How Much Money?

$1000 - $1500 for the select team (coaches, uniforms, tourney fees, etc.)

3 weekends with tournaments in nearby cities or adjoining states. 2-3 nights each at $90-$120/night plus food and fuel. Extra room if siblings and wife attend.

1 major tournament that typically lasts 5-7 days and involves airfare at about $400/person and more expensive resort type hotel at $150 - $200 / night. Suite or extra room if rest of family attends.

1 Showcase - $500

1-2 College Camps - $150 - $500

quote:

Originally posted by JunkBall2:
$1000 - $1500 for the select team (coaches, uniforms, tourney fees, etc.)

3 weekends with tournaments in nearby cities or adjoining states. 2-3 nights each at $90-$120/night plus food and fuel. Extra room if siblings and wife attend.

1 major tournament that typically lasts 5-7 days and involves airfare at about $400/person and more expensive resort type hotel at $150 - $200 / night. Suite or extra room if rest of family attends.

1 Showcase - $500

1-2 College Camps - $150 - $500

These calculations look very similar to ours, but we'll do seven college showcase camps and not the major tournament, so it'll be about a wash.

So basically anywhere from $4500-$5000 seems about right?

I just spoke to one of my students parents who have three kids that play baseball. One of them takes pitching lessons from me but the other two have a hitting instructor. With lessons, league fees, college camps and tournament fees etc. He says it isn't uncommon to spend $15,000 every year. Baseball is becoming a wealthier mans sport.

quote:

Baseball is becoming a wealthier mans sport

It's been middle-to-upper-middle class dominated for a long time, maybe 20 years due to the cost-reward (scholly) ratio, and other factors. I just hope it doesn't become the "Squash" or golf of the 21st century.

Some spend a lot, some don't. Some don't have it to spend.

I'd hate to have people think you have to be wealthy to get anywhere in baseball. There are many ways to get recognized without spending a small fortune. There are many examples of this happening.

If a player has enough talent and is recognized there are several travel teams that will cover his costs.

If a player can not afford things, he should be attending as many MLB tryouts (free) as he possibly can. From there, things might start to happen.

If I couldn't afford instruction, I'd get buddy buddy with the kid that is getting the best instruction. I would pick his brain and see if he will help me based on the things he has learned.

I still want to believe... If there is the will, there is a way! If you have enough talent and people know it, economics are not such a big issue.

I even know some instructors who will donate there time to work with a real top prospect. That's the most fun and usually produces the best results for the instructor to promote. It's actually good business on the instructors part.

Talent is talent. Just some of it is raw and some is more polished. Baseball people can quickly figure out talent and which catagory of talent the player falls into. Good instruction can take that raw talent and help polish it. Sometimes that doesn't happen until college or professional baseball.

PG - you are correct, but the key words are "if you have enough talent". As it should be, if you have the talent, there's always a way to get the training, the exposure, etc.

But, for the average or above average player, the point of baseball becoming increasingly only for those who can afford it is true. The costs of travel teams, the actual traveling (hotels, meals, gas),instruction, equipment, etc all really add up. It's costly for coaches, too. I don't know how some of the coaches (particularly the young ones just starting careers) can afford to do it.

Don't get me wrong...I've loved every second I have spent traveling up and down the east coast with my son (priceless as the commercial says) but it costs a lot of green to do that. Now, with gas headed quickly to $4+ /gal, new BBCOR bats to buy, and so on...it ain't cheap.

And, I'm pretty sure it's not just baseball....field hockey, lacrosse, s****r, can all require large sums of money to get isntruction and to play.

baseballguy,

Of course, you're correct. I'd be lying if I said people aren't spending a lot of money. Sometimes the money spent ends up being rewarded, sometimes it doesn't. As you might imagine, I know how expensive some of these things are.

It's just that spending $15,000 a year doesn't seem necessary, but to each his own. I have enough trouble just taking care of myself let alone worry about what other people are doing.

Anyway... My point was to say, if you have enough talent, there are ways to get to the top without spending a small fortune.

Talent is more important than wealth in the amateur baseball world. Not trying to demean those who are wealthy. Some of my best friends are wealthy!

quote:

... how much is too much?

You will never answer that question in the context of our American lifestyle. Our culture is consumption oriented. You will never be put down for spending your entire savings on one summer's showcases and travel ball. That says something about the materialistic society we live in. The image is force fed through advertising. More about me. Always about me. My training, my image, my clothing, my equipment, my swing, my pitches, my speed, my DI college offers. Gluttony....everything in life is about selling ourselves.

I would challenge you this way. Spend exactly the same amount on baseball summer teams and showcases as you have given away in charity. Or find a kid that can't afford the showcase or the travel team and underwrite his expenses. Share your wealth: This is the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness.

quote:

Originally posted by baseballguy:
I've loved every second I have spent traveling up and down the east coast with my son (priceless as the commercial says) but it costs a lot of green to do that..it ain't cheap.

Don't worry about it. We didn't do travel ball. We had a fishing boat. Same difference. $200 (she thinks) to catch $20 worth of fish. I wouldn't trade those memories for all the money in the world. You get one shot when they're young. Use it.

I started paying for summer travel for my sons in 2000 and I'm still paying for son number 3. I'm afraid to add it all up - so I handle it like the mature, responsible adult I am - I just don't add it up. This approach keeps it fun!

In 2006 we paid about 1300.00 for summer travel baseball which was affiliated with the Connie Mack League. Of course this did not include the cost of hotel and food for my son or the hotel and food for my wife and myself. Fall season was always about 400 less due to a shorter season. The team always went to East Cobb and Jupiter as well as the BCS in Ft. Myers plus a circut through the Southeast at College stadiums where recruiters would watch games. Not sure if those rules have changed.

It was a great time and I would do it all over if I could. It was a great time to spend as a family and we just budgeted out vacations around baseball.

Some will spend money thinking their boy is the next high draft choice. Some will spend money even though their son realistically has no chance and no talent. (That's when it becomes unfortunate.)

For me, I believed my son had talent. I wanted to give him the best chance I could afford. I was not looking for a sure thing, nor was I asking for a "return". My attitude all along was if it all ends tommorow, be satisfied for having given him this chance.

Some spend their money on vacations. Some on boats, and big houses, and weekend partying. I spent mine on my boy and while the money is gone my boy, and our memories, are not.

Right there with ya Bum!

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Beautiful post Bum. Thanks for posting that.

I agree that it costs too much money for the average person to play travel baseball or fastpitch.

But, what's the answer? Do youth leagues need to figure out a way to improve their best players?

I'm with Bum. This has been a family experience for us. I have no idea if my son's baseball dreams will come true but I expect no return on my investment that I haven't already gotten. Great memories, togetherness including drives to practice that led to talks about life and the chance to share in his passion.

I hope it can continue beyond high school but I know it will be different as then it becomes his solo journey and my role is very diminished. However the impact of baseball and our shared family time will never be diminished and hopefully become an example for him should he have a child who loves s----r!

As expensive as travel ball is, I will miss having the honor of paying the bills everyday when it is over.

When my 2012 son was 13 and in his first year of travel ball he was concerned that it cost too much. I told him then and tell him every year "When you stop playing, I'll stop paying". Still paying, and very happy to do so.

Two boys playing travel ball. It is expensive, but, OH SO worth it. I think I might reduce the costs by about 50% if I could just figure out how to keep them away from the concession stands .

It's not my boy at the concession stand that is killing me it is his little sister!!!!

From an outsiders perspective it appears that club volleyball is at best even if not a whole lot worse. Ugh!!

I'm with Bum and Baseballdad1228...It would drive me crazy to try and add it all up, but it kind of makes it fun. Like Bum, I don't mind spending a little money on my son or daughter. I knew my son had a little talent, and I wanted to give him the best opportunities to succeed.

Vacations? Ninety percent of them involved sports, weekend tournaments, etc...and my wife and I wouldn't change any of those memories either, in fact, we'll probably miss them greatly.

quote:

Originally posted by Bum:
Some will spend money thinking their boy is the next high draft choice. Some will spend money even though their son realistically has no chance and no talent. (That's when it becomes unfortunate.)

For me, I believed my son had talent. I wanted to give him the best chance I could afford. I was not looking for a sure thing, nor was I asking for a "return". My attitude all along was if it all ends tommorow, be satisfied for having given him this chance.

Some spend their money on vacations. Some on boats, and big houses, and weekend partying. I spent mine on my boy and while the money is gone my boy, and our memories, are not.

I right with ya on that, Bum!

Off topic but along the same lines....

I paid for pitching lessons for 2013 NOT because I thought he was going to be a MLB Pitcher, but because I didn't to look back and say "shoulda, woulda, coulda...

Plus if he was going to pitch (little league, HS and or beyond) I didn't want him getting hurt.

Spents lots of good money but spent a lot more quality time behind the plate.

As a mom (and a lifelong baseball fan/former softball player), baseball has provided great opportunities for my son and I to share time and experiences. I suspect that I would be much closer to owning the 65 Mustang converible I want if I hadn't paid for baseball, but it is a good trade.