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thegoat
29 Posts |
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BravesFan
533 Posts |
 Posted - 09/28/2010 : 15:52:21
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| $1000-$1500 is probably the range where most budgets fall into per player, if you look at a teams budget the biggest expense is tournament entry fees. In many cases, it's 50% of a teams budget. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2010 : 19:38:41
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I am paying about $1800 total for 12 months of ball. This includes 2 shirts for the fall, 2 shirts for the spring, 2 pants, 2 pairs of socks, 1 belt, 2 hats, 2 pairs of batting gloves, 1 bat bag, 1 helmet, 4 fall tourneys, 10 spring tourneys (1 of which is a weeklong trip to Cooperstown), my portion of the coaches uniforms, 2 practices a week on well maintained fields, instruction from caring and knowledgeable coaches, unlimited use of batting cages with all baseballs provided, team funds managed by an honest team manager and all the fun I want to have.
I also have the opportunity to participate in organized fund raising projects to lower that cost.
Whats not included? Entry fees for parents/siblings, food, transportation costs and lodging at Cooperstown.
Honestly, does that sound too expensive for a full years worth of family entertainment, skill development, time with my child and a week at Cooperstown??
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travelballer55
18 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2010 : 10:24:09
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| Actually, yes. $1800 + the transportation to NY + accomodations? You're already over $3,000 if you want your family to attend. These kids are 10. What ever happened to spending $800-1200, with much of that being offset thru fundraising? If you really want to take a trip with overnight stays, why not do that with your family? Your kid will remember the family time (Disney, beach, whatever) a heck of a lot more than some exhaustive trip to play 10 more games (tacked onto his already insane 60 game schedule). They're kids once in their lives. Why not let them choose to dedicate their entire year to baseball when they're MATURE enough to make that decision for themselves?? I'd say when they're old enough to play in a Perfect Games showcase. |
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prestont
197 Posts |
Posted - 09/29/2010 : 14:25:23
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ultimately it should be a 'team' decision on end of year tournament location.
However, my sons 10U team went last year and, honestly, he enjoyed every minute he was in Cooperstown. We did too ;-)
My son got to meet, and become friends, with kids from teams from all over the country. Its neat to still see the look he has when he takes out his Cooperstown ring. Really can't say enough good things about the trip, and can't wait to go back with my son as a 12yo. |
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excoach12
159 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2010 : 00:10:03
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Travelballer55, my wife and I ask our son at the beginning of each fall and spring season if he wants to continue with baseball and his answer has always been a resounding yes. He lives and breathes baseball. I honestly don't know where his love for this sport has come from because I have never been athletic and I don't sit around watching baseball every night. This love for the game has to be part of his DNA.
Because of his desire to play this game it has allowed us to have something to do with eachother almost every day of the week. When not at the fields we are playing catch or hitting balls off the tee.
Why not travel with the family? Who do you think goes to the tourneys and Cooperstown with my son? All of the family does. Mom, sister, dad-we're all there to enjoy the comraderie of the team, meet with the other teams, talk with the other parents who love this experience, etc. We've all done Disney, we have a timeshare in Panama City Beach we go to once a year, the in-laws live on a lake in SC.
You are SO way off when you say "They're kids once in their lives, Why not let them choose to dedicate their entire year to baseball when they're MATURE enough........". No one forced this on him, he PICKED it himself. He loves the attention he gets one-on-one with his dad when we practice, he loves how his mom is involved in helping the team, he loves the chance to use his skills on the field, he loves when he is batting and challenged by the pitcher, he loves when he is part of a team in the field and they make a play together.
He has TONS more friends through year round baseball than he would have if he was not playing. He can't understand how some of his classmates only want to sit around on the couch and play XBox or Playstation when all he wants to do is be outside playing some sort of baseball game.
Maybe non-travel ball folks should add up how much money they spend each year on useless toys their kids get bored with and never play with or useless video games that promote a sedentary lifestyle, or going out to movies or any other of a thousand things that enforce a kid doing something indoors on his own with little or no interaction with others. I bet they come pretty close to the $1,800 I spend a year on a sport that promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, comraderie and bonds my son and me and the whole family together strongly as we make a lifetime worth of memories. |
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BravesFan
533 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2010 : 08:52:06
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exocoach12, great post and I love how your son loves the game so much. People don't realize that it is also a family experience, I know we all look forward to going to the parks and hanging out with the other parents. It's not for everyone but as long as the kids enjoy it, that's the only thing that matters.
As far as the expense, if you went out and entertained your kid each weekend, it's probably the same in the end. |
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touchemall
145 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2010 : 10:33:02
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| It's Sept. 30th and I cannot wait for our first trip to Cooperstown next summer. You can't plan for them to "want" to play when they get older as we lose so many players to other sports (and girls) so I am of the opinion you go to Cooperstown atleast at 10 and possibly 12 because they may not want to play at the older ages or may not make the teams. |
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thegoat
29 Posts |
Posted - 09/30/2010 : 11:59:52
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| I agree with you guys. It is good family time. And it beats them sitting at home doing nothing. Memories on a baseball field are priceless... and dang it it's worth it. |
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Spartan4
913 Posts |
Posted - 10/05/2010 : 01:03:05
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| exocoach12......Best post I have seen in a while. People continually disagree with me because like you I have no problem with letting the boys play as much as they want.....The kids that are willing to put in the commitment of a major schedule don't see it as "insane"...They just wanna play baseball, and I think more dads/families should make these sacrifices. I am willing to bet the families that do spend a lot more together (hotels, car rides, and time at tournaments)...I know while we are at home the boys do their thing and we do ours but when we are traveling we spend all our time having fun together. Good Luck in Cooperstown |
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