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Message: [QUOTE="Chuck, post: 1834374, member: 1646"] My son's team came out stronger with the age change. My daughter's (and all of our girls teams) are a bit of a mess. That $1,800 is still not bad for some the academies around me. I'm fine with the good ones, but I have a friend that paid over $3k and his son played in 3 tournaments and had 10 regular season games for the whole year. They made them buy a ridiculous kit that was nice, but included 3 shirts, 2 pair of shorts, a full warm-up suit, 2 pair of socks and a bag. You had to buy that every year. The academy folded. Our club fees are somewhat variable: [LIST] [*]There is a $325 club fee. That gets you use of the fields (we bring in our own lights for practices), club-wide skills training once a week, entrance to a fall tournament (this weekend), fees for our league (fall/spring), $500 per team in fall and spring to be used to have our trainers at games, and some other crap (patches for tournaments, car magnets, a few pitchers of beer and wings for coaches, etc.). [*]Each team is then responsible for the rest of the budget each season to pay for: all equipment (balls, bench, first aid stuff, corner flags, if not available from previous season), trainer's fees for twice per week practices and any games over the $500 allowance, end of season parties, additional tournaments, etc. It's usually between $250 and $300 each season (fall and spring). [*]So we're usually in for a bit less than $1k. [*]You have to buy the kit which includes two shirts (Red and Black), black shorts, socks. We went with Adidas last year who, unfortunately, changes their kits often. My kids are getting a second year out of the kit we bought last year so I can't complain when we have to change next year. We also got them each an Adidas jacket last season and they are still using their Zara bags in their fourth season. [*]Each team usually does something for winter training (renting space to practice or joining an indoor league), but that is voluntary for the kids. [/LIST] We had an embezzlement issue a couple years before my kids played so the club was a bit strapped for cash. We were conservative with spending, and the guy paid the money back that he took so we're now flush with cash. We're doing an event where the whole club is going to go to a U14 girls game under the lights at our high school. We have a couple people from the Red Bulls lined up to come (I don't know who), and other light entertainment/snacks. I told the coach that he may want to give the other team a heads up. It should be great for their girls also. [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach