I have heard of this, but I cant believe it. Has anyone ever been charged for travel ball tryouts? Or does anyone here charge a fee? Just curious whats the going rate, and why do you charge for tryouts?
I have seem a few SB programs charge 15 or so for the tryout. Not sure if you get the written evaluation but it would seem worth it if you did. I do see a number of AAU BB teams getting tryout money and expect they need to pay for the gym or keep the lookie loos out.
I was surprised to learn that girls go to tryouts just to practice and see what tryouts are like. They have no intention of joining your team. So, as the coach told me, it keeps the riff raff out.
The local gold team ( for which I hold in low regard ), charges $500 for the tryouts. The way it was explained to me is if you don't make the team, you get $250 worth of lessons from the staff. ( they run an indoor facility ) And if you paid this year and didn't make it, you get some type of discount if you choose to try out again next season..............after your lessons.
Oh, and seemed like "if" you were a student for X amount of time, you stood a better chance of making the team. Yea, one big money scam.
Most organizations in this area do not charge a fee for a tryout. The ones that do tend to be affiliated with an indoor facility, and the going rate seems to be about $20.
I actually don't mind a kid showing up at my tryouts for "practice". You never know when one of them might actually find that your team is a better fit for them than their original team.