Pay as you play TB team?

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May 15, 2016
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Seems that is what one family wants to do. My DD's teammate was injured halfway through the fall ball season. After the girl has not shown up for the most recent fundraising events, the rumor started going around is she is not coming back after her three month healing and recovery. My DD texted her and she was vague when they asked her if she was coming back, sounding like she is not coming back.

The talk is her parents do not want to pay for the time she is not playing and practicing with the team, and so are pulling her off the team. Mind you it is only a rumor, but has brought about some interesting conversations.
 
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Nov 29, 2009
2,975
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All the organizations that I've dealt with over the years usually work this way. If it is an injury that requires some rehab time like a broken bone or similar type of injury and the player is expected to recover fully, then the player's family is expected to fully participate in all the team functions and is still fully financially responsible to the team. If a player suffers a season ending injury like a torn ACL or something similar, most organizations allow the player to be released from all financial obligations to the team.

It sounds like the parents don't understand that team budgets are figured for a 12 month period based on roster size, fees and expected expenses. Whether or not a player is unable to participate for a period of time due to health issues has no bearing upon these costs.
 
Oct 3, 2011
3,478
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Right Here For Now
We are a year round TB team. WE play 2-3 Fall tournaments, 1-2 indoor Winter tournaments and 8-12 Summer tournaments depending upon the age group I'm coaching. If it's a HS age team (second year 14U-18U) then there will be no indoor tourneys and only 7-8 Summers. Either way, tryouts are end of July and the beginning of August. In order to hold their spot after being offered, they need to put down a 1/3 rd deposit before accepting. Since I usually offer 3 more spots than the number of players I plan to carry, it's first come first serve and they're told that at the time of the offer. By the end of September, another 1/3rd of the fees are due and final payment is due by October 31st. Anyone not fully paid by November 15th is replaced no if, ands or buts. These dates are stipulated not only at the time of offering, but at the team meeting held before practice starts, after the team's set and deposits are accepted. Also at the team meeting, it was made clear that no refunds will be given whether they are asked to leave the team or if they leave of their own volition. By mid-November, I'm cutting checks for the outdoor training facility we've used in the Fall and will again use in the Spring-Summer, indoor training facilities for Winter practices, insurance, sanctioning of the players to the ABC orgs, uniforms, batting helmets, bat bags, catchers bags, practice uniforms, coaches jerseys, tournament fees and a myriad of other things. I don't have time to go chase money and after 15 years of coaching, I refuse to. I've only had to replace one player that didn't pay and I had a heads up from her past team where they paid lip service but no money. She didn't pay and I replaced her. The following year she tried out again for me and guess what? I've had no problem since then with them paying. It's just lucky for her that I had a player leave that year to go play college ball otherwise she would have been SOL. This year, I dropped back to a 12u team and had a similar situation happen. After they missed their second payment and the third, I told her mom she couldn't practice with us when we moved indoors November 8th and if she wasn't paid in full by the 15th, her daughter'd be replaced. The 15th, miraculously, the daughter showed up and so did the money for both payments.

ETA: I have given money back in the past minus expenses to players and their families when they've had season or career ending injuries once I found a replacement player and they paid their partial fees.
 
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May 15, 2016
926
18
It sounds like the parents don't understand that team budgets are figured for a 12 month period based on roster size, fees and expected expenses. Whether or not a player is unable to participate for a period of time due to health issues has no bearing upon these costs.

Or the parents do not want to understand. If this turns out to be true it is quite a shame. Everything my DD tells me she is a really good kid, and one of the better players on the team.
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
I don't have time to go chase money and after 15 years of coaching, I refuse to.

I certainly understand that. My DD's organization imposes a $25/day fee on all late payments. I have no idea if there are parents who are regularly late with paying.
 
Nov 29, 2009
2,975
83
I certainly understand that. My DD's organization imposes a $25/day fee on all late payments. I have no idea if there are parents who are regularly late with paying.

You have to treat running a team as business. If you don't you'll end up financially stressed. I've been lucky. Most of the organizations I've been involved with handle the money end of the team. If a family is not up to date with their payments I would be CC'd in an email to the parents from the organization informing them their DD was not allowed to participate until they were caught up. I did have one mom ask me to let her DD practice after an email. I told her I could not.
 
May 15, 2016
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[MENTION=14644]Bob516[/MENTION] , Is this player planning on returning this season?

When my DD texts her she cannot get a straight answer. My DD believes she is not planning on returning. Also, when the extra apparel that was ordered for the entire team was divided up the other day, a pile was not made for this player, when other absent girls had piles made for them.
 
Apr 14, 2011
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It sounds like all the communication with this family has been between your DD and the player. Have you spoken with the parents directly? Or the player (Not sure the age group).
 
May 15, 2016
926
18
It sounds like all the communication with this family has been between your DD and the player. Have you spoken with the parents directly? Or the player (Not sure the age group).

The player is 13. She just joined the team in August and I have spoken to the family only once or twice. I don't think it is my place to speak to them about it.
 

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