| Author |
 Topic  |
|
CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2017 : 13:20:43
|
Sorry for the shorthand in the Subject, but I couldn't fit my whole question otherwise.
In another thread it was mentioned, possibly in jest, that the kids who haven't even tried out yet for the baseball team are required to fund-raise. This is before they even make the team.
Does this really happen? |
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2017 : 15:23:12
|
Son's did. Largest fundraiser of year held weekend before tryouts. Honestly, it makes sense. More participating, once season begins, there is not time, and season plays into end of school, so all momentum is lost over summer. I know many don't like it because families may participate in fundraising, then their kid may not make the team, but typically only a dozen +/- are cut each year compared to 40+ that make Varsity or JV.
And "required" isn't really accurate. It's optional, but it does take everyone to pull off the magnitude of the event. It is "optional" just like the off season workouts for players are "optional". |
 |
|
|
ChinMusic
126 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2017 : 16:38:11
|
| Yes, we experienced that... It's been 6+ years, so not sure if it's still occurring. School is in the East Cobb area. |
|
|
|
Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2017 : 07:04:41
|
| Yep it's a reality at many schools..raise the money before you try out. |
|
|
|
agent21
97 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2017 : 11:55:18
|
Always helpful to get input/different perspectives. Always seemed like a terrible idea to me until "in the know" explained the timing/logistics -- once the season begins, there is no time for fundraising.
|
|
|
|
CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2017 : 08:16:12
|
| Wow, another thing I haven't experienced at my son's high school. Last year we received the fundraiser packet at the welcome meeting of those who made the teams. You could do the fundraiser OR you could write a check to opt out. |
|
|
|
BaseballMom6
233 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2017 : 14:32:17
|
| Yes, my son's school does their fundraising in the Fall, and all players trying out are asked to participate. The parents are asked to write a check and then raise the money back for themselves by selling raffle tickets, advertising, etc. |
|
|
|
stealyourbase
81 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2017 : 17:17:33
|
| One word... YES |
|
|
|
brball
615 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2017 : 21:27:16
|
Buy in to the program. Trust the process
But in all seriousness, in the know nailed it... there simply isn’t time to fundraise once the tryouts are over and team is picked. It’s 100% go time at that point! My advice is just do what you can do to help and enjoy your kids 4 years of high school ball as much as possible. |
|
|
|
whits23
596 Posts |
Posted - 12/13/2017 : 20:33:08
|
A public school can not MAKE you sell anything..ok yes you can risk the coach not taking your kid if he is that sort of coach. Most have no idea who sells what.
We chose NOT to fund raise until our kid made the team and then it was the bare minimum and made it clear we would not do any other fund raising period...we only did it as the team was going to florida on spring break and it paid for hotels and bus travel so parents could send kids with team.
We lived in 5 states so far and only GA has booster clubs that charge over $100 bucks for anything. |
|
|
|
in_the_know
985 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2017 : 11:14:14
|
quote:
Originally posted by whits23
We lived in 5 states so far and only GA has booster clubs that charge over $100 bucks for anything.
I'm also familiar with other states as well as counties. What I find s that MANY other districts fund athletics budgets and facility maintenance. Ours doesn't, so simple things like uniforms, mowing, fertilizing, etc., are completely funded by the booster club. Without dues or fundraising, you'd be hard pressed to have a decent playing surface or much beyond a tee-shirt and mismatched pants in which to play.
That said, I believe that most programs are RIDICULOUSLY over the top with what they purchase and provide to their kids. Most could easily get by with much less money than they claim to "need". |
|
|
|
CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2017 : 15:15:35
|
quote:
Originally posted by in_the_know
quote:
Originally posted by whits23
We lived in 5 states so far and only GA has booster clubs that charge over $100 bucks for anything.
I'm also familiar with other states as well as counties. What I find s that MANY other districts fund athletics budgets and facility maintenance. Ours doesn't, so simple things like uniforms, mowing, fertilizing, etc., are completely funded by the booster club. Without dues or fundraising, you'd be hard pressed to have a decent playing surface or much beyond a tee-shirt and mismatched pants in which to play.
That said, I believe that most programs are RIDICULOUSLY over the top with what they purchase and provide to their kids. Most could easily get by with much less money than they claim to "need".
I found it interesting the huge change between what my son got when he played football vs. what he got when he played baseball. Baseball made more sense...although I do wish he got to keep his jersey 
|
|
|
|
Renegade44
211 Posts |
Posted - 12/14/2017 : 15:43:36
|
Fundraising is a sad fact that is necessary. There is little if any funding coming from the public school budget for most school sports. The shortfalls have to be made up thru booster clubs or thru volunteer labor and equipment donations.
To veer off into a political rant. The apparent zeal to cut corporate taxes and the higher income tax rate is the exact root of the reason why public schools are not funded enough to maintain the community programs, building, sports facilities, and such that the community uses. Everything can't and should not be privatized for profit. Many things that taxes support also provide and support the very things that make a community thrive and enjoyable to live in.
Local schools that have affluent booster clubs have manicured fields and new equipment. 1 great example. Same county system, same town, same conference. Affluent school has a darn near D2/3 type field always perfectly manicured and maintained, covered cages, 3 pitching machines, a fungoman machine for defense drills, and a team clubhouse. Field is locked up tight to no community use allowed.
Less affluent school has a field, its barely playable due to no money for grass seed and necessary repairs, no functioning booster club, rents out to USSSA for tournaments, Head Coach and a Senior player umpiring the games and using all the proceeds and their pay to try to keep the baseball program in existence and functioning.
|
|
|
|
Bravemom
204 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2017 : 09:01:33
|
I have heard of a HS making all kids interested in trying out to help with fundraising. This same school charges around $2500 for the HS season .
 |
|
|
|
NF1974
62 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2017 : 11:47:16
|
| It is just a fact of life that money is involved at all levels and it does make a difference. Why do you think D1 schools update their facilities. It helps attract the better recruits. My son plays ball at a D3 college and they send out a letter from the Athletic Department that lets you know that you can contribute to the General Athletic fund but that you can also designate your contribution for a specific sport and two thirds of your donation will be used " in that sport". The other third will go to the general fund. When I asked about what the funds would be used for, the answer was that it would be used for upgrades on the existing facilities and upgrades on the travel. |
|
|
|
lowandoutside
69 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2017 : 09:39:43
|
| Our HS team has several "fundraisers" prior to the start of the season. They start with a golf tournament. Everyone is encouraged to find hole sponsors, 4-somes, and donate their time. The next is a cookie dough sale where the boys are supposed to sell at least 25 items. Then is the silent auction and BBQ. Each player must sell 25 tickets to the BBQ and families must find items to donate for the silent auction. Understandably your participation level doesn't have any bearing on if you make the team or not. I think it is sad though when you see kids and families hustling to participate and the child doesn't make the team. Then you have the opposite level or participation from the player and family because the player is a "no doubter." I don't think the fundraisers should begin until the team is formed. I could understand maybe one....the cookie dough sale. But the remainder should be the responsibility of the players and the families who actually make it. |
|
|
|
bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2017 : 19:34:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by Renegade44
Fundraising is a sad fact that is necessary. There is little if any funding coming from the public school budget for most school sports. The shortfalls have to be made up thru booster clubs or thru volunteer labor and equipment donations.
To veer off into a political rant. The apparent zeal to cut corporate taxes and the higher income tax rate is the exact root of the reason why public schools are not funded enough to maintain the community programs, building, sports facilities, and such that the community uses. Everything can't and should not be privatized for profit. Many things that taxes support also provide and support the very things that make a community thrive and enjoyable to live in.
Local schools that have affluent booster clubs have manicured fields and new equipment. 1 great example. Same county system, same town, same conference. Affluent school has a darn near D2/3 type field always perfectly manicured and maintained, covered cages, 3 pitching machines, a fungoman machine for defense drills, and a team clubhouse. Field is locked up tight to no community use allowed.
Less affluent school has a field, its barely playable due to no money for grass seed and necessary repairs, no functioning booster club, rents out to USSSA for tournaments, Head Coach and a Senior player umpiring the games and using all the proceeds and their pay to try to keep the baseball program in existence and functioning.
Government raising taxes is not the answer. Cutting spending in other areas is the answer. Realize this. Local governments made the choice to cut spending on school sports in favor of spending on other issues. If they got more money from taxes, they certainly are NOT going to go back and start spending that money on the same school programs they decided to cut previously. It just wouldn’t happen. Raise taxes, spend it on other social justice programs, then even the nice manicured fields will turn into the barely playable fields because even the more fortunate won’t have the money to contribute. Cut taxes, get the economy thriving again and then the less fortunate will have the money to contribute to nicer fields. But to think the government is going to decide to change their mind and fund school athletic programs is a pipe dream. |
|
|
|
whits23
596 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2017 : 11:13:57
|
| I still stand by the fact that if your good you make the team if your not you do not...no coach will cut a starter if he does not sell enough pine straw. |
|
|
|
bballman
1432 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2017 : 16:31:08
|
quote:
Originally posted by whits23
I still stand by the fact that if your good you make the team if your not you do not...no coach will cut a starter if he does not sell enough pine straw.
Yep... |
|
|
|
tellit
97 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2017 : 14:09:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by lowandoutside
Our HS team has several "fundraisers" prior to the start of the season. They start with a golf tournament. Everyone is encouraged to find hole sponsors, 4-somes, and donate their time. The next is a cookie dough sale where the boys are supposed to sell at least 25 items. Then is the silent auction and BBQ. Each player must sell 25 tickets to the BBQ and families must find items to donate for the silent auction. Understandably your participation level doesn't have any bearing on if you make the team or not. I think it is sad though when you see kids and families hustling to participate and the child doesn't make the team. Then you have the opposite level or participation from the player and family because the player is a "no doubter." I don't think the fundraisers should begin until the team is formed. I could understand maybe one....the cookie dough sale. But the remainder should be the responsibility of the players and the families who actually make it.
I would rather them just charge a tryout fee! |
|
|
|
BREAMKING
323 Posts |
Posted - 12/19/2017 : 14:57:20
|
quote:
Originally posted by bballman
quote:
Originally posted by whits23
I still stand by the fact that if your good you make the team if your not you do not...no coach will cut a starter if he does not sell enough pine straw.
Yep...
I agree 100% also applies to summer ball. Difference makers do not pay at least they used to not. |
|
|
|
Crazyforbball
391 Posts |
Posted - 12/20/2017 : 09:42:28
|
| ^^^^yep...the need to outsell everyone only applies to those on the fence, hoping to bump out the bottom of "should" make the team players who didn't bring in a dime. Elite players will usually make the team regardless of fundraising. A well funded team of low level kids won't keep the coach in his position for long. But we ALL know a FEW kids on every team who probably should have made the team and didn't and a few who shouldn't have but did due to $ contribution, politics, or both. |
|
|
|
Hurricane
351 Posts |
Posted - 01/16/2018 : 15:21:33
|
| I say cut the 3 uniforms and all the extra stuff. When I played we used the same uniforms year after year. I understand the cost for umpires, balls and field maintenance but all the other stuff is crazy. I would love to see a high schools budget. I bet it could be cut in half. I have no idea just see some schools charging $100 all the way up to $1,500 or more from what I hear. |
|
|
|
LFconcessions
29 Posts |
Posted - 01/17/2018 : 07:53:50
|
quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane
I say cut the 3 uniforms and all the extra stuff. When I played we used the same uniforms year after year. I understand the cost for umpires, balls and field maintenance but all the other stuff is crazy. I would love to see a high schools budget. I bet it could be cut in half. I have no idea just see some schools charging $100 all the way up to $1,500 or more from what I hear.
Agree with ya but.... {atleast at my sons school} They like the BLING. Appears to be easier for the parents to stroke a check (like they have in the past), than to look for ways to reduce costs.
I took an informal poll last year during the season and my sons HS was the highest cost in the region.
Should we start another thread where folks can chime in with the Region they are in, and the cost this spring? |
|
|
|
CaCO3Girl
1989 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2018 : 12:07:53
|
quote:
Originally posted by Hurricane
I say cut the 3 uniforms and all the extra stuff. When I played we used the same uniforms year after year. I understand the cost for umpires, balls and field maintenance but all the other stuff is crazy. I would love to see a high schools budget. I bet it could be cut in half. I have no idea just see some schools charging $100 all the way up to $1,500 or more from what I hear.
Last year son got to keep his hat...that was all. No bling, no matching helmets, no matching packs, didn't even get to keep the jersey. NO BLING and still over $800. However, how much would you pay for 5-6 days a week practice, specialty coaches with skill, and 20+ games over 10-12 weeks? |
|
|
|
ecb7
100 Posts |
Posted - 01/18/2018 : 17:33:50
|
| Majority of budget is spent on coaching staff and field maintenance not uniforms or bling. Most good coaches won't stay for long working for $3000 stipend from school. I was member of my son booster club so I'm very familiar with where those dollars go. I believe a fair amount for Varsity is around $700. Fundraising helps boost what they can pay assistant coaches and projects like building indoor cage or expanding locker room type projects. Truthfully very few recruiters and scouts come to High School games but the locker room and being there with teammates you grew up with is once in a lifetime experience. Also Fundraising can be used to sponsor kids that can't afford to play HS ball. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
Does the HS make you fundraise b4 u make the team?
