BOTC - US Lacrosse Community Forum Forums NORTHEAST LACROSSE BOTC MAIN FORUM (LI, CT, WC) Evaluation Tip #8

You would think one would be entitled to some type of feedback after a tryout. If no feedback, let it be known at the tryouts that the fools trying out are just making a donation to the club and the teams are already picked. Give a receipt for a tax deductible donation at least we can write it off as a charitable donation.

It's getting a litttle old on so many of these threads people crying about try outs being donations to the club. The only ones who have a gripe would be current players, especially the better ones who are in no danger of being replaced.

some of the tryouts are held at indoor facilities that I would assume charge the club a fee. I can see the justification in that case as well as if there are other expenses that I'm not thinking about. Otherwise, I suppose it is pretty crappy that there is a fee.

Some programs of not for profit, and the cost of "renting" a field needs to be covered.

BOTC asks this question seriously : why do you feel this way?

Lacrosse has developed this incredibly strange tradition that just to tryout for a team, you have to pay a fee in most situations. This is not a college application process we are talking about here. This is about joining a youth sports team.

So, let us turn around the question on you if we may : Exactly why is it "OK" for teams to charge players to tryout for their ranks?

In the situation where an indoor facility is used to offer tryouts, isn't that a cost of being "in business" for the lacrosse organization? The question is why these costs are not factored into the full year costs for the accepted players? Shouldn't the accepted players be the cost bearers?

So there are obviously some costs involved in holding try-outs, from fields, paying coaches/evaluators, insurances to cover...whatever needs to get paid for. Does it all add up? I don't know. Why should the cost of the tryout be included in the players fees as a team member? (as someone suggested earlier in this thread) Why should current team members have to pay for new kids who may show up in masses to replace them get stuck covering these expenses? I see nothing wrong with any of these clubs charging a try-out fee to cover costs. The only argument I can support is "they charge too much". I have never been involved in the process, but I do know that, like everything else in life, costs add up quickly and usually to amounts much bigger than the numbers laymen add up quickly in thier heads.

No, I don't think so. From a business perspective, it's what the market will allow. From a justification perspective, everyone attending gets some benefit from the tryout ans should thus share in its cost. When my daughter was younger I had her try out for clubs that we had no intention of being involved with becuase it was basically a cheap clinic and good practive for trying out at the club that did matter

First let me say that not all programs are created equal or share the same philosophies.
The reason there needs to be a fee for the tryouts is that there are cost associated with running tryouts. Take for instance if a club post tryouts for free and gets an overwhelming response. They then hire more evaluators, purchase more pinnies and book more field time. When the day of the tryout comes, 90% of the people who signed up do not show because they are attending the tryouts of the club that they paid the $50 fee to. Now the organizers of the first tryout are stuck with the cost they have laid out.
The main problem with the culture surrounding these clubs is the perception that MONEY = VALUE.
A club that tries to keep it's fees reasonable and does not make you pay for what you do not need is percieved to be of less value of a club that charges your $1500, plus tournament fees, but "give you" a new helmate and gloves. The club that gives the option to purchse these things at cost and charges you charges you $1000 which includes your tournament fees is percieved less valuable than the club that charges you more but actually delivers less. Meanwhile the cost of the helmate and gloves is $250 so they just got you for an additional $250 plus tournament fees.
A word of advice. When looking for a club for your child, forget about the wins and losses. They are just what most parents feel are indicators of success and helps their egos. Look for a program that offers a lot of practice time, as that is where the kids will do their learning and the coaching will be done. The team you choose should treat every player, regardless of if they are a blue chip prospect or a player that is developing, with respect.
There are programs out there where the people running it are in it for the right reasons. Call or write these programs and ask about their philosophies. If you can not get a director or coach on the phone or a return e-mail to speak about their program to you, then chances are, they do not have the answers that you are looking for.
Remember MONEY DOES NOT ALWAYS EQUAL VALUE. Chose the right program for your son and the wins and losses will take care of themselves. The most important thing is that they learn, develope their skillls and are treated with respect.

Some programs of not for profit, and the cost of "renting" a field needs to be covered.

they might say not for profit but are they truly a taxed not-for-profite club and if non-for-profit why are there fees close so some of the profit clubs? We all see the costs of these tournements and know how many kids on a team. There are thousands of dollars per team left over to cover more then enough - insurance, fields, reduced equipement costs at volume buying..