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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| G-Man |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 16:20:08
I am curious as to everyone opinions on paying a fee to tryout for a youth baseball team. I am interested in hearing whether you think there is an advantage or what you feel the disadvantages are. |
| 18 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Alter-Ego |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 11:19:59
G-Man,
I agree that it should not be about a right to charge. My only disagreement is that EC is not a public park and has expenses that have to be paid for every day, whether games are going on or not. They could not charge a tryout fee, but would then have to charge each kid $350 registration fee rather than $175.
We seem to forget that there are numerous baseball leagues in and around Atlanta, that do not charge a tryout fee and that do have a reasonable registration fee for kids to play in. If a kid wants to play baseball, they can certainly still afford to do so. I would be willing to argue that I could take my son, today, and register for him to play baseball, and not pay more than $200 to do so.
I would argue there are many more leagues available for kids than there are travel programs. There are ample supply of both. The problem is the demand for travel programs is much higher. The expenses for a travel orgranization, particularly a private one that does not use any taxpayer dollars (I hear so many people get fighting mad over the discussion of the use for taxpayer dollars for private use) are much higher. |
| bkball |
Posted - 08/13/2010 : 10:15:07
I am with you G-Man. Coaching baseball used to be about volunteering your time to pass what you know to younger kids. Now it's about money. Even driving some of the lower income kids out. How about coaches charging their own players for hitting lessons. I don't get it. |
| G-Man |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 21:48:59
I know I am just one person but in my humble opinion this is youth baseball and No One deserves to charge for tryouts. I have coached high school and college baseball and because I feel that I have a duty to give back to a sport that I love I would never charge for a tryout. ECB does have a good reputation but again in my opinion this is all the more reason for not charging. They have some coaches that this game has been very good too and I am sure when they were coming up in the minors or wherever they came from they were not charged for the advice/instruction they were given by their coaches/mentors.
How do you think those rookies coming up in the Majors would feel if someone like Chipper or Manny said hey rook, I can give you some advice but pay me $150 first. Again as one poster said. If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck, guess what, it must be a duck. So in my mind I see this as being about making money for a business and not about what really matters the kids.
quote:
Originally posted by patent pending
ECB has earned the right to charge for tryouts. Their reputation speaks for itself. Some of these new operations with no real history Im not sure they should be charging for tryouts.
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| patent pending |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 15:07:28
ECB has earned the right to charge for tryouts. Their reputation speaks for itself. Some of these new operations with no real history Im not sure they should be charging for tryouts. |
| AllStar |
Posted - 08/06/2010 : 08:24:58
quote:
Originally posted by coach0512
ECs tryouts are not late. The others moved theirs ahead of EC to try and lock in the better players before they were taken by EC. But this has backfired. The better players know they have a good shot at an EC team so they wait. If they don't make an EC team they also know that these other teams tend to lose players as spring approaches and they can, and will, be picked up. Take a look at the postings in "Players looking for teams" and "Teams looking for players" forums and you can see all the openings from last spring.
How often do you see an EC team in one of those forums looking to pick up players? I honestly don't know if it happens that frequently.......
East Cobb teams across several age groups have been having tryouts at Sandy Plains since at least mid-July. I'm sure that's not the only place they have been working out/trying out.
You're right, for the most part they don't have to "advertise" here beyond announcing that they are forming an ECB team. Last year families were committing to ECB teams that hadn't even finalized their coaching staffs yet. |
| coach0512 |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 21:57:13
ECs tryouts are not late. The others moved theirs ahead of EC to try and lock in the better players before they were taken by EC. But this has backfired. The better players know they have a good shot at an EC team so they wait. If they don't make an EC team they also know that these other teams tend to lose players as spring approaches and they can, and will, be picked up. Take a look at the postings in "Players looking for teams" and "Teams looking for players" forums and you can see all the openings from last spring.
How often do you see an EC team in one of those forums looking to pick up players? I honestly don't know if it happens that frequently....... |
| G-Man |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 13:41:17
Maybe in Georgia its rare to have ex MLB players coaching a team but its very common in Florida. Heck one team down there is coached by an ex MLB player that also became a coach with the Tigers minor league system. He or they didnt charge a tryout fee .One of my sons teams down there was coached by 3 ex MLB players and no tryout fee. So long story short. Yes there are a lot of teams/ organizations that have professional coaches that dont charge for a tryout.
quote:
Originally posted by oldmanmj
The EC "TRY OUT" is considered a "Clinic" for all involved and there is more than one coach/team looking for players, sometimes as many as 8 or 9 teams for the younger ages. Also how many parks have Ex-pro's, College players, etc. there to teach for 2 days, not 1/2 day. The fees for anyone are tough to swallow, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Does it make money for the park, I am sure that it does. Does the lesser fee tryout make money, I am sure that it does. What do you get for your investment....only you can answer that.
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| 3up-3down |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 13:29:02
quote:
Originally posted by metsFan
I guess the only reason I balk at paying the ECB fee is because it happens so late relative to other tryouts. Waiting for the ECB tryouts may mean not accepting an offer from another team.
ECB's tryouts aren't late. The other teams just want their's before ECB's. |
| metsFan |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 11:37:29
I have paid for my son to attend the 643 clinic/tryout that cost $85 for 5 hours. ECB is $100 for 8 hrs over 2 days. On paper you get more "value" from ECB. I guess the only reason I balk at paying the ECB fee is because it happens so late relative to other tryouts. Waiting for the ECB tryouts may mean not accepting an offer from another team. Also, I knew who the coaches for the 643 would have been. At ECB, with so many teams you may not get the offer from the coach/team you were hoping for. |
| atlbaseball |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 10:08:51
So if the tryout is a clinic where your son is receiving instruction from qualified coaches are you still against paying for it? |
| jongamefan |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 09:50:52
quote:
Originally posted by Alter-Ego
Private parks, such as East Cobb, have costs every day that have to be covered. It is not just for that day.
As I have mentioned before, if it is a single team having a tryout, that is renting a field, or a public park travel team holding tryouts, their expenses are a lot less and should not charge $100-$125 tryout fee. It would be fair for a $25 or $30 fee, though. There is some need to ensure the players showing up are serious about being considered.
You don't have to pay it, just don't try out. But if you do plan to play there, in particular East Cobb, you will have to pay it one way or another. If you don't show up for the tryouts, and get picked up later, when the team roster is turned in to EC, the team is assessed $125 for any players not already paid. (This is not part of the annual $175 EC fee.)
I don't like to pay the Ad Velorum tax for my vehicles but if I plan to live in GA I have to pay it. Otherwise I have to move to another state or sell my vehicles. (It's time for mine to be paid so that is why I am venting. 
Alter i respect your stickin up for east cobb but gotta say comparing the necessity of youth baseball tryouts fees to the GA Law mandated Ad Valorem tax is stretchin it ;-> |
| AllStar |
Posted - 08/05/2010 : 08:30:51
It doesn't really matter why they are doing it and it doesn't really matter whether or not they make money, lose money or break even, if you don't like it, don't pay it. Probably 90% of the tryouts in the area are free. Even more at the younger ages. If that's a deal breaker for you, or me, go to one of those.
It's probably less than you paid for your son's bat, though.
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| ItsjustLLBBall |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 23:45:33
Like they don't get enough money from you during the season... |
| oldmanmj |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 23:17:06
The EC "TRY OUT" is considered a "Clinic" for all involved and there is more than one coach/team looking for players, sometimes as many as 8 or 9 teams for the younger ages. Also how many parks have Ex-pro's, College players, etc. there to teach for 2 days, not 1/2 day. The fees for anyone are tough to swallow, but sometimes you get what you pay for. Does it make money for the park, I am sure that it does. Does the lesser fee tryout make money, I am sure that it does. What do you get for your investment....only you can answer that. |
| metsFan |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 21:43:45
quote:
Originally posted by G-Man
...So my question would be is it really about finding the best kids they can to fill their roster or is it just about making money for the organization?
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. |
| Alter-Ego |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 21:35:15
Private parks, such as East Cobb, have costs every day that have to be covered. It is not just for that day.
As I have mentioned before, if it is a single team having a tryout, that is renting a field, or a public park travel team holding tryouts, their expenses are a lot less and should not charge $100-$125 tryout fee. It would be fair for a $25 or $30 fee, though. There is some need to ensure the players showing up are serious about being considered.
You don't have to pay it, just don't try out. But if you do plan to play there, in particular East Cobb, you will have to pay it one way or another. If you don't show up for the tryouts, and get picked up later, when the team roster is turned in to EC, the team is assessed $125 for any players not already paid. (This is not part of the annual $175 EC fee.)
I don't like to pay the Ad Velorum tax for my vehicles but if I plan to live in GA I have to pay it. Otherwise I have to move to another state or sell my vehicles. (It's time for mine to be paid so that is why I am venting. |
| G-Man |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 20:11:36
Yes there are fees associated with hosting a tryout at a field but the cost to hold such a tryout doesnt exceed anywhere near what the fee made totals. Most fields will run $15 to $28 per hour. Insurance will cost less than $100 but in most cases teams/organizations are still covered insurance wise by Usssa or Nations or any other major organization they play baseball under. Plus name tags or some type of numbering stick-ons will run less than $20. So where are the other cost associated with holding a tryout? My opinion is its a money making opportunity for the organization holding the tryout. No different than a team holding a fundraising event. So my question would be is it really about finding the best kids they can to fill their roster or is it just about making money for the organization?
quote:
Originally posted by in_the_know
Disadvantages: You may not feel you get your money's worth. You may feel slighted if you don't make the team. Not cheap, especially if you try out for more than one team that charges a fee
Advantages: Reduces the number of people not seriously interested in the team. If it's a clinic/try-out, benefits of what is taught during the clinic
Personally, I'm not overly fond of it, but if you're not a team playing out of a rec park with all volunteers, there are costs associated with hosting a try-out, so I can understand some need for it. As far as I know, ECB, 643 and Knockhouse are the teams around Cobb charging for tryouts.
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| in_the_know |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 18:46:51
Disadvantages: You may not feel you get your money's worth. You may feel slighted if you don't make the team. Not cheap, especially if you try out for more than one team that charges a fee
Advantages: Reduces the number of people not seriously interested in the team. If it's a clinic/try-out, benefits of what is taught during the clinic
Personally, I'm not overly fond of it, but if you're not a team playing out of a rec park with all volunteers, there are costs associated with hosting a try-out, so I can understand some need for it. As far as I know, ECB, 643 and Knockhouse are the teams around Cobb charging for tryouts. |
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