How much $$ is too much?

[3Bsnag]

Not a SoCal-er, but $100-$150 a month is pretty common here, plus fundraisers. That is for unpaid coaches, includes uniforms, bat bags, helmet, and at least 2 tournaments a month. Usually the fundraising is for the out of town tournaments like HOF, RM, Colorado, Nationals, etc. Or an upfront fee per season that equals the $150/mo anyway.

On a side note, I don't think the head coach should pay for their own rooms even if they have a kid on the team (unpaid coaches). They spend hours upon hours preparing, teaching, and spend more in gas toting around the equipment. JMO

And I agree with coolstuff, I want an option to pay more and not fundraise. I'm surprised that my friends and family still talk to me after 2 years of softball, choir, PTA, and school athletic fundraisers. We had 2 fundraisers come home last year from school in the first week back.

[sportzjunky]

I hear people talk about Uniforms and Helmets and bat/EQ Bags.... are they the property of the team or player as a part of thier buy-in? assuming its team property, then are the parents going to get a deposit back when they return thier gear. This is almost always a sticking point (upon a family departing) unless there is a clearcut understanding of what is included as a part of the signup fee when the family signs on.

[coolstuff]

I hear people talk about Uniforms and Helmets and bat/EQ Bags.... are they the property of the team or player as a part of thier buy-in? assuming its team property, then are the parents going to get a deposit back when they return thier gear. This is almost always a sticking point (upon a family departing) unless there is a clearcut understanding of what is included as a part of the signup fee when the family signs on.

We've never returned a helmet or a bat bag. Bat bags seem to get pretty beat up during a season of being drug around. Uniform return has been different every year. Usually get two or three full uniforms and some other pieces like shorts to replace pants on hot days. We've been asked to return every uniform, to return some parts of the uniforms, or to keep everything. No reason given for any of it.

[daylightkate]

For us, the fee of $500 is to be able to participate in a 10 month program. If you are a new player you get outfitted, if you are a returning player, we fill in as needed. The fee is not for a new uniform every year and they are expected to use their uniforms for 2 years.

This season we will probably be doing a bit of a refund as we did well on Fundraising. I hear what everyone is saying about not wanting to do fundraising so you have to ensure that you do minimal with the best bang. We did a bowling night and raised $3,500 at this one event. Another was a roller skating party. 2 hours and we made $1,200. No mess, no clean up, just get up and leave afterwards.

IMO for us here anyways, the sport is in big trouble. Softball today is begining to become an elitest sport and that is just wrong. If your a talented player and have the will to be a hard working competitive team player, money should not stop you. If we continue to allow the cost of this sport to go through the roof, then this is what it will end up to be.

[3Bsnag]

Uniforms (jerseys, pants-sometimes, shorts, and belts), bat bags, and helmets are team property and no deposit or refund is given. Some teams provide sweats, but not all.

When player leaves, they are not released on VTD until all the prior teams equipment is returned. If you run in to a big dispute (I turned them in, no you didn't) JO rep is brought in to sort it out and decide whether to release or not.

[daddyball101]

I think it is just terrible that any coach would stop a player from playing (holding their release on VTD) just because of a few crappy uniforms and most of all for money.

These situations can just be money problems for a parent and the child has nothing to do with it. When a coach goes after a kid over money it shows the complete lack of character of that coach and the organization in a whole.

Something should be worked out with the parent and a kids should NEVER be punished because their parents cant afford to pay off a debt all at once. They might be able to find a sponsored team or a team with a coach or manager that can work with the families financial situation. And the kid can keep on playing.

Like previously mentioned...How many talented young athletes are going to be run out of the sport because of the greed of a coach or a coach retaliating on a player that chose to leave team or was forced to find another team because of financial reasons?

It is just sad to hear the state of mind of any coach that is supposed to be there to develop and grow our young athletes wanting to do anything they can to stop a kid from playing over a few uniforms and not being able to pay off a bunch of fees. Adults need to keep adult issues out of youth sports and work together instesd of coaches trying to get "revenge" on a kid that has no control of the situation at all.

[softballjunky]

So you must be a Obama loving liberal who wants everything given to him......the coach shouln't be left with the tab or the team. Everything has a price in life and there are tooo many people that take advantage.You play you pay!!!!

[Kat]

I totally agree. Why should the players parents not pay up. It angers me that these players parents just go around owing people money and think because their daughter is a good player everyone should just dismiss the money owed. It makes no sense. You owe the money you gotta pay. If you don't what are you teaching that kid?? Be responsible, don't let others have to pick up your bill, play fair and be supportive of your coach.

[daddyball101]

no actually obama is nothing more than a movitational speaker yammering out his a%s. With no clue about the real world.

I am a die hard republican. and the one that has paid other peoples dues when they could not and the onethat bought equipment for kids to replace what was stolen at a tournament. And the one when business got hard asked the coach to let me pay out the dues over the season. So I have been on both sides.

I am saying take it out on the parents. I did not say others should pay. I SAID DONT ATTACK AND PUNISH THE KID. I never said the coach was supposed to pay either. And who said anything about the kid being so good that the parents expected anyone to foot their bill. You..OBAMA.. are just pulling stuff out of your A%s. All the things you are coming up with has NOTHING to do with what I am talking about. That is different. I am talking about a kid thats families finacial situation has dictated that they cant stay on a team because maybe they travel too much or maybe need to completely take a break to get back on their feet.

I am saying that the coach knows where they live. go pick up his uniform and equipment. collect it immediately off the kids back if necessary and deal with the parents. but vindictive revenge seeking coachs demanding money for a whole season when the kid played 2 tournaments is just bullcrap and just that REVENGE. If you wont play for me Ill get you! Ill make sure that kid cant play again. coaches pride. The same coach that probably had all season long told the same family not to worry about the fees that they just wanted the kid to get to play. Its all about the kids. Im only in it for the kids suddenly attack when the parents decided they cant keep playing for a team when they cant afford to pay the fees and costs of travel?

Id gladly buy a 50.00 set of uniforms and keep kids on the field than let coachs extract revenge on kids families that truely cant afford to pay. Thats why I have 2 cases of nasty salsa in my garage that my dog wont even touch, get my car washed just to turn around and take it to the "real" carwash to be done right, buy football squares, tshirts at tourneys, eat the fried crap at the concession stand and so forth...to help the kids raise more money.

it should be about the kids getting to play not who can PAY!

[thatguy]

It is just sad to hear the state of mind of any coach that is supposed to be there to develop and grow our young athletes wanting to do anything they can to stop a kid from playing over a few uniforms and not being able to pay off a bunch of fees. Adults need to keep adult issues out of youth sports and work together instesd of coaches trying to get "revenge" on a kid that has no control of the situation at all.

While it sucks for the kids...generally speaking parents will not change their behavior until it begins to impact what matters to them most...their kid. So whether it's a financial issue, a disgruntled parent issue, or a team rules issue...if you continue to ignore the issues, the parents will continue to behave that way. The coach is not punishing the kid for their parents, the parents are punishing their own kids for their lack of responsibility. Think about it, you are coaching 12U, and a kid gets benched because they are late to practice or a game (team rule)...in most cases the 11yr old doesn't drive her self to practice...so is that unfair to bench the kid, because Daddyball couldn't get his DD to practice on time?