Handling of team/player finances

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Oct 4, 2018
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Your tune might change if the bitching and moaning is coming from the parents of the SS who bats 4th or your top pitcher...

Amazing how people took my original question and turned it to contempt for parents complaining about the budget

The bitching is coming from inside the house. ;)

Our team isn't really into winning at all costs. But yeah, we did boot that family. Felt good, quite honestly. They were causing issues in many other ways as well, and their nasty behavior was becoming a learned behavior by their DD.

I do agree, that consciously or subconsciously, we all might take different actions based on how good the girl is and how important they are to the team.
 
Jun 8, 2016
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There are two schools of thought on this: the first is that parents are entitled to see any of the financial statements. The second school Of thought is that annual financial statement is issued.

The biggest problem that I have with not receiving financial statements is that, more likely than not, you organization is not a 501(c)(3) entity . It was a legitimate 501(c)(3) entry, they would be required to fill out a form 990 at the end of the year. The 990 summarizes receipts and disbursements, which could be put on the entity’s website. This is why a lot of organizations cannot sustain themselves – they are not incorporated or they are not being recognized by the Internal Revenue Service. I know in Massachusetts you have to be Inc. for two years before you could evaluate sell certain fundraising activities.
Again I can get them if I ask. My point is that it would be easier for everyone involved, including the treasurer, if a more 21st century means (e.g. not using Microsoft Excel) of doing so were used.
 
Jun 8, 2016
16,118
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The bitching is coming from inside the house. ;)

Our team isn't really into winning at all costs. But yeah, we did boot that family. Felt good, quite honestly. They were causing issues in many other ways as well, and their nasty behavior was becoming a learned behavior by their DD.
Of course if at some point the attitude of the star player and her parents is causing an issue which effects the rest of the team then cutting them is the right thing.
 
May 7, 2015
842
93
SoCal
Your tune might change if the bitching and moaning is coming from the parents of the SS who bats 4th or your top pitcher...

Amazing how people took my original question and turned it to contempt for parents complaining about the budget

Is your DD's team run by a professional coach? In your mind, who should be able to make money off of being a manager/coach? If it's daddy ball and everyone sees it and hates it, do they get to make money? What about if your manager is an up and comer who's busting his rear for your team? Does he get to make money for teaching your DD's the sport and spending 15+ hrs a week for 44wks a year? If it was acceptable for the up and comer to make some money, how much should she/he be able to make from spending time teaching your kid the sport...

Just for grins, minimum wage in CA is $12/hr (I think). 15hrs/wk x 44 weeks = $7920... Is that too much?
 
Oct 4, 2018
4,611
113
Again I can get them if I ask. My point is that it would be easier for everyone involved, including the treasurer, if a more 21st century means (e.g. not using Microsoft Excel) of doing so were used.

For a lot of teams that would result in another line item in the budget. Though I suppose QuickBooks or some product might have a free version.
 
Jun 8, 2016
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For a lot of teams that would result in another line item in the budget. Though I suppose QuickBooks or some product might have a free version.
I am not complaining about the cost of my DD's TB an extra $20 per kid per year (which is what it would be at most if the 30 something teams in my DD's org adopted the software) would be worth it. The idea that @bmakj gave, e.g. a google doc, would be fine as well and would be free I think.
 
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Jun 8, 2016
16,118
113
Is your DD's team run by a professional coach? In your mind, who should be able to make money off of being a manager/coach? If it's daddy ball and everyone sees it and hates it, do they get to make money? What about if your manager is an up and comer who's busting his rear for your team? Does he get to make money for teaching your DD's the sport and spending 15+ hrs a week for 44wks a year? If it was acceptable for the up and comer to make some money, how much should she/he be able to make from spending time teaching your kid the sport...

Just for grins, minimum wage in CA is $12/hr (I think). 15hrs/wk x 44 weeks = $7920... Is that too much?
?? I may be missing something but I am not sure how this relates to my original question or even what you quoted.

Anyway, to answer your question, my DD's coach is not a professional coach and for the most part my DD has learned the sport from me, not her coach, so I guess I should be the one making the money off of her ;)

Again, for the 100th time, I am not at all complaining about the cost. Only that we have money in our account which isn't being used by anybody for anything so I would like to be able to see what that is (the coach tells that if we have extra money in the account we can use it to offset the current fees) without having to bother the treasurer to get it to me. If they used that extra money to compensate the coach for his time I would be fine with it. Got it??

You guys are a trip.
 
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May 6, 2015
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I understand what you're saying here, but how far do you actually take this. Estimated uniform cost was $400/player, after discount due to bulk purchase it came out to $375 each for 12 girls. What about an extra two sets for a sub the team might need in two different sizes, who's paying for that? Are we asking for the receipt to show what was actually spent on the uniform purchase to verify that what was entered on our spreadsheet is accurate compared to the receipt? Estimated that the team needed $500 worth of softballs but the price went up $.25 each this year. Are you okay with them asking for an additional $10 from each girl because that cost wasn't exactly what they expected? Are you expecting a refund on the $10 because the price went down $.25 to ensure it didn't end up in someone's pocket? I'm gonna need to see a receipt for that coach.

Realistically, I'm on the mindset that I agreed to pay X in expectation of Y for my DD. So long as that happens (approximate # of tourney's agreed to, uniforms to play in, and practice facilities that were agreed upon) I'm good. If I don't trust the org we're playing for with a little extra $$ that could balance either way, I shouldn't be here or I should be their treasurer (which I will refuse to sign up for). I'm not rich by all means, most of us aren't. And we know this is a very expensive venture over the long run. I can't imagine being worried about $50 possibly being left in my account and where is has or hasn't gone.

BMAKJ, please know that none of my response was directed at you personally, I just quoted your post because it was convenient to use the example of uniform costs.
no prlblem high strung, just a discussion of the money side.

as for what you describe, if expenditures do not match budget, no problem with that, not expecting refund, I am certain the money can be put to good use for the benefit of the team (more indoor training time, extra tournament, pizza party for girls, etc.0

not expecting to pay more either unless it is really unforseen (budget always should estimate high if anything). just want to make certain that when they spent $200 less on unis than expected as a team, that $ did not find it's way into someone's pocket. similarly, if there extra budget, no problem buying one or two units without names for guest players.

actuals do not have to match budget exactly, but actuals should always be accounted for accurately.

of course most of my experience is with parent coached teams, so this is probably a little different, if paid coaching, well then I guess they can keep any margin they can save.
 
May 29, 2015
3,731
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For a lot of teams that would result in another line item in the budget. Though I suppose QuickBooks or some product might have a free version.

I am probably somewhat to blame for this trip down the rabbit hole ... and it started with a sentiment close to ^that. My apologies. (Not really, it’s been educational. But I am sorry for the highjack.)

My (derivative) point was that an organization who is big enough to be running as a business is big enough to spend a few dollars (which yes, come from the parents) on the needed accounting and communication tools. Hiding behind “we are too big, that would be too expensive” is a BS reply that raises question about the priorities (integrity?) of an organization UNLESS the organization provides “we have researched it and it would cost $X but we don’t think it is worth it.”
 
May 6, 2015
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I guess basically it comes down to, if their are people making money off it, I guess they can keep the finances private, but in that case they also cannot fundraise. I guess individual groups of families could get together to fund raise, but if someone is making money, no fundraising, it is no longer non profit. and if no one is making money, finances should be transparent.
 

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