how much would you pay to play?

Maryland American Legion Posts will typically sponsor the baseball player. However, the player will also support the team fundraising of about $100 per.

With amateur coaches being paid for summer independent or travel club, I have heard each head coach are getting up to $4K per team!
for about 30 games.

We pay around $1K a summer. Paid as high as $1,500

I have coached two select summer teams 18U in the Northwest. They played 80 games and one of the teams had a nice bus. One costed $2500 and the other $3000.

We have paid as high as $2500 for a baseball team --huge mistake... and my daughters' softball (10U and 12U) is $1500 each. It's worth it if they get good instruction, have a positive experience, make friends and have fun. Otherwise, what a waste. My family could go on a fabulous vacation for what we pay in just in travel ball FEES. (four kids who travel) Not counting expenses.

Given the potential return on investment, it's hard to justify more than $500. If you're paying $1000+, what is that going to get you? The best way to justify it is as an "opportunity" to play. You certainly aren't going to recoup the money via scholarship. And unfortunately, I hear many parents with that exact intent

I play for the Washington Wave. We pay 2,250 to play but we travel to 7 tournaments and play 92 games.

I have seen prices range from $500 to $2600. The latter included travel expenses. The former is by a club good at getting sponsorship dollars.

Ill bet travel etc is extra.
We pay between $4000. and 410,000 FOR A FULL YEAR. tHIS INCLUDES ALL TRAVEL AND SEVERAL us TRIPS. oUR TEAM HOSTED LARGE TOURNAMENTS WITH TEAMS FROM ALL OVER THE us and Canada. 1st clas ball park and winter facilities.

I'm with Beezer here. I didn't pay over $500.00 for my son to play on a summer team and he played on some good ones. However I do remember some fundraises to get enough to play in post season --- players holding buckets out to passing cars at 4 way stops etc. If my son's only options were a $5,000.00 team fee and rec ball I would have to send him back to rec ball.

Fungo did you travel and play top teams >
Our AAA ball was only about $500 but no fall ball,winter workout or travel to US tournaments. Many of our teams play against colleges in Florida and travel to geat tournaments. Our team had permanent change room where they left their Uniforms all season. and had toilets in the dugouts. Travelled by coach to awat tournaments. It was worth every penny. Over 100-120 games. It is a lot of money but the memories are worth the price.

I personally know of one organization in the far north Houston area, that is always looking for as many sponsors as they can so they can pocket alot of the money coming in. It's becoming more about the money and less about the kids.

This org has a lot of success in the under 14 ages, and has won at the national level as well. Those from the far north of Houston know. These brothers are scoundrels.

It all depends on what the team/program gives you in return

Is the player getting the right exposure?

Is the player competing against top flite competition?

Are the coaches teaching as well as coaching?

Is the program giving Recruiting Guidance and Assistance?

In our area the teams that charge the least are having difficulty attracting the better players.
There is a demand for better coaching,facilities,competition etc and that costs money. Most if not all are non profit and pay pay coaches expenses. They do pay for pro coaches to help and train the players. NJext year the team my son played on has a D1 NCAA coaching staff helping during the summer.

http://www.leaguelineup.com/welcome.asp?url=niagararebels

Always amazes me to read the answers to the question posed.

It is your SON.

Think about how much you spend on booze and cigarettes and gasoline and chasing women/men (to be politically correct).

No scholarship expectations; no major leagues; no blondes....

Spending a summer of enjoying the sunshine and baseball with your son...at any cost that the family can afford:

PRICELESS.

I've done it several times and the memories will be indelibly etched in my mind and heart forever.

Beenthere

The main problem is that too many think they can have those dreams and memories just drop out of the sky for them---it is an investment in the childs future not to mention the firends that are made and the memories that are retained

Personally I wish I had it to do all over again. I would do it bigger and better. It was a sad day when he went off to college and I knew I would probably not see him play until this summer.
I have my regrets but over all it was a great 9 years even with the normal baseball issues. I know my son enjoyed it and I can't imagine life without it. Now reduced to watching live stats and an occassional live broadcast.

BT, ya lost me on the booze & cigs deal - you "drift" easily ...
please post further comments on the booze & cigs boards

I agree with setting up some sort of budget guideline also, but "investment in the future" sounds like a sales pitch to me

and .. NO ONE wants to say it ... but it basicly comes down to - the better you are the cheaper it is!!


my nephew (NOT a top national player) played with a VERY GOOD 18U program for several yrs before college ...

the cost? nada (cash)
on the field - respect the game & work hard
off the field - respect the game & respect yourself (work hard & stay out of trouble ... period!!)

they traveled as a team

he had a job & a host family (w/food)



Family travel to games was our responsibility,
tho during the weekend there was usually someone with a smile & a credit card offering help to the family with gas & food

these guys actually CARE about their kids

I don't see the same in many programs with their hands out ??



*note* no reason for me to "suck up", but PG is in a class by themselves (my dealings with them are a few yrs back & have no reason to believe they've changed)

Chairman

Not a sales pitch just a fact--it is an investment--you ought to know about investments as your profile says you are in banking(though it is on a pool table)

If you are also inferring that programs do not CARE about the kids then you are way off base because the good programs do CARE

Our teams had budgets in the $120,000 to $140,000. There is no way you don't pay a big fee if you want to play at that level. You could examine their books at any time. The coaches coached for the love of the game and had no players on the team. They also cared for the kids.

TR, I'm not inferring anything ...
just plainly saying that many programs with their hands out mostly care about what the parents put in it .. $$

and yes "investment in the future" sounds like a pitch ... do you guarantee a return on the investment?? if not, it could be better described as a "cra.p shoot" ...
pay your $$ and roll the dice


by BBheaddoll; "Our teams had budgets in the $120,000 to $140,000"

sounds about right & would convert to about $70K American

CHAIRMAN

We do not guarantee anything other than that the p-layer will play great competition and on the most highly visible venues and that we will work our darndest for them--- look at the track record for our players--that should tell you enough


As for inferring you most certainly where--you always do--that is your posting personna

TR, I'm glad you concur that since NO results are certain ..
"investment in the future" IS a sales pitch meant to stir the emotions of the parent & loosen their purse strings -

it's too bad there are not more like you out there


btw, a good rule of thumb .. never say never, and .. never say always

chairman

It is still not a sales pitch--it is a fact

By the way --rule of thumb dont give direction to those you do not know-- it is possible they may know more than you especially when you banking experience only occurred on a pool table

hey now, there's alot to be learned about finances shooting pool

btw, investment with NO RETURN = scam

btw2, I don't need to know someone to offer help, and you seem like you need it

Chairman


Help !!!!! not from you sir-- I stay out of pool halls---what makes you think that I need help ?

wow 5 (!) .. didn't mean to get you all worked up

anyway re the help, the offer stands

I have extensive training in psychology from yrs of Wednesday night poker, and your posts are literaly "crying out for help" (well ... unless you're bluffing )

need I even mention that you sometimes post as "E-6" and argue with yourself


I'm just trying to be a good neighbor & responsible poster

quote:

Originally posted by Chairman:
btw, investment with NO RETURN = scam

Not true. Investment sold when the seller knows there is no chance of return = scam.

Investment where risk becomes reality and no return = school of hard knocks, not a scam.

TR hit on a good point. Look at where the club's past players have gone. See what percentage when to college. And what percent to strong programs. That should give an idea.

Which brings up an interesting point of discussion. Do players on the best clubs place well in college because of the efforts of the club? Or do they do well merely because if they are good enough to make that club's team, they are good enough to place well in college regardless? Or is the truth somewhere in the middle?

Interestingly, some of the best Houston clubs are very reasonable. While in other parts of Texas, some of the best clubs are very expensive.

kinda agree Tex,

but "investment in the future" clearly implies a (future) return to the buyer (parent/player)

LATER when no return is seen aknowledges should have described as high risk/possible no return

hmmm

Chairman it is very easy to see how TR is insulted by your views.
I have been involved with several Elite,AAA clubs and I can tell you they all had great programs and facilities. The Elite programs catered to the kids wanting to go to college or Pro. They promised nothing but a great vehicle to get where you wanted to go. There may be programs that were out just for profit but all the ones we were with had open book policies. You coud see where the monet went. There are probably 20-30 Elite teams in a 100 ,ile radius of Toronto. Not that all the players are elite but the programs are. They offer everything you need to advance to the level you want to reach. It is up to you to use the vehicle just like school. You can go to Harvard but if you don't use the facitlities your degree may not be obtainable and your time wasted there will be a waste.
Our coaches spent endless hours promoting your player to schools. We had several offers and interested schools but chose to seek schools that were warm weather schools playing top teams so we did our own promotion. That was our choice and we are thrilled.
My son has 2 outstanding offers to play summer ball and one team is helping him get a job that pays $12 HR because he can't find a job. He gets home end of May and all the local college guys have taken all the jobs since they are out end of April.
I am looking back and see the years as a great investment. I am extremely happy with everything and as I said would do it bigger if I could do it again.
$120,000 to $140,000 is more like $100-$110. but you have to remember most of it was spent in Canada. Take a look at the web site I posted. You can see our ball park and some of the college showcases and tournaments we hosted. We also had several MLB showcases and individual MLB team tryouts. Most people would die to have these opportunities. We paid $3200 last year. It was a bargan.

Just saw you last post.
We were always told that there were no promises of scholaships or even playing time. My son was told 2 years ago when he went to the team he would only see limited relief and ended up being their top starter.

bbheaddoll,
thanks for the link it brings back memories, as we played in Welland several times


hey, I AM trying to understand, but you are messin with me?

30 elite teams near Toronto? ...
some of the players/teams aren't very GOOD, but they are ELITE? ...

your coaches spent "endless hours" promoting your player to schools you had NO interest in?
and - - you thought it was a bargain & would be happy to spend more ... tho you basicly had to "do it yourself" re promotion


just a thought ... at $140,000 - suggest they budget a cell phone with a nationwide plan & a phone book, then they could save "endless hours" and call the schools YOU are actually interested in attending

I have to agree with BeenthereIL for the most part. I already spend $00 on booze, cigs and chasing women around, so I’m ahead of the game there. Gasoline, well, some weeks it’s hard to scrape the cash together to fill the tank. But for the most part, if you want to play a good level of baseball around here, you have to shell out some bucks.

In return, if you have the talent and make the team, you end up on a top notch team, get good coaches that TEACH the game, indoor winter workouts (a necessity here in the northeast), you play against the top competition from Maine to Florida. The costs also cover field use fees, umpires for every game, air-fare for some of the trips, baseballs, uniforms etc etc. And there are the tangible and intangible rewards of exposure by being on a high level team for a quality organization.

So why pay? Well, if your son loves baseball and is talented, it’s obvious. He’s playing the game that he wants to play. Playing rec ball where 7 out of 10 kids can’t make the throw from 3rd to first and games are walk-a-thons, well that’s no way to encourage a boy who enjoys the game and can actually play. That’s practically an active advertisement for lacrosse.

And what do I get out of the deal? I get to drive hundreds of miles to ball games and tournaments (remember the gasoline). But spending hours in the car with my son has lasting benefits and is FUN. Road Trip! A cooler of good food, a couple dozen good CDs, a map and a few fun stops along the way. That’s good stuff. So are the hotel stays, going out to eat, preparing for games, being on a road trip and watching your son grow up – how much better can it be. We’ve never had so much fun as we’ve had doing the baseball thing together. That’s a worthy investment right there. Watching him strive to play the game right, with like-minded team-mates, against teams and dads all doing the same thing we are (probably some of you) – I think that’s just great. No town rec team is gonna give us any of that.

Am I counting on it as some sort of sure-fire investment for the future? Of course not. Not in the dollars and cents world. I’ve never been one for that, sometimes to my detriment, but so what. My investment is in my kids’ well-being. And as long as my son wants to play I’ll keep shelling out - all the way to the poorhouse if that’s what it takes. But along the way, we’ve become rich in so many other ways, ways that mean more and pad the soul, not the bank account.

Chairman I hope you had a great time in Welland.

yes thyere are not enough good players to make 30 Elite teams that is probably true.
I look at the program not how strong thye teams are. We produce some great talent here who go on to all levels of college and sign minor leagu contracts.
My son wanted to play in the south,Florida or Vegas. That was our choice. The programs that he played in still provided the vehicle to get there. Hoe many guys get great scholarships of a video. The video had credence because of the competition that he played against. If he played AAA ball he would not face the great teams, get thye coaching etc. His 1st inning in college was against Florida State. Would he have the confidence to throw against them and all the top college teams if he hadn't already faced colleg and pro hitters ?
It is the program that is Elite and most of the players are the best in the area wanting to get to the next level.
Our boys are spread all over the US with outstanding results. This dosen't even touch on the memories and fun we have had all these years.

Dad10 you are right on the money.

I don't smoke or drink and I would give it up if I had. My car trips were just great memories that unfortunately cannot be recaptured. When my son went to college it was a happy sad day for me and my wife.

Anyway, back to the poll.

We pay $ 1500 plus $75 for uni's. The $ 1500 is for 6 months, and includes 2 mandatory workouts per week, one optional workout, and intersquad games or tourneys on the weekend.

Overnight lodging is not included.

All coaching fees are included, if it rains we go indoors. No parent coaches, everyone pays, everyone plays.

Some of the older kids may pay more for specialty trips such as PG showcases, etc. I don't know.

We have played on a summer team that plays 60 games for $350 dollars, but there are some real nice programs in the area that are $800 per "season" for spring, summer, and fall ($2400 total) All that I know is that every 12th grader(9) on the team got a scholarship last year, don't know if it is an "investment" or not, but something must have worked

my older son played aau travel ball.$1000 a year.and we had a copy of the budget for the parents.when you tally the balls,uniforms umpires etc.it isn't or wasn't a get rich quick scam.we played about 60 games and maybe 75 practice sesions you have to get better at the game.it's like a allways say sometimes,if you think your getting porked you probably are.

I coach traveling summer league in texas I try to have fundraiser to help with cost most team in texas of this caliber are charging 800 on low end and 2500 on the high end plus your travel. I try to raise most of it if player does not raise money it cost him 535 plus travel
thank you
Richard Stephens

For 20 years we have charged our kids $100 to play.....the first year is $175 (extra for a jersey)

We pay for the bats, balls, every year they get a new hat, pants, 2 pairs of socks, 2 belts and 2 t-shirts

We do a lot of fundraising and we have a lot of community support...we take pride in the fact that for the past 20 years we have provided college kids a place to play close to home at the lowest cost around!