It's spring and the baseball season is upon us. If your kids are anything like mine then they are salivating at the mention of baseball. That is, if you can afford the costs involved to allow your kids to participate. A registration fee of $75.00 per child comes first. What they do with this money, I'm not certain. The shirts and hats are provided by the league and you can have their name put on both for an additional fee. Now you have to buy them pants, the league used to provide these and stirrups, not anymore. Stirrups $5-$7 a pair. Pants $15-$25 a pair. Belt $5-$10. Then there are the shoes. A cheap pair of Nikes will cost you $25 if, you purchase them online at www.store.nike.com. I prefer to buy locally, it's doubtful Vernon Powell or anywhere else will have them at this price. I was told by a parent in Delmar that they had to purchase a batting helmet. Well there goes another $60, easily. Then there is the bat. I have paid anywhere from $30 to $125 for baseball bats, what was I thinking? My kids could hit just as well with a bat provided by the league as they could with one of those expensive bats. So, the average cost for a child to play baseball is now anywhere from $113 to $130 and that doesn't include shoes, glove, or bat.
Those sign boards advertising local businesses used to pay a fee of $250 annually, I can't imagine what they are paying now with all of these fees going up. Let's just say there are 10 signs on the fields, that's $2,500 add that to the money raised in the concession stand, the 50/50 raffles, the picture fundraiser and other fundraisers held throughout the year. I think it safe to say Little League is bringing in $10,000 a year, conservatively. So what are they doing with this money? Coaches, concession stand staff, grounds keepers are all volunteers, the board of directors are volunteers. There is no paid staff, on the local level so where is the money going? Why can't the league continue to furnish uniforms for the teams? Equipment is paid for by the league, bats, baseballs, bases, batting helmets, catchers gear. Does this cost $10,000 annually to maintain? How much lime can be used on a baseball field?
What happens to the kid that has natural ability in the sport yet his parents can't afford to pay the fees? What about the families that have 2 or 3 baseball aged children that can't afford the fees? Listed under Little League rules and regulations,
Regulation 13 - Commercialization
A participation fee may be assessed by a local league, but at no time should payment of a fee be a pre-requisite for participation in the Little League program. How many parents/families know of this rule? I have never heard anyone, during registration, say to a family that it was OK, the kids could play even if they can't afford to pay. Have any of you?
Makes me wonder why those highly paid professional baseball players are not chipping in, on a local level, and helping the kids that can't afford to play the sport they love? Lets look at some of the Baltimore Orioles salaries. They don't have the salaries of the New York Yankees but hey, who does? Kevin Millwood will be paid $15,000,000 this year, just to play baseball. He had a 5 year $60 million dollar contract with the Orioles. How much of that has he given to local Little League teams? Brian Roberts, $40 million over 4 years, Nick Markakis, $66.1 over 6 years, Mike Gonzalez, $12 million for 2 years, you get the picture. A lot of money is thrown at these big league players while the kids that aspire to be one of these big league players could quite possibly be denied the opportunity to play America's favorite sport, because their family can't afford the fees.
Just one time, I would like to hear someone using the phrase "It's For The Children", mean it.
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
21 comments:
This comment is way off base, no pun intended. Most if not all major league baseball teams and many, many MLB Players provide support to local organizations to allow them to grow the game of baseball. Indeed if you have been watching the news lately, there has been much written about MLB growing the game more in the inner cities. MLB has established RBI - reviving baseball in inner cities to address this issue. Here is a link for a brief synopsis of MLB Charities.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/charity/index.jsp
10:50 that's great that they are trying to work with inner city kids but what about rural kids, don't they need to be supported as well? How many families are struggling here in our area that can't afford the cost of LLB for their kids? If these numbers are right, at $113 per kid to play how many kids are not playing because of the cost?
one giant word for you INSURANCE!!! and the league that I'm affiliated with has 5% of players who pay less than half or no participation fee.!!! it is for the kids.....adults ruin it!
I am sorry if I mislead you in my earlier post. RBI is only one program started by MLB. There are many others. Google Baltimore Oriole Charitites to see a list of your local players and the charities they support or have started. In my local area, the San Diego Padres build baseball fields throughout the area for local baseball leagues. It is a great program.
Great post. I think those in charge should be brought to the table and show the communities the account records..asap even.
Great post. You should also look into the fees for playing soccer for the county and at Crown Sports Center. Sports are expensive.
But here is what I don't get. Why not as a league have some fund raisers to offset at least a portion of the cost of these uniforms?
I would definitely go to a spaghetti benefit, have my car washed, etc... to benefit local sports for kids.
Ron
the leaders and administrators of these leagues are also the coaches. How are they suppose to run fundraisers and teach these kids the game at the same time? How many fundraisers can they squeeze out of parents, grandparents and the general public that is hit with a fundraiser every other week from schools, scout troops, churches, and other sports groups? Somewhere in all that mom and pop have got to say ok....going to cost for jack and jill to play ball? Real world reality from the inside of a little league board room!!!
In Delmar, uniforms are included in the fees, including baseball pants. Obviously those who are complaining about this have had some bad coaches. There will always be bad coaches but, that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of good coaches who give a darn about these kids. All I can speak of is my kid's and my experience and it has been good overall.
any ideas of places to play little league thats doesnt cost a ton? i have 2 boys i would love to put in.
Quit your whining and complaining!
You know as well as I do that NOTHING IS FREE! And I'm not sure which Little League is charging a $75 fee to play, but the League I coach with is only charging $40. But regardless of varying cost, how do you expect to run a Little League program free of charge? How is the League going to pay for lawn mowers, fuel, electric, rakes, pitching machines, fencing, baseballs, bases, balls, helmets, catcher's gear, hats, jerseys, insurance, Little League dues and over all maintenance? IT TAKES MONEY TO RUN A LEAGUE! An official Little League baseball cost about $3/ball and you need 2 balls per a game. If you have 4 teams in the league that have to play 10 games each then that means you need balls for about 32 games. That's $192 in game balls alone!
Leagues also have fundraisers as well, but you know what? Parents complain about helping out! Very few parents are actually out there volunteering for these kids. So few that I voluntary my time to Manage a team and I'm not even a father! I have absolutely NO personal interest in showing up for practices and games so who do I do it for? I DO IT FOR THE KIDS! In fact, I don't even have a parent assistant coach on my team! The majority of parents don't even do it for there own kids! The people who run the leagues are volunteers and they are out there more than the parents of the kids playing ball!
Little League is a private organization-you tax dollars don't go to pay for operating costs like the Rec & Park Leagues. If you don't want to pay a fee then I suggest you get some parents with similar views together and see how well you do with starting a fee-free league! GOOD LUCK!
Next time you want to complain about fees, then make sure you're out on that field helping out instead of sitting at home complaining on a computer!
I agree that it can be a bit expensive but you have to look at the cost associated with the maintenance of the field. Our batting cages were damaged by winds and had to be rebuilt. The labor was volunteer but the materials were far from donated. Then there's sod, truck loads of dirt brought in to level out fields, etc. Again, the work is done by volunteers and thank God we can get them. But general upkeep is expensive. The previous post says it well--lighting, etc. all adds up. The enjoyment and team commitment the kids get from playing ball makes it a pleasure to write out that check to little league.
12:37 you are so full of sh!t you stink. They ran that league with only a $10 participation fee and they supplied EVERYTHING.
1:40,
was this back when you were in Little League in the 1970's? Things were a bit cheaper then...
We paid $55 i think for registration in delmar, and this includes the pants. All we really have to buy above that is socks ($3), a glove and cleats. There are always bats adn helmets available for the kids to use. Also, fundraisers are done to offset some costs. Lastly, while it is not advertised because people would take advantage, I do know there are provisions (at least in delmar youth sports) for families who are unable to pay. I am sure there are different, possibly better, ways to do things but everyone is a volunteer so if you have a suggestion, i'm sure they would welcome you as a volunteer as well. Both Delmar Little League and Delmar Pop Warner have regular board meetings that are open to the public.
In our league last year there were over 600 kids and only 80 participated in the fundraiser. I too coach without any kids playing, I do so for the kids. Little League and other youth sports have turned into nothing more than baby sitting services for many parents. If we could get just HALF of the parens to participate in fundraising we could cut our fee by 25%. Also the concessions do not bring in very much profit, the items we sell must first be paid for. Do yourself and your child a favor and volunteer, you and them will be much rewarded. Instead of being part of the problem, try being part of the solution.
Fruitland Little League mentioned this to us and let us pay what we could afford for several hard years.
"the leaders and administrators of these leagues are also the coaches. How are they suppose to run fundraisers and teach these kids the game at the same time?"
No one is stating they need to do them simultaneously. Places like Full House Poker in Delmar are there solely to raise money for non profit organizations. The Delmar Fire Department recently had a fundraiser for money to buy Delmar's state championship football team their rings. They made enough money in one spaghetti dinner to pay for all of them- over $3k. I've seen benefits at the local Fraternal Order of Eagles raise a similar amount for causes in one event as well. It can be done.
As a local league member I take offense to this post if you only knew what it cost for a league to operate when we have to pay for insurance ,charter fees, uniforms,equipment and field mantinance along with utility bills and our league only charges 40.00 per child and we even advertise that regirstration fee help is availble .but its people like you that when we need help you are know wheres to found or your one of the parents that never comes out to watch your child play ball and support the local league or maybe you are one of those parents that doesnt know where your child is and they find themselves hanging around the ball fields after hours destroying little league fields like what happened to our league this past year once again costing our league almost 10 thousand dollars in repairs
My tone isn't meant to be hyper-critical. I'm one of those "where there is a will there is a way" people. I'm all for giving ideas to help in this situation.
1. Why not *require* parents to either pay a higher fee for their children to participate or work in a set number of fund raisers?
2. Why not require parents to show up with their children during try-outs. At this time parents would be taken aside and given the options for 1.
3. If the little league does not have a person working the phones to call businesses for support this is a mistake. Along with businesses they should be reaching out to and cultivating relationships with civic organizations.
4. Perhaps the little league could have a day of baseball played in the honor of the groups that give money. Print up a reward and hand them out. People/companies love recognition- give it to them.
5. I know Starbucks sometimes GIVES coffee to non-profit organizations. Perhaps little leagues could sell this coffee. Applebees also has all you can breakfasts for charities including local sports.
There are just a lot of ways to help out and a lot of people/groups willing to help out who are in the dark about the issue.
I applaud everyone that works hard for our children.
Delmar's Little League charges $45-$65 depending on the age group. Registration fees pay for charter fees, insurance premiums, uniforms and participation trophies for the younger leagues and first place trophies for the older leagues. Concession profits and fundraisers pay for safety equipment (which includes helmets), baseballs, field and building maintainance, whatever is needed to keep our fields up to par, utilities and any improvements we wish to make. Our league is run completely by volunteers, and unfortunately, it is the same people trying to run the league from year to year. As many people participate in our fundraisers as you will find at our monthly meeting. If there was more participation in those fundraisers, then perhaps we could keep the fees at a minimum. It seems to me that people like yourself, who complain the most, offer the league the least. Until they see you start putting in some time at our league, please refrain from criticizing.
I agree... no criticizing.
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