Can some people provide some more current player fees for collegiate summer leagues. I know these can vary a bit depending on number of games, position (PO or position player), the league itself, but I'd like to know what to expect. You don't have to provide the name of the league/team if you're not comfortable or you can private message me. I just want to get an idea of what players are paying.
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In 2022, the CCBL (Cape) cost $125 per week for housing or about $1000 per 8-week summer season. This fee covered the host family's reimbursement for player meals. About $400 could be offset by working the youth camps, and about half of the players arrived with a car. There was no fee to be on the team, but players were responsible for their travel, gas, and gym fees (although there was a team discount). I think the CCBL did offer medical insurance.
In 2021, a COVID year, my son played for the FCBL (Futures League), a rising sophomore (mostly fastball) league in New England. There was a fee to play, but I can't remember how much it was. I do remember we also had to get him a short-term apartment, as there was no host family because of COVID-19. We used a housing site geared towards travel nurses. The team provided free gym memberships, but players were responsible for their meals. I think they have reinstated the host families, but these can be as far as 40 minutes away from the stadium.
I'm not sure what the fees are now. Hope this helps.
My son played in two leagues with no fees, which also included host family accomodations and a lot of meals. I wasn't happy about paying high fees for summer baseball after high school, so I'm glad his college coach was able to arrange this.
Several years ago, Northwoods fee was $500, I think, for the whole summer, also included host family housing and many meals.
In 2020, he was supposed to play in the NYCBL, which was going to cost around $1500, I think, with accommodation in dorm-apartments. But the season was cancelled due to covid.
older son played in 3 different leagues (Calgary-Canada, Hays-Kansas, Spearfish-South Dakota). Youngest has played 2 seasons (Dodge-Kansas and Abilene-Tx/Ark/Miss). Everywhere but Abilene the boys stayed with a host family and had access to unlimited meals. We've been lucky to have great ones in all 4 cities. In Abilene, they stay in the dorms and are given meal allowances (home and away).....I'm guessing this is a result of averaging about 1K/game at home. Gym memberships were always provided. Each has had positive and negative, and other than workout shorts and t-shirts, we've paid nothing other than getting them there.
I don't remember paying anything for him to play in either the Draft League or the Northwoods. In fairness, his team with the Northwoods was located about two hours from his college. During COVID in particular, he stayed at home and drove in to pitch, so I supposed we paid in gas.
Cal Ripken $300 but we lived in the area. Not sure if there is a host family cost.
Cape Cod $70 a week for host family in 2018. I don't recall any cost for the team. The do quite a few things to raise funds. My son worked at the kids camps but I assumed all players did that.
The Valley League has a player fee of $500. Teams provide housing, typically host families, and most provide a post-game meal after home games. Most teams also offer gym membership or access to weights. Most teams provide transportation on buses, although a few have the players drive and offer reimbursement for gas. For players of limited means, teams are allowed to waive the fees to some extent. From what we can determine, league fees around the country range from $300 to $1700. The VBL is a nonprofit league, every team being a 501(c)(3). It came to the point of charging fees about 8 years ago when some teams had serious financial struggles due to rising expenses . Just as an example, the typical chartered bus now costs for an away game (60 minutes trip) $1300-$1500. 3 Umpires per game cost each team $10,000 per summer (21 home games). Bats and balls typically run around $4000, although many players bring their own wooden bats. A summer league operation is not for the faint of heart financially and praise the Lord for volunteers and for host families (the true heroes of this deal-couldn't exist without them).
