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The Key To Overcoming Financial Challenges In Travel Sports

by Allison Martin

06.25.2017

At last! Your kid is finally old enough to participate in a more competitive league. All that’s left is tryouts, registration fees, parent orientation, and you’re all set!

How exciting – assuming you’re a parent who loves a good ol’ sports match-up. Plus, it's always fun to watch your son or daughter compete at a higher level.

That is, until you’re hit with a curve ball: turns out that your kid made the elite team that requires loads of travel. Even worse, a bulk of the costs will be your responsibility, and money’s already tight. So, to play or not to play? 


This is a common scenario faced by parents, but they aren’t the only party at a financial disadvantage. Sports clubs are also affected more than you might think. Here’s why:

Challenge #1: Paying for Day-to-Day Operations

Sports leagues don’t pay for themselves. The money has to come from somewhere. That’s where dues, registration fees, fundraising, and sponsors come into the equation.

“When considering day-to-day operations, you have to think about gym space, field rentals, uniforms, and equipment,” says Tom Puzio, Executive Director of the Positive Coaching Alliance’s Colorado chapter. “Space is usually covered by the club, but uniforms and equipment are an individual thing, and the burden tends to fall on the families.” 

But what about travel costs? That’s where it gets interesting. Some organizations are cash-strapped and forced to pass these costs on to parents.

Challenge #2: Travel Costs

“Some club teams stay primarily local, while others travel regionally and nationally. The latter two come with airfare, ground transportation, lodging, and food expenses, and can quickly shift from an individual to a family expense,” Puzio says.

To illustrate, imagine if you have two smaller children and a spouse traveling along. The cost of sending one child to compete becomes an expensive family trip overnight.

Challenge #3: Allocation of Resources

How is the organization using funds received from registration fees, dues and fundraisers? You have a right to know, but board members aren’t always transparent with finances. And you sometimes hear of instances when team leaders use resources for personal gain. This means that fewer funds are available to cover operational and travel costs.

Challenge #4: Team Fundraisers

At first glance, fundraisers seem like a great way for travel teams to amass resources to cover costs. But what if participation is low? Or what if parents don’t feel comfortable asking others in their circles to buy things?

“At this point, mom and dad participate, so it becomes a transfer of resources,” Puzio says. This defeats the purpose, since direct donations are more valuable. How so? Simply put, there's no middle-man taking a cut.

Challenge #5: Lack of Communication

Some club leaders and coaches have costly objectives for the season. The problem is, parents don't always have a say in what’s being proposed. For example, a coach may envision their team making it to nationals. And the talent may be there, but the trip will cost the team a whopping $25,000.

It’s not a bad idea to have your eye on the prize from day one, but parents need to know your intentions if your vision will require their resources to become a reality.

Potential Solutions

While there’s no way to resolve every issue your travel team may face, Puzio offers some valuable advice for both organizations and parents: 

“As a club, you have to be realistic about what is possible, given your circumstances. It is crucial to have a realistic portrayal of what you are trying to accomplish as a team, and to communicate this to parents to get them on the same page.” 

But what about the parents? How can they play their part? “Parents should expect the organization to be up-front about financial expectations so they can evaluate whether or the team and organization is a good fit,” Puzio says. And if parents decide to move forward, a player-parent contract detailing obligations should be executed. "This avoids any surprises later on." 

Ultimately, the key to overcoming financial challenges in traveling sports teams is open communication between both parties every step of the way. Plus, doing so ensures a positive experience for the clubs, the parents, and the student athletes.

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Allison Martin is a digital content strategist and personal finance junkie. After spending years as a governmental accountant, she transitioned into the world of freelance writing, loving every moment of it. Her work has been featured on The Wall Street Journal, ABC News, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, Fox Business, Credit.com, Investopedia and Money Talks News. She also teaches financial literacy workshops for nonprofits, governmental organizations, colleges and universities around the nation.