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August 27th, 2008 - by
Softball Travel Team
I get asked the question about what expenses one might expect to incur to play on a competitive travel softball team for the summer. In my research I have come up with the following information: What has been your experience and expenses?
Team Expense:
12U Team $750 team fees
14U Team $1,300 -$2,000 team fees
18U Team $2,400 team fees
Those fees typically cover things such as: uniforms, field rental, & tournament fees.
Travel: 2-3 big events Air fare $300/flight X 3 family members = $900 X 3 = $2,700
Hotel: $100/night x 15 nights = $1,500
Transportation to local events – Gas, etc. 15-20 days per summer for games & tournaments = 50 miles per event average .60 per mile X 20 = $600 Car fees
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From online blogs:
One man that I know in Phoenix recorded every cent that he spent on his daughter’s softball experience for 2007. She plays year round. He recorded every penny and would include even the suntan lotion, extra socks, etc. It included HS ball and camps. His DD was 14 and he spent $10,400.
Bat bag – $40.00 glove $80.00 back up glove $135.00 3 bats – $850.00 cleats $90.00 helmet $40.00 sweatshirt $45.00 plus sliders, compression pants, visor, etc.
But, even the $10k in a year may be a little light for some years we have played. Nationals alone one year probably ran us $5k, family of 4, airline flights, rental car, hotel, meals, etc,
Training/Lessons
Club K (TN) Private lessons $80 per hour
Sluggers $49 per ½ hour
MO $45 per ½ hour
All-Star $40 per ½ hour
Extra Innings $39 per ½ hour
Generally the athlete is going to go 1x – 3 x’s per week through the winter & some summer
$80/hour x 2 x 25 weeks= $4,000
Camps/Clinics:
$45 (low end) for a 1 day
$200-$525 on campus camps
August 27th, 2008 at 10:57 am
I agree with the numbers. That’s what I paid for my daughter. Even though all of that travel was necessary to put her in a position to be recruited. The sad reality is that I saw families invest all of this money and then they didn’t get any interest from any college coaches. Why? They didn’t know how to play the recruiting game. They were relying on the information and mis-information that always permeates parents part of the bleachers. Most families need expert help to make that investment in travel teams pay off. If you’re one of those, go here: http://www.ncsasports.org/saef-blog/
September 6th, 2009 at 5:07 am
Fees, maybe none if organization raises a lot of money, runs bingo, etc.
$1500-3000 otherwise. Gas just to get to 100+ practices is 1000/yr. Gas to get to tournaments is a couple thousand (we played 25 tournaments last yr) , tournament admission fees are hundreds, food at concessions is hundreds, eating at restraunts while travelling adds incremental cost too. all in all, we probably spent $7000 last yr, and thats without any airfare or paying fees to play, and not counting 600 in equipment. Would be cheaper if the whole family did not go though.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
I have long time played baseball, but now i am a certificated baseball coach. I agre with your article, you provided some good points for later discussions.