he will be recruited by. If they are a stud who wants to be at a large school, then you have to go with a team to tournaments where the large schools will be.
Our family was never in this for the college scholarship - there's not much money (for students and famillies) in baseball. For us, it was that my husband didn't have the opportunity or support to play high-level ball, although he always loved it, and so when my son got interested baseball became (and still is) something that they do together. Son is likely done growing, likely D3, so we spent last fall reevaluating our choice of club teams -- we wanted a program that seems to care about team, in addition to player development and recruiting -- and are rethinking showcases, etc with a focus on son's goals. But we had fun traveling with his well-connected club team, and chose to spend our vacation/entertainment money on baseball. It's not something we regret.
ahhh....a side note:
....it doesn't stop with travel ball. So your kid makes it to a D1, D2, D3, or other college team? Are you just going to sit home and watch it lived streamed every weekend? Better keep that baseball budget for the next 4-5 years.
Don't ever think that you will recoup your travel ball money in a possible scholarship. Think of it as spending it for an extracurricular activity (such as piano, dance, hockey, other). We would always try to hit the best BBQ place in the area and tour one "touristy" thing to make it more than just baseball on travel weekends.
@Fan2024 posted:Our family was never in this for the college scholarship - there's not much money (for students and famillies) in baseball. For us, it was that my husband didn't have the opportunity or support to play high-level ball, although he always loved it, and so when my son got interested baseball became (and still is) something that they do together. Son is likely done growing, likely D3, so we spent last fall reevaluating our choice of club teams -- we wanted a program that seems to care about team, in addition to player development and recruiting -- and are rethinking showcases, etc with a focus on son's goals. But we had fun traveling with his well-connected club team, and chose to spend our vacation/entertainment money on baseball. It's not something we regret.
This describes my family pretty well. A scholarship would be great, but we aren't forcing him to make his college decision based on the cost. He could go to a FL school for free but has no interest in them. Maybe my son will play college ball, maybe he won't. Our hope is that he will be able to use baseball to help push him through admissions with one of his top choices. He enjoys playing baseball against the best competition and my wife and I love watching him play, so that's why we are fine with spending the money.
@PitchingFan posted:If your kid is not a D1 player, there is no reason to go to the big tournaments or travel around the world. Stay near home and play on a team that will be seen by the schools he will be recruited by. If they are a stud who wants to be at a large school, then you have to go with a team to tournaments where the large schools will be.
This is not easy to figure out, but it's true. They hook you, though, by saying "maybe he's D1" - which could be true. And, playing with more serious players can be more fun than a local team with a bunch of players who didn't make the high school team. Those were the kinds of choices my son had, anyway.
@DD 2024 posted:Feels like I am on the wrong planet.
I have paid approximately $40k per year for my daughter to play travel softball. Club fees = $5000-6000. Equipment = $1000. Travel and tournament fees = $1500-2500 per weekend.
Am assuming baseball will be the same. Please tell me something different. I am not rich.
Holy crap. Holy crap. I'm usually in the "to each his own" camp and "if you have it to spend, your choice" but if you aren't rich, I am having a hard time understanding that big of a number per year. What is the objective/purpose? 2-3 yrs of $40K per year would cover the majority of most college costs. A competitive travel experience can be had for a small fraction of that number. Help me out here.
To answer your question, I have not heard a number near that one for baseball and I have been in those discussions for many many years. I want to say $25-30K has been on the very high side.
@cabbagedad posted:Holy crap. Holy crap. I'm usually in the "to each his own" camp and "if you have it to spend, your choice" but if you aren't rich, I am having a hard time understanding that big of a number per year. What is the objective/purpose? 2-3 yrs of $40K per year would cover the majority of most college costs. A competitive travel experience can be had for a small fraction of that number. Help me out here.
To answer your question, I have not heard a number near that one for baseball and I have been in those discussions for many many years. I want to say $25-30K has been on the very high side.
This was my initial thought. The softball cost would pay for college.
For enlightenment for baseball only people softball is a better scholarship situation. Softball provides 12 rides for essentially 20-22 players. Rosters aren’t nearly as large as baseball. Softball typically has 3 pitchers versus baseball having 16 or 17.
More softball players get 100% or 50% than baseball. My daughter only received 25%. It was because she was getting 50% for academics and not a top recruit. As the top school in her major it was where she was going once they expressed interest. She verballed in the fall of her soph high school year. Girls also get recruited earlier since they physically mature sooner. Top recruits playing 18u Gold and verballing before high school is normal.
There are people who spend $40k a year for high school tuition, and who might not consider themselves rich. That being said, the people who could be spending that kind of money on baseball might be the people who choose to have their kids play on club teams in the south when they live in the north (plane tickets and hotel fees could add up quickly). Not to mention lessons and gym fees. People can spend lots of money on those things too, as Francis already mentioned. Different people have different priorities.
Yeah, so ...
I know it's a lot. I've never actually added it up. I'm too afraid. One of the other parents on the team said he was in about $30k, and with covid the team had to travel quite a bit more to play (we live in CA), so I'm guessing $40k, it could be closer to $30k. But still.... I have a hard time explaining it. But so do 14 other families!
FWIW, this is a national-caliber team which draws from about a 50-mile radius around their home field. No fly-in players. 10 mins from our house to practice. But, they truly do need to travel to find competition. Way less softball teams in the world than baseball teams. They also have a private indoor facility that's available at any time (each player has a key) and they have team practice outdoors 2-3 days per week. Paid coaches as well. Only one team at each age group. Couple younger players are on scholarship because there's a multi-millionaire dad on one of the teams. But the guy who owns the org wants to keep it small, so there's no B or C teams that supplement the A team costs.
My sense is that softball is more expensive than baseball simply because they play way more games. Not unusual for our team to play 3 weekends/month, 2 requiring plane rides, one within driving distance. In summer, we play almost every weekend.
Glad to hear that baseball won't break the bank! Not sure I could stand another year of this. (Daughter is off to college in the fall.)
@RJM posted:This was my initial thought. The softball cost would pay for college.
For enlightenment for baseball only people softball is a better scholarship situation. Softball provides 12 rides for essentially 20-22 players. Rosters aren’t nearly as large as baseball. Softball typically has 3 pitchers versus baseball having 16 or 17.
More softball players get 100% or 50% than baseball. My daughter only received 25%. It was because she was getting 50% for academics and not a top recruit. As the top school in her major it was where she was going once they expressed interest. She verballed in the fall of her soph high school year. Girls also get recruited earlier since they physically mature sooner. Top recruits playing 18u Gold and verballing before high school is normal.
Softball recruiting changed a couple years ago - colleges can no longer verbal 7th graders. First official contact is 9/1 junior year.
And you are right - it's an equivalency sport. 12 scholarships, usually pitcher, catcher, CF and shortstop have a full ride. The rest are broken up into 16 half scholarships, with the other half frequently made up of academic or need-based money. Rosters are usually 16-18 players, usually 4 pitchers; inflated this year due to covid.
The roster number I gave was for a 2011 college graduate. I don’t understand the expense and the need to travel so frequently. You’re in THE softball hotbed state. Outside nationals your furthest trip should be Southern CA. What am I missing? By the way, the 9/1 junior year contact is a joke in every sport. It’s easy to get around the rule. Many athletes verbal before junior year.
I guess i'm a little "Off the Track", but do all those players in the MLB, who come from Puerto Rico or Dominican Republic, etc., spend $40K on summer ball? Is there any correlation to money spent vs length of baseball career?
Hey , if you got the money , and love baseball, why not spend $40K. I probably would too. But really, is that what it takes? IF so, then i'm out.
@DD 2024 posted:Yeah, so ...
I know it's a lot. I've never actually added it up. I'm too afraid. One of the other parents on the team said he was in about $30k, and with covid the team had to travel quite a bit more to play (we live in CA), so I'm guessing $40k, it could be closer to $30k. But still.... I have a hard time explaining it. But so do 14 other families!
FWIW, this is a national-caliber team which draws from about a 50-mile radius around their home field. No fly-in players. 10 mins from our house to practice. But, they truly do need to travel to find competition. Way less softball teams in the world than baseball teams. They also have a private indoor facility that's available at any time (each player has a key) and they have team practice outdoors 2-3 days per week. Paid coaches as well. Only one team at each age group. Couple younger players are on scholarship because there's a multi-millionaire dad on one of the teams. But the guy who owns the org wants to keep it small, so there's no B or C teams that supplement the A team costs.
My sense is that softball is more expensive than baseball simply because they play way more games. Not unusual for our team to play 3 weekends/month, 2 requiring plane rides, one within driving distance. In summer, we play almost every weekend.
Glad to hear that baseball won't break the bank! Not sure I could stand another year of this. (Daughter is off to college in the fall.)
Softball recruiting changed a couple years ago - colleges can no longer verbal 7th graders. First official contact is 9/1 junior year.
And you are right - it's an equivalency sport. 12 scholarships, usually pitcher, catcher, CF and shortstop have a full ride. The rest are broken up into 16 half scholarships, with the other half frequently made up of academic or need-based money. Rosters are usually 16-18 players, usually 4 pitchers; inflated this year due to covid.
I sorta get most of that, DD, but I was in California for many years and had friends with P5 recruit daughters playing tons of top level travel. So many of the better teams in the country were based in SoCal so an org could play most of their tourneys there if they chose.
Sounds like your daughter is in a good place so congrats!
@RJM posted:The roster number I gave was for a 2011 college graduate. I don’t understand the expense and the need to travel so frequently. You’re in THE softball hotbed state. Outside nationals your furthest trip should be Southern CA. What am I missing? By the way, the 9/1 junior year contact is a joke in every sport. It’s easy to get around the rule. Many athletes verbal before junior year.
SoCal is where the best teams are. But the sport has grown significantly which is great. The Southeast, Texas, Midwest even New Jersey have national-level orgs now.
We don’t travel to all of those places but we do travel to tourneys which attract those teams - think Las Vegas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida. Costs will definitely go back down when SoCal opens up
Anyway yeah it’s nuts and I am very grateful baseball looks like it will be much more manageable. Seems like softball is expensive because of the number of games, way fewer teams and no MLB-type supplements along the way.
Cheers.
