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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| charlieh |
Posted - 07/02/2008 : 08:17:41
Does anyone really know what it cost to play at ecb? I hear a bunch of people say oh it's only this much. I also hear you have to buy shoes, uniforms etc from a certain place or something and it ends up costing alot more. Anyone ever really done it, is it alot more than playing travel out of a regular park? |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Roundingthirdstaff |
Posted - 09/11/2008 : 17:06:52
quote:
Originally posted by greglomax
Here is an interesting link to check out. It is a blog site that some guys who have kids playing at the next levels (College and in the pros) who write about travel baseball related stuff. The topics on there are really interesting and even informative at times. The link is to one that somewhat pertains to this subject.
http://roundthird.blogspot.com/2008/09/if-you-are-not-over-top-youll-be-under.html
We are actually doing an antire series on travel ball this week on Rounding Third. Go straight to http://roundthird.blogspot.com
Thanks! |
| wildcats9596 |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 22:27:11
quote:
Originally posted by coachdan06
Great place to watch or play a game, thats the bottom line .
Roger that! The tournaments there are always good. Of course, Triple Crown and the Stallions have something to do with that.
Also, there will be a good source of opponents since there are going to be 14 or 15 13U teams over there this year.  |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 18:49:28
quote:
Originally posted by greglomax
CoachDan,
You are absolutely right. This topic goes way past EC and never should it be said that playing out of EC is the best situation for all teams or all players. It is a great place to play and play out of but so are other parks as well.
But the common theme about travel ball is that it is not cheap, no matter where you play out of. The scope of travel has exploded over the last 4 or 5 years. I was just thinking, over the last 2 years, my son has played as far south as Jupiter Florida, as North as Cooperstown NY and as west as Omaha NE. 4 or 5 years ago, only the top few teams would travel that far and often. Now many levels of teams travel hours and hours away from home many weekends during the season. It's amazing.
Yessir , it has exploded.
But , what better activity to spend our endless time and money on?
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| goyard |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:40:39
Good read Lomax - thanks! I say play ball and invest a bit into something that keeps your kid constructively active. Yes, it is tough at times but basically equates to a burger and coke a day. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:05:32
CoachDan,
You are absolutely right. This topic goes way past EC and never should it be said that playing out of EC is the best situation for all teams or all players. It is a great place to play and play out of but so are other parks as well.
But the common theme about travel ball is that it is not cheap, no matter where you play out of. The scope of travel has exploded over the last 4 or 5 years. I was just thinking, over the last 2 years, my son has played as far south as Jupiter Florida, as North as Cooperstown NY and as west as Omaha NE. 4 or 5 years ago, only the top few teams would travel that far and often. Now many levels of teams travel hours and hours away from home many weekends during the season. It's amazing. |
| Hook Em Horns |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 14:57:54
Been invloved with travel for only 4 years now. Estimate $1200 - $1500 per season for "team related" expeditures. All other associated expenses, hotels, meals, fuel are yours to own. Fundraising is good when focused and creative....it helps when all parents participate, but some just want to cut checks....no biggie. The coach should be upfront and candid about level of expectation with parents and financials. We just moved to a team where we have a "Capital Call" schedule through next year to include an itemized listing of expenses and fundraising programs. Transparency is a beautiful thing. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 12:33:44
Here is an interesting link to check out. It is a blog site that some guys who have kids playing at the next levels (College and in the pros) who write about travel baseball related stuff. The topics on there are really interesting and even informative at times. The link is to one that somewhat pertains to this subject.
http://roundthird.blogspot.com/2008/09/if-you-are-not-over-top-youll-be-under.html
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| coachdan06 |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 11:43:54
quote:
Originally posted by bball-fan
If you break down rec-ball, that can be almost as expensive as travel if you do fall, spring and all-stars. The two rec seasons at almost $200 each, then what you have to raise or pay for the summer, around $500, or more. You have $900 already. Then you would still have gate fees, possible hotel stays, and other uniform expenses (batting gloves, cleats, etc.) Any way you look at it, it's expensive.
Any way you consider the relevance of all this , fact is that it has never been necessary to play baseball in east cobb , to improve and excel individually , or as a team , or even be recruited to play college baseball.
I suspect that much of the money that they collect and keep as profits goes back to the grounds and staff to keep it in such fine condition.
Great place to watch or play a game, thats the bottom line . |
| bball-fan |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 09:31:06
If you break down rec-ball, that can be almost as expensive as travel if you do fall, spring and all-stars. The two rec seasons at almost $200 each, then what you have to raise or pay for the summer, around $500, or more. You have $900 already. Then you would still have gate fees, possible hotel stays, and other uniform expenses (batting gloves, cleats, etc.) Any way you look at it, it's expensive. |
| C. MORTON |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 16:27:17
I know one team there charges 1,500 per player and they do fundraisers. they also had 11 - 14 players on their team at certain parts of the season...
If you don't get fancy sirts you can get different one for Mizuno or Under Armour typ shirts for under 20 bucks. Southland pants can be bought for 31 dollar a pair if you get team pricing. Mizuno pants for 24-26 dollars a pair. Batting helmets for about 25 bucks Schutt brand.
Bat bags with wheels 50 bucks. It is all out there on the net you just have to find it..Tournaments are the biggest part of travel ball. Baseballs are not cheap either. And then there's the gas to travel...I think if people would just go back and play rec ball for ONE season they wouldn't care about what they are paying to play travel...Plus no one HAS to PLAY at EC.....It is a CHOICE on makes... |
| SportsDad |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 15:23:07
...., just have heard complaints by a dad and his first taste of an ECB budget. He said he spent $700.00 for travel last year out of a park with a 10 tournament schedule plus NWGA games and pick up games as well.....
That is outragous!!!!outragously cheap for that schedule!!!! I doubt there are many parents who played travel ball and paid that little!!! Like I've said previously, price is never a determinate of whether one's complains.. Really think it would be extremely difficult to get away with just one uniform... I think you still have to buy a pair of cleats too..Think it's probably a good idea to upgrade batting helmets at least every other year..I know the batting helmet my son wore at 12, I would have never let him wear at 14...safety issue...As I recall, at 13U we paid $1800, for the season, now we did spend moeny on 3 nice jerseys, and we had bags, helmets, cleats, turfs, batting gloves, 2 hats, belts, socks,and pants...so I'm sure you could save money on that...as far as jerseys go, we did have nice ones, and that's only because we agreed, that showing up to games in a cheap one, just looked bad..I think we also had a UA shirt,a mock turtleneck, and a couple of practise t-shirts..I believe our overall budget for the year was 33K..but that was a 15-16 tournament schedule, with 2 World Series scheduled. We had some extremely generous sponsers , and we hosted a tournament, which we made close to 6K from..Which the proceeds were for hotel lodging for every parent at one of the week long World Series.
I'm sure a team can play for a lot less...and I know I've seen teams whos budget were a lot more..It for the most part all depends on the number of tournaments you play, and the amount of money you want to spend/raise...I heard of a team, not out of ECB who's parents paid nothing for the year..but they held 5 fundraisers thoughout the year and hosted a tournament. (one with 12 teams in it)..
Travel ball is expensive, any way you cut it, you throw in lodging,meals and transportaion expenses to 4-5 away tournaments, and it's quite a commitment..
Maybe estimated cost per family is something coaches should discuss with parents, before they commit to the team in the fall...I bet you, especially in these times, there is more than one parent, whos under a lot of hardship paying for travel ball, who is biting a rather big bullet, rather than disappoint his son after he's been selected to play on any given team. |
| wildcats9596 |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 12:24:56
quote:
Originally posted by 743
So if you wanted to have only one uniform, no bat bags, repaint last years batting helmets, you could do that? I know you would still have to buy your 2 pair of batting gloves and golf tournament and $175 for registration, game balls, umpire fees, just wondering if you could do it at ECB like that. Again, I know nothing about the process, just have heard complaints by a dad and his first taste of an ECB budget. He said he spent $700.00 for travel last year out of a park with a 10 tournament schedule plus NWGA games and pick up games as well.
Let's assume $400 per tournament. That's $4000. If they played 12 NWGA games and another, say, 8 pick up games, assume $40/game for Umps, if they split them. That's another $800. They probably had to register their players w/whatever park they played out of. $1750 would be pretty reasonable. Then assume another $300 for baseballs.
We are now up to $6850. For a 12 man team that is already $570-580 per family. If they were able to get away with $125 for uniforms, good for them. I know I'm leaving some other basic expenses out, but they either did some pretty good fundraising, or they were very frugal in some areas and didn't have any real expensive tournaments like Cooperstown.
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| greglomax |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 11:29:28
Last year we bought NO bat bags, NO helmets, one pair of batting gloves, 10 dozen baseballs (mandatory but the price was the same as anywhere else), cleats, one nice button up jersey, two dry fit shirts, three pairs of pants, and 2 hats.
The jerseys, pants and hats quantities was our own decision. We could have only purchased one of each but parents did not want to do that much laundry at tournaments. 
The only thing additional was the $175 + the golf tournament sponsorship fee.
Much of the cost comes in the tournaments a team chooses to play in. That is individual to each team and is the same cost no matter what park you play out of. |
| 743 |
Posted - 09/09/2008 : 10:07:24
So if you wanted to have only one uniform, no bat bags, repaint last years batting helmets, you could do that? I know you would still have to buy your 2 pair of batting gloves and golf tournament and $175 for registration, game balls, umpire fees, just wondering if you could do it at ECB like that. Again, I know nothing about the process, just have heard complaints by a dad and his first taste of an ECB budget. He said he spent $700.00 for travel last year out of a park with a 10 tournament schedule plus NWGA games and pick up games as well. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 14:52:08
Not that I can tell. The prices are competitive with, and in some cases less than, what I could order them elsewhere. You have to keep in mind, though, that screening and embroidery is done by a third party and the cost is what they charge EC.
I would say it works in the opposite direction. I would say they have deals worked with Reebok, Rawlings, and the other vendors to get organizational sponsorships much like retailers do with rebates and incentives. I doubt many people give a lot of thought to what it takes to keep up that kind of non-public facility. The $175 per player sure doesn't go very far to cover those expenses. The burden is not being passed on to the players. The uniform costs are typical to playing anywhere else. How "Fancy" they are dictates the price. |
| SportsDad |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 13:33:12
quote:
Originally posted by 743
So does ECB mark up uniform costs and batting glove costs and all that other stuff so they make a profit and use it pay for older teams or pay salaries for the administrators over there and coaches?
Beats me...but I'm sure they get something back for their exclusive contracts...we never found that the price of shoes, uniforms, gloves, hat etc. was outragous...pretty much in line with everything else...I also find it funny that people have no real idea what it cost to maintain any park, none the lest the size of one like ECB...and price is never a detremination of whether or not people complain about it..you can pay 220 bucks to play (17 games) HS fallball and people will complain about the outragous cost..hmmm 13 bucks a game to play on a field (yes it cost money to maintain it) pay umps ( heard their fees have gone up)...provide baseballs for the games/practises..provide a jersey and a hat..and still this is considered "ripping people off"...Of course we live in a society that nobody has any choices of where to play...You have to play at ECB..you have to play where we make you...ECB used to (don't know anymore my son doesn't play out of there currently) provide fundraising opportunities for kids to off-set the cost..I presume that most place either do or should do...but no it's a lot easier to suggest that ECB and every other park is out to line their pockets than to understand what the true cost of playing baseball is...Besides when we were at ECB..the cost to ECB was small in relation to what ECB provided...team cost were detremined by the team not ECB.. |
| 743 |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 11:15:25
So does ECB mark up uniform costs and batting glove costs and all that other stuff so they make a profit and use it pay for older teams or pay salaries for the administrators over there and coaches? |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 07/13/2008 : 12:57:50
quote:
Originally posted by greglomax
Don't let me make it sound like everything is rosy, but I can say that we moved from Sandy Plains to EC this year and it was not SIGNIFICANTLY harder to manage practice time. Yes at Sandy Plains there are 2 fields and 4 travel teams at 11U and 12U but you also have to manage around the league teams and games. Early on you can get field time, but during the league season, it becomes more of a challenge, much like it does at EC when tournaments start. As with Sandy Plains, there are always fields available on Sunday afternoons once the tournaments end. The truth is, once tournaments start, most teams are playing and are not practicing on the weekends. If they are off, parents are usually looking to do other family activities. You can always plan a Sunday evening practice to get the week started.
It is all about perception and management. The only way to ensure adequate practice time is to have your own field you share with no one. (Which I wish I had.  )
It is not a magical place where all lines up in the baseball world, it is just another place to play. If you come here it needs to be because it is right for you child or your team, not because of field time. To me, the more important thing to look for is good coaching. Just because someone is coaching a team here does not automatically make them a good coach or even one that knows how to team good fundamentals and baseball knowledge. I see many more people disappointed with the level of coaching they received than with the amount of field time they received.
And Jay, it's seņor, not Senior.
I understand your points but its not what our coaches and boys had available to them.
We had quality coaches , dont rememer hearing complaining about other teams coaches unless someone's son wasnt allowed to play as much as mom or dad thought they should. .
Cant remember their being able to just walk in and ' take a sunday night practice 'as the fields were occupied by others.
Me I would still prefer our boys being at the competiting programs who have several guaranteed days available then management of limited resources is not an issue that everyone has to experience. |
| greglomax |
Posted - 07/10/2008 : 14:42:52
Don't let me make it sound like everything is rosy, but I can say that we moved from Sandy Plains to EC this year and it was not SIGNIFICANTLY harder to manage practice time. Yes at Sandy Plains there are 2 fields and 4 travel teams at 11U and 12U but you also have to manage around the league teams and games. Early on you can get field time, but during the league season, it becomes more of a challenge, much like it does at EC when tournaments start. As with Sandy Plains, there are always fields available on Sunday afternoons once the tournaments end. The truth is, once tournaments start, most teams are playing and are not practicing on the weekends. If they are off, parents are usually looking to do other family activities. You can always plan a Sunday evening practice to get the week started.
It is all about perception and management. The only way to ensure adequate practice time is to have your own field you share with no one. (Which I wish I had. )
It is not a magical place where all lines up in the baseball world, it is just another place to play. If you come here it needs to be because it is right for you child or your team, not because of field time. To me, the more important thing to look for is good coaching. Just because someone is coaching a team here does not automatically make them a good coach or even one that knows how to team good fundamentals and baseball knowledge. I see many more people disappointed with the level of coaching they received than with the amount of field time they received.
And Jay, it's seņor, not Senior. |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 07/10/2008 : 00:44:30
quote:
Originally posted by jay
So defensive... no one said it was a bad deal; just poking fun. I err'd in omitting the TCS $450.00 tourneys.
At the risk of starting a political battle, I respectfully disagree with senior Lomax. Not that practice time is hard to come by; after all there are the new mounds (excellent addition I might add) and the covered batting cages (yet another perq). However, I can't say that too many teams got to use those weekend slots due to tournaments. No park in the immediate area hosts as many tournaments as ECB. You can't have it both ways; practice time and tournaments.
Suggesting that coaches have better things to do is simply disingenuous. Not every team can use those 5pm weekday slots. 12YO's typically get off the bus right around 5pm. You can always attempt to trade them away but, very few teams can use them. Mom and dad just can't get the kids to the field that early (that often).
The reality is that for most of the season some teams have 2 slots and some have 1 slot. Those with 1 have to get more creative.
And yes, there is a fee for the tryout and clinic. ECB is after all a non-profit and it gets none of the benefits enjoyed by public organizations. e.g. subsidized construction as well as significantly lower operating costs in general. As for 'nice' words about ecb, what negatives could you highlight that every other park doesn't have? The fields are nice. The bleachers are covered. The parking could be better. You really can't say a bad thing about the place. Honestly, it rains at ECB?! Well doesn't that happen everywhere
You are very right about the top quality of the ec facility.
Always clean, fields were manicurred, parking wasnt bad at all.
But just what do you propose to do about the rain |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 07/10/2008 : 00:35:48
quote:
Originally posted by 12uCoach
Sorry Coach Danm just because you had a lousy coach who did not know how to manage their field time, don't lump the rest of the EC world with it. Yea we coaches defend what we do at East Cobb because WE KNOW how to best use 75 minutes on the field and 45 in the cage. Alternate sources of field time are abundant, you have to HAVE COACHES willing to find it and use it. Your attitude is typical of many parents today, "What are YOU giving ME?"
12uCoach I hate to argue but our Coaches were good at managing the time .
Just didnt have enough of it to use for 12 boys to all get good reps.
Look at it this way: many other programs in the area including Roswell Sandy Plains Hopgood they have almost unlimited access to their fields for practicing this is what our boys needed most and it makes a clear difference in the games.
As for defending your program have at it Im not against you |
| jay |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 13:37:41
So defensive... no one said it was a bad deal; just poking fun. I err'd in omitting the TCS $450.00 tourneys.
At the risk of starting a political battle, I respectfully disagree with senior Lomax. Not that practice time is hard to come by; after all there are the new mounds (excellent addition I might add) and the covered batting cages (yet another perq). However, I can't say that too many teams got to use those weekend slots due to tournaments. No park in the immediate area hosts as many tournaments as ECB. You can't have it both ways; practice time and tournaments.
Suggesting that coaches have better things to do is simply disingenuous. Not every team can use those 5pm weekday slots. 12YO's typically get off the bus right around 5pm. You can always attempt to trade them away but, very few teams can use them. Mom and dad just can't get the kids to the field that early (that often).
The reality is that for most of the season some teams have 2 slots and some have 1 slot. Those with 1 have to get more creative.
And yes, there is a fee for the tryout and clinic. ECB is after all a non-profit and it gets none of the benefits enjoyed by public organizations. e.g. subsidized construction as well as significantly lower operating costs in general. As for 'nice' words about ecb, what negatives could you highlight that every other park doesn't have? The fields are nice. The bleachers are covered. The parking could be better. You really can't say a bad thing about the place. Honestly, it rains at ECB?! Well doesn't that happen everywhere
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| BREAMKING |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 10:33:26
Been a long time since having a family member play there but keep in mind the time off work for out of town stuff. The hotel bills for you and your family. Meals on the road. This stuff adds up. We had a good experience at East Cobb due to a great coach. Was able to stay with him all the way until high school ended. I am sure it is much different now since they got there own facility. We never had problem finding places to practice even if it was the sprayberry parking lot at 6:00 am every morning. lol... |
| 12uCoach |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 08:12:35
Sorry Coach Danm just because you had a lousy coach who did not know how to manage their field time, don't lump the rest of the EC world with it. Yea we coaches defend what we do at East Cobb because WE KNOW how to best use 75 minutes on the field and 45 in the cage. Alternate sources of field time are abundant, you have to HAVE COACHES willing to find it and use it. Your attitude is typical of many parents today, "What are YOU giving ME?" |
| coachdan06 |
Posted - 07/09/2008 : 02:12:47
quote:
Originally posted by jrog76
Is practice time a problem?
in reality it is.
our boys were involved down there 2 years. ec gave the team two weeknights for 1 1/4 time frames apiece , 75 minutes.
one of the times was 500 to 615 no one could make it.
coaches traded with another team then they had 2 1/2 hours for a single weeknight. weekend times were handed out but never accessed because tournaments pushed them off as I remember.
we saw the boys having fun but not keeping up with others so moved on .
the nice words about ec are expected for you guys who appear to be ec coaches. but you have to really want to play there for other reasons to convince yourslef its worth little field time.
bat cages are OK in a pinch but live field work is where its at.
best to all |
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