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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
 Posted - 07/13/2015 : 08:29:35
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Twilliams09, it's even worse than you thought! The tryout fee fundraiser isn't even a fundraiser for YOUR team, it's for the 17/18u teams who don't charge anything because they want the best talent to come from all across the nation to participate in it!
As for the infield grass, there are some baseball fields that have infield grass, the one's that don't are because both softball and baseball are played on it. That way they keep their options open on which sports can play there. It gets better at 14u and up because the fences are too far to be a softball field. |
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TWilliams09
5 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2015 : 16:14:50
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@ Zacksdad: That's a good point to consider, it makes me feel better that California had 23 of the top 100 picks.
@CaCO3Girl: Thanks for the input. I look forward to 14U. However, you would think that some of the larger complexes would make 50% baseball and 50% softball fields. Frankly, I don't know why baseball has to accommodate softball players. I've played both, softball until I was 30. Why can't softball players play on grass and have mounds, I would have been fine with that. Let them adapt to baseball rather than the other way around. };-) |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/13/2015 : 16:58:53
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| I don't think it's just softball. There are many different field dimensions as the kids get older. I don't remember them all, but I know there is 50-70 at 12u LL, then you have 54-80 for 13u and 60-90 14u+. There are shorter distances prior to 12u as well. The outfield fences can be close to the same in all these age groups, but having grass in the infield and a dirt mound would prevent multiple age groups from using the same field. By using portable mounds and dirt infields, you can have at least 11, 12 & 13 year old teams using the same field. Just move the bases and mound and all is good. Well, good for having a multi-age group field anyway... |
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bearkat
39 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2015 : 11:15:02
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Below are just some of the tryout fees for the 15U age group.
S Forsyth Giants: $35
DP Jayhawks: $40
Titans: $50
Team Elite: $50
Nelson: $50
Barrett: $50
GA Jackets: $75
GA Bombers: $75
643: $90
Team GA: $100
ECB: $110
How is a kid that comes from a family without unlimited funds expected to find a situation that is good for them? Very sad, especially when some of these organizations are only looking for a couple players. |
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 07/17/2015 : 14:16:58
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quote:
Originally posted by bearkat
Below are just some of the tryout fees for the 15U age group.
S Forsyth Giants: $35
DP Jayhawks: $40
Titans: $50
Team Elite: $50
Nelson: $50
Barrett: $50
GA Jackets: $75
GA Bombers: $75
643: $90
Team GA: $100
ECB: $110
How is a kid that comes from a family without unlimited funds expected to find a situation that is good for them? Very sad, especially when some of these organizations are only looking for a couple players.
Well... Several teams of those organizations, hold individual team workouts/tryouts (or private one-on-one tryouts) that are completely free. Only once you make the team, would you pay the organization tryout fee... Or in some cases, the team would pay the fee on behalf of the player. |
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aj94
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 11:06:27
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quote:
Originally posted by bearkat
Below are just some of the tryout fees for the 15U age group.
S Forsyth Giants: $35
DP Jayhawks: $40
Titans: $50
Team Elite: $50
Nelson: $50
Barrett: $50
GA Jackets: $75
GA Bombers: $75
643: $90
Team GA: $100
ECB: $110
How is a kid that comes from a family without unlimited funds expected to find a situation that is good for them? Very sad, especially when some of these organizations are only looking for a couple players.
I agree, they are trying to make it a pay to play situation regardless of talent, they spoke about this on the E:60 show on Andrew McCutheon..Now the $50 and less, I MIGHT be ok with, the other's no way, but it will continue until parents are willing to stop paying to play.
Now if the fee is collected after making the team I guess I would ok with that.
These organizations are acting like they are doing you a favor by letting a player tryout/play for the team...like making it some good ole boys club type situation but I know I can't take my money else where no problem.
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 12:50:41
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I really don't get the attitude here. Of course it takes money to play travel ball. It takes money to play rec ball as well. You get more games/tournaments/practices, etc. with travel ball, so it's going to cost more. Everyone talks about the importance of having paid coaches. That is going to cost more as well. You can't expect someone (other than a dad) to put in all that time and effort for nothing. Keep adding up all the things you expect to get out of a travel team, and it's going to cost more. I don't see how else you can do it?
As far as the tryout fees, the problem here is everyone expects something for nothing. There was a thread on another board that asked if it was OK to tryout for a team that you had no intention of being on. I would say that the general consensus was it was OK. Now you have the big organizations with great reputations putting on tryouts. There are a lot of players that would like to be on those teams. So, they will have a bunch of kids showing up to tryouts to start. Then you add in a whole group of kids who either don't really want to play there or realize they are never going to make the team, but want to go anyway, just for the experience. Why shouldn't these organizations charge a fee to help keep the numbers down? Why should they have to look at and evaluate a bunch of kids that either have no intention of playing for them or have no chance of making the team? It doesn't necessarily have to do with making money, but trying to narrow things down to make efficient use of their time. It has nothing to do with pay to play. It has to do with honestly trying out for a team that you have a chance of making and trying out for a team that you would REALLY like to play for.
I know the tryout fees are fairly recent. But last time my son tried out for a team was back in 2010. There were 2 teams he was interested in playing for. Both, he was honestly interested in. Both charged a tryout fee. He went to the first tryout, and was offered a spot. We talked with the coach about his philosophy and where he saw my son fitting in. What was the plan for the fall and for the summer. We really liked what he had to say. Before we went to tryouts for the 2nd team, we talked to that coach about the same things. Didn't really like what he had to say quite as much as the 1st coach. My son decided to play for the team that had offered him and we cancelled our tryout for the 2nd team (which was really a formality anyway, they would have taken him on the team). Son called the 2nd team's coach and let him know we thought the other team was a better fit. We didn't go to 5 or 6 or 7 tryouts just for the experience. We researched the teams we thought would be good and proceeded from there.
Not only that, but once we decided on that team, the tryout fee was deducted from the regular season team fee, a discount, if you will. So, essentially, there was no tryout fee.
I just think some people are disillusioned about the process because the result of their player's efforts don't pan out the way they want. I'm starting to think that some of this "pay to play" rhetoric is taking the place of "daddy ball" as the excuse being used for why their kids aren't playing.
If you don't want to pay the price of multiple tryouts, do your research. Talk to the coaches of the teams you are interested in. Find out how many kids they are actually looking for. Find out if it may be a good fit for your player. And if your player may be a good fit for that team. If not, don't try out. I think it's crazy to go into a tryout blind anyway. You have to know what you are getting into. The coach should know ahead of time that you will be there. You don't want to be some random person in a group of 50 that are trying out. You will find the same thing when it comes time to find a college to play for. You don't just want to show up to their camp as one of 100 kids to be there. You want to be known before you go, or it will be a waste of time.
Lastly, if you don't want to pay the price of travel ball and all it offers, don't play travel ball. Play rec ball. It is still available. It costs less than travel ball because they play less. It costs less than travel ball because the competition isn't as good. It costs less than travel ball because the coaches aren't paid and generally have less knowledge than the paid travel coaches. All these things cost money. But, if you don't want to pay it, you don't have to. There are other alternatives. |
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Renegade44
211 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 14:23:52
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"if you don't want to pay the price of travel ball and all it offers,"
What does it offer? The chance to pay to play with a group of other players on a team that also could pay to play? What many call travel ball these days IS glorified rec ball. Didn't make Allstars boooohooo lets go pay up to play travel ball. Now look at little Johnny go! He's a major level travel ball player! Cue up the college scouts for the 11 year old game.
Most all the coaches know each other, they got phones. Why pay $400 plus another 400 by the time gate fees are paid to play 15 tournaments. Round up a league amongst yourself, play for peanuts if it is so much about the talent and game itself. Do ya really need that plastic trinket trophy for finishing first or second in the weekly Gold or Silver or Bronze or Platinum division?
It doesn't take $2 and 3,000 to play a seasons worth of baseball games. Paying that is just getting sucked into the big business vortex of selling hyped dreams and some sort of egotrip peer pressure to keep up with little johnny. Or you might miss out on that high school team or college scholarship. LOL
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 15:16:48
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quote:
Originally posted by Renegade44
"if you don't want to pay the price of travel ball and all it offers,"
What does it offer? The chance to pay to play with a group of other players on a team that also could pay to play? What many call travel ball these days IS glorified rec ball. Didn't make Allstars boooohooo lets go pay up to play travel ball. Now look at little Johnny go! He's a major level travel ball player! Cue up the college scouts for the 11 year old game.
Most all the coaches know each other, they got phones. Why pay $400 plus another 400 by the time gate fees are paid to play 15 tournaments. Round up a league amongst yourself, play for peanuts if it is so much about the talent and game itself. Do ya really need that plastic trinket trophy for finishing first or second in the weekly Gold or Silver or Bronze or Platinum division?
It doesn't take $2 and 3,000 to play a seasons worth of baseball games. Paying that is just getting sucked into the big business vortex of selling hyped dreams and some sort of egotrip peer pressure to keep up with little johnny. Or you might miss out on that high school team or college scholarship. LOL
You're saying what I said. If you don't want to play more, practice more, have paid coaches to teach more, then don't play travel. Play rec ball. It is still available. No one is forcing anyone to play travel ball.
In my opinion, you shouldn't even think about playing it until you're at least 12 anyway.
Renegade, there are people who the travel thing does pay off for. Granted, I probably spent more on all the travel ball and lessons and all that than I got back with a college scholarship for my son. But, the amount was not insignificant. But besides the monetary payoff, the relationship we developed and satisfaction gained by seeing him be able to play the sport he loved has been worth all the money I spent.
Even if my son never got to play in college, we have family memories of all the time we spent together going to games and tournaments all over the place. We still talk about them to this day - and that is priceless. He loved what he was doing and we loved watching it. If I had to do it over again, knowing he would not play in college, we would have done the same thing.
Do you have to play baseball to gain this experience? No. But if your son loves it, why not? We all try to facilitate things our kids love to do. Whether it be cheerleading, basketball, football, chess club, math club, swimming, boy scouts - or baseball. They all cost money. If your son loves baseball, why not make that what you spend your money on? There really doesn't have to be all this animosity... |
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DreamWeaver
1 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 15:32:16
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So what some of you are saying is that it is perfectly acceptable for a team to charge $50-$100 per kid even with no intentions of bringing any but maybe 1 or 2 onto their team. This opens up for a team that doesn't need ANY players the chance to bring in an extra $2,000 for their team for just a few hours of "work" one afternoon! That's better than any fundraiser!
And that comment saying "if you can't afford it, just play rec ball" kills me. If you think rec ball is the same quality as travel, then why isn't YOUR son just playing rec ball?
We've been fortunate in the past. Two travel teams with excellent coaches ... no try-out fees ... great bunch of teammates ... great bunch of parents ... won a few Triple-Crown tournaments ... lots of fun and my son learned a lot.
I know some parents of some of these "$-hungry" teams. They admit the costs are out of control, each kid thinks they're God's gift to baseball, each parent thinks their kid is God's gift to baseball, and the coach thinks he's God's gift to baseball. Who needs that drama?! |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 16:38:20
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quote:
Originally posted by DreamWeaver
So what some of you are saying is that it is perfectly acceptable for a team to charge $50-$100 per kid even with no intentions of bringing any but maybe 1 or 2 onto their team. This opens up for a team that doesn't need ANY players the chance to bring in an extra $2,000 for their team for just a few hours of "work" one afternoon! That's better than any fundraiser!
I'm saying to do your homework. If you don't have a chance of making the team, don't pay the tryout fee and don't go to the tryout. Read my previous post.
And that comment saying "if you can't afford it, just play rec ball" kills me. If you think rec ball is the same quality as travel, then why isn't YOUR son just playing rec ball?
I never said that rec was the same quality as travel ball. I'm saying that part of the reason you pay more to play travel ball is that it is higher quality. Some of the other reasons include that you are playing more games and you are paying for coaching (which is theoretically better). I said that if you don't want to pay for the better competition, more games and paid coaching, then play rec. That's different than what you are implying. My son isn't playing rec ball because he is playing in college now. From when he was 12-18, he played travel because we thought it was worth it. I'm not complaining about the travel ball costs.
We've been fortunate in the past. Two travel teams with excellent coaches ... no try-out fees ... great bunch of teammates ... great bunch of parents ... won a few Triple-Crown tournaments ... lots of fun and my son learned a lot.
I have no complaints about any of the travel teams my son played on. Played for dads from 12-14 and they were some of the best coaches and the most fun team he ever played for. HS age travel teams were awesome as well. I, personally, would not have done things any different.
I know some parents of some of these "$-hungry" teams. They admit the costs are out of control, each kid thinks they're God's gift to baseball, each parent thinks their kid is God's gift to baseball, and the coach thinks he's God's gift to baseball. Who needs that drama?!
Everyone needs to look at their own abilities and the abilities of their kids without rose colored glasses. It's not always easy. The trick is, when the time comes that the game has moved beyond the ability of your son, don't blame the game or the system. Just realize that it's time for it to end. My son has gotten to play college baseball. This year will be his senior year. More than likely, this will be the end for him. Pretty sure he doesn't have what it will take to be in the MLB. Time for me to accept that. For others, it may come sooner. It doesn't mean that it's because you can't pay. If you don't want to pay, there are plenty of alternatives. Play on a low profile travel team. Play on a rec team. Go to camps for colleges (although they cost money as well). Try to walk onto a college team. Send out videos to college coaches and try to garner interest. Find a good paid instructor who will advocate for you to a college coach. What ever it takes to gain exposure for your son if he wants to play at the next level. It can be done, you just have to work harder yourself.
I never said rec and travel are the same. I said you get more out of travel ball, so you are going to have to pay for it. You don't want more, there are other options...
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gloveside2
138 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 17:23:57
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| eventually there will be about 3 large programs who have all the field space in the area. It will be like comcast or dish. take your pick. He who has the fields controls the cost |
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Renegade44
211 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 18:00:00
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bballman,
You are a long way out of travelball with a college senior.
Travelball today isn't what is was when you were active.
Its not what it was when we started.
It has morphed into some gigantic money grab and weird social contest to keep up with your neighbors kid.
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2015 : 18:21:37
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quote:
Originally posted by Renegade44
bballman,
You are a long way out of travelball with a college senior.
Travelball today isn't what is was when you were active.
Its not what it was when we started.
It has morphed into some gigantic money grab and weird social contest to keep up with your neighbors kid.
I'm not THAT far out. And I keep up with the local landscape. I'm sure things aren't exactly the same, but they are pretty similar. As far as the weird social contest thing, that is something that is a personal flaw of the people involved. That has been around always. When we played rec ball, it was around. When we played travel, it was around. We never got involved in the ECB thing because we saw people with that kind of attitude and did not want to be a part of it. We'd see kids get cut from our local rec travel team show up to our games proudly displaying their ECB hats and T-shirts, only to find out they played on the worst team in the age group - but it was EC, so they must be good, right?
Not saying it doesn't happen or didn't happen when we were playing travel. I'm saying, you don't have to buy into it. It's not the system, it's the people in the system. I get scam emails and phone calls all the time. Doesn't mean I have to fall for the scam. There are appropriate avenues for all to take in the baseball world. Parents just need to be realistic about the talent level of their sons and which options are the best for THEM to follow. Don't allow yourself to be a victim. It's only the system's fault if you allow it to be. |
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ballsandbats
85 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2015 : 09:09:31
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bballman speaks truths!
quote:
Originally posted by bballman
quote:
Originally posted by Renegade44
bballman,
You are a long way out of travelball with a college senior.
Travelball today isn't what is was when you were active.
Its not what it was when we started.
It has morphed into some gigantic money grab and weird social contest to keep up with your neighbors kid.
I'm not THAT far out. And I keep up with the local landscape. I'm sure things aren't exactly the same, but they are pretty similar. As far as the weird social contest thing, that is something that is a personal flaw of the people involved. That has been around always. When we played rec ball, it was around. When we played travel, it was around. We never got involved in the ECB thing because we saw people with that kind of attitude and did not want to be a part of it. We'd see kids get cut from our local rec travel team show up to our games proudly displaying their ECB hats and T-shirts, only to find out they played on the worst team in the age group - but it was EC, so they must be good, right?
Not saying it doesn't happen or didn't happen when we were playing travel. I'm saying, you don't have to buy into it. It's not the system, it's the people in the system. I get scam emails and phone calls all the time. Doesn't mean I have to fall for the scam. There are appropriate avenues for all to take in the baseball world. Parents just need to be realistic about the talent level of their sons and which options are the best for THEM to follow. Don't allow yourself to be a victim. It's only the system's fault if you allow it to be.
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turntwo
955 Posts |
Posted - 07/21/2015 : 09:10:46
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| I don't know of many teams (whether completely independent or part of an academy) that do NOT hold 'team specific' tryouts... Private, individual, or full-blown tryouts that are FREE (outside of the organization). Sure you get the 'cattle call' tryouts, the Organization holds that, after paying the academy instructors to run the tryout, are nothing more than a money maker... But look around at said cattle call. How are the fields? Nice? What about the indoor facility? Nice? (Don't go the the bathrooms, or worry about the scoreboard lights). And true, you may only be trying out for 1 of 4-10 slots based on the number of teams at your age group and how many they picked up in their private workouts. Hence the reason to find a team BEFORE the cattle call-- which is free. Now if you make the team, the 'tryout fee' still needs to be paid to the organization, but that typically would be included in your 'dues' for the team. |
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aj94
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 07:13:40
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quote:
Originally posted by bearkat
Below are just some of the tryout fees for the 15U age group.
S Forsyth Giants: $35
DP Jayhawks: $40
Titans: $50
Team Elite: $50
Nelson: $50
Barrett: $50
GA Jackets: $75
GA Bombers: $75
643: $90
Team GA: $100
ECB: $110
How is a kid that comes from a family without unlimited funds expected to find a situation that is good for them? Very sad, especially when some of these organizations are only looking for a couple players.
Ummmm who are the GA Bombers????? |
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 11:11:46
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Thought I'd share our positive experience with a paid tryout in contrast to all these conspiracy theories and negative reports. After two years without trying out, my son attended a tryout with one of these organizations based on its positive reports on NWBA and elsewhere. We went into it cold (no prior attempts to contact the coach for a private workout or to convey my son's abilities or history); just decided to see if he was wanted based on his performance and abilities. He was recognized during the tryout (based upon questions and comments from those running it) and got an offer.
So, at least this tryout with this organization, it worked the way it was supposed to and as advertised, i.e., the team wasn't already formed based upon pre-tryout workouts or back room deals; a kid could show up, do well, and make the team cold based on performance at the tryout. I also believe the fee was necessary and appropraite to (a) pay for the field and non-dad professionals running the tryout and (b) narrow the field to a reasonable number by ensuring attendees had a serious interest in joining the team. There were 40-50 kids there for one age group. I'd hate to think how many would have been there if it were free. |
Edited by - dad4kids on 07/22/2015 12:50:28 |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 14:39:42
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quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
Thought I'd share our positive experience with a paid tryout in contrast to all these conspiracy theories and negative reports. After two years without trying out, my son attended a tryout with one of these organizations based on its positive reports on NWBA and elsewhere. We went into it cold (no prior attempts to contact the coach for a private workout or to convey my son's abilities or history); just decided to see if he was wanted based on his performance and abilities. He was recognized during the tryout (based upon questions and comments from those running it) and got an offer.
So, at least this tryout with this organization, it worked the way it was supposed to and as advertised, i.e., the team wasn't already formed based upon pre-tryout workouts or back room deals; a kid could show up, do well, and make the team cold based on performance at the tryout. I also believe the fee was necessary and appropraite to (a) pay for the field and non-dad professionals running the tryout and (b) narrow the field to a reasonable number by ensuring attendees had a serious interest in joining the team. There were 40-50 kids there for one age group. I'd hate to think how many would have been there if it were free.
Dad4kids, it's great that you had a good experience....BUT...I have to ask for clarification. This organization...did they have a PRE-tryout to the official tryout? For example, the ECB teams are blowing up the boards with unofficial "workouts", while Titans and 643 have only posted information about their "official" tryouts.
The previous comments I have made about the team being formed prior to the "official" tryouts were in relationship to teams holding "unofficial" workouts prior to the official tryout. Did this organization have a pre-tryout? |
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bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 15:30:48
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quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
We went into it cold (no prior attempts to contact the coach for a private workout or to convey my son's abilities or history); just decided to see if he was wanted based on his performance and abilities. He was recognized during the tryout (based upon questions and comments from those running it) and got an offer.
Sounds like dad4kids did not have a "pre-workout" or "pre-tryout". Even if the organization did do pre-workouts, dad4kids wasn't involved. If the player is good enough, they will get picked up - providing the player fills a need that the team has. |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 16:15:33
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quote:
Originally posted by bballman
quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
We went into it cold (no prior attempts to contact the coach for a private workout or to convey my son's abilities or history); just decided to see if he was wanted based on his performance and abilities. He was recognized during the tryout (based upon questions and comments from those running it) and got an offer.
Sounds like dad4kids did not have a "pre-workout" or "pre-tryout". Even if the organization did do pre-workouts, dad4kids wasn't involved. If the player is good enough, they will get picked up - providing the player fills a need that the team has.
That's kind of my point bballman. I'm all for a kid making a team on talent alone based on what he does at the tryout. I'm just trying to enlighten people that sometimes, not always, but sometimes teams go through the motions of attending the official tryout, but they already have their entire team picked. Kind of stinks to be that kid who wanted to be on team X but didn't know the team had a pre-workout and the team was full by the time they got to the official tryout.
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dad4kids
109 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2015 : 16:32:40
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| No, they did not have any advertised or known pre-tryout workouts. I wasn't responding to your posts, cacochick, but to the suggestion that the offical tryouts are always somehow rigged (both in this thread and others I've read in the past). Our experience is admittedly anecdotal but I thought it worth reporting at least one positive wave in the sea of negativity. |
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aj94
182 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2015 : 07:19:48
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quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
No, they did not have any advertised or known pre-tryout workouts. I wasn't responding to your posts, cacochick, but to the suggestion that the offical tryouts are always somehow rigged (both in this thread and others I've read in the past). Our experience is admittedly anecdotal but I thought it worth reporting at least one positive wave in the sea of negativity.
Did I miss a comment in the thread? I don't recall anyone saying that "official tryouts are somehow rigged"....and funny I did not know people expressing their experiences is a "sea of negativity".
Good for you and your son, and don't forget to report back to us next summer to let us know how the team is performing. |
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CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2015 : 08:37:25
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quote:
Originally posted by dad4kids
No, they did not have any advertised or known pre-tryout workouts. I wasn't responding to your posts, cacochick, but to the suggestion that the offical tryouts are always somehow rigged (both in this thread and others I've read in the past). Our experience is admittedly anecdotal but I thought it worth reporting at least one positive wave in the sea of negativity.
Thanks for coming back on this dad4kids. I have heard of kids making high level academy teams (9u-17u) based on what they did at the official tryouts, but only in cases like yours where there was no pre-tryout.
For anyone who wants to play for a team that has a pre-tryout I would encourage them to attend that pre-tryout because I have also heard several stories of the "official" tryouts being a sham because the team was picked from the pre-tryout. |
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in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 07/23/2015 : 10:36:19
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What's with all the animosity over this "pre-tryout" anyway?!?
Who believes for a minute that a good player isn't "pre-trying" out all season? The kids on academy teams are being seen by the coaches daily. The kids playing against the academy teams are being seen by them throughout the season. You don't think a kid who goes 4 for 4 banging lasers off walls isn't remembered if he shows up at a tryout for that team that summer/fall? A lot of these pre-tryouts are simply because of schedules. Nothing clandestine or immoral about it. So what if the coaches see a player three days before the general population takes the field. You really think they wouldn't take the kid if he shows up on Wednesday instead of the previous Monday?
Also, does anyone believe for a minute that a team starts every season with an absolute zero slate of returning players in their mind? No chance.
So places charge for the time, effort and expenses of hosting their tryouts as a means of generating some revenue and keeping the posers out. So what!
If you feel it's a sham and they're doing it to grab your money and there are really no open slots available, then do your homework and don't go.
And for those of you who feel that it's keeping the poor and needy from reaching the MLB, boo flipping hoo. My kids have no shot at being the next NHL star because I can't afford to put them on the ice. Are they entitled to it? No. No more than they're entitled to a country club membership so they can pursue a PGA career.
If someone charges $50-$100 for a tryout you have a choice to participate or not. Make your choice and move on. If a team hosts a paid tryout and no one shows, then they'll lower the price, quit charging, or not have a team.
Pre-tryout, secret tryout, official tryout, double secret tryout.....it's all the same, the teams are trying to get the best players. If you want your kid to play for a particular team, and that team has paid tryouts and you aren't willing to pay, then your kid won't play for that team. That's your choice, not the team's. If you honestly can't afford to pay for the tryout (and if you can't, you probably can't afford travel ball), then approach the coach/academy and explain your situation. If they deny your kid the opportunity, I'd be amazed. If that has happened, post it here and then I will support a legitimate gripe.
My guess is that most everyone griping here is doing OK. At the very least, you have internet access and a computing device with which to complain. |
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Tryout fee?
