When do you expect to get your new team budget ?

[BenAround]

Now that many of us have DD's on new teams this year, when do you expect to get a team budget?

Was it mentioned?

Did you ask?

Do you mind making the Team Managers car payment without disclosure?

For reference:

http://www.socal-asa.com/jo/forms/YellowBook.pdf


“A” Travel Teams Only: Failure to provide an itemized and accurate pre-season team budget and an itemized financial statement of team expenses to players / parents / guardians at the end of the ASA Championship season, not to exceed 60 days from the end of Championship Play.

5. Shall provide to each player and parent a pre-season team budget and an itemized, accurate
end of season financial statement within 30 days after completion of ASA Championship Play.
When a complaint is filed with respect to a financial dispute between an ASA registered player
/ parent and an ASA registered team, SoCal ASA shall review the pre-season budget, the postseason financial statement and any other relevant documents to determine whether either
party has failed to comply with their responsibility regarding the approved financial plan.
Should either party be determined to be noncompliant with the approved financial plan that
party is subject to possible suspension until the situation is resolved.

ASA guidelines for team financial planning are:
a. Each team shall have a proposed financial budget for the current season. It is
recommended that each player / parent and the team manager sign the proposed
budget and each keep a copy.
b. Should the team need to adjust their financial plan during the season, the amended
budget should be provided to and signed by all parties. It is recommended that any
expense exceeding the budgetary estimate by 10 percent or $100.00, whichever is
greater, should require an amended budget.
c. Within 30 days of the completion of Championship Play the team shall provide each
player / parent and end of season financial statement detailing the funds collected and
how they were expended. The expense report should follow the pre-season budget
format and report all expenses against the planned budget.
All financial claims by any party must be addressed by the parties or taken to the appropriate
legal process, for example: small claims court, arbitration or other dispute resolution.

[CheckWriter]

Why don't you ask Skarp?

[BenAround]

Why don't you ask Skarp?

Don't need to. It's clear he enjoys making the Team Managers car payment.

[Dreamseam]

As I understand it, this requirement only applies to ASA teams and not teams that compete in USSSA, Triple Crown or any other sanctioning body.

A travel team can be run as a business, as a non profit organization or as a community "membership" program.

Personally, once a manager says to me, This is the cost of playing on MY team. This is what you get for the price. Are you in or are you out? I'll decide if it is worth the money or not. After I've made my decision, I really could care less where the rest of the money is spent. UNLESS you ask me for MORE money later. Then I want to know why.

I don't really need a piece of paper.

But.. I know that disgruntled parents sometimes use this "budget" as a way to get back at coaches or managers whom they feel have been unfair to their children. They bring it up to stir the pot and get other unhappy parents to start mistrusting their coaches, which creates an atmosphere that is unhealthy for any group that is trying to become a cohesive unit.

That being said, We got a paper saying what our dues would be each month. We got another paper stating a tentative schedule for the fall, and the information on where we will be traveling during the summer.
None of it said " team budget" but I was happy with the information and that's what we based our decision on.

Common sense dictates that if your coach is asking for 175.00 per month in dues and your scheduled to play only 2 tournaments for the whole year, you may not get a good value for your money.
I don't need a budget to tell me that.


JMHO

May you find the team that fits for your DD, your schedule, and your requirements.

[BenAround]

But.. I know that disgruntled parents sometimes use this "budget" as a way to get back at coaches or managers whom they feel have been unfair to their children. They bring it up to stir the pot and get other unhappy parents to start mistrusting their coaches,

Isn't that a great reason for a coach to actually do what he's supposed to do and provide the budget? He'll take away the ability of someone to try the above?

I love the quick association of any parent that requests the required budget with "disgruntled"

[Skarp]

Skarp's thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Team dues are a pimple on the ass of what I spend on softball;

2. The value I get for those dues is ridiculous. Jerseys, bag, helmet, a buttload of tourneys and college exposure, tons of high-level practice, and coaching by a small army of grown men who have inexplicably made my daughter's progress and future their personal business.

3. If I could imagine a way that those men could swing a profit on what we pay and otherwise raise, I would absolutely be thrilled to hear it.

4. Anyone who thinks that the source of the manager's mortgage payment is an important consideration, as opposed to whether they personally are getting a good return on what they personally pay, is at best not thinking very clearly, and at worst is a moron. Like BenAround.

Class dismissed.

[BenAround]

Skarp's thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Team dues are a pimple on the ass of what I spend on softball;

2. The value I get for those dues is ridiculous. Jerseys, bag, helmet, a buttload of tourneys and college exposure, tons of high-level practice, and coaching by a small army of grown men who have inexplicably made my daughter's progress and future their personal business.

3. If I could imagine a way that those men could swing a profit on what we pay and otherwise raise, I would absolutely be thrilled to hear it.

4. Anyone who thinks that the source of the manager's mortgage payment is an important consideration, as opposed to whether they personally are getting a good return on what they personally pay, is at best not thinking very clearly, and at worst is a moron. Like BenAround.

Class dismissed.

One question for teacher.....

WHY -NOT- provide the budget as required ?

[anonlooker]

Skarp's thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Team dues are a pimple on the ass of what I spend on softball;

2. The value I get for those dues is ridiculous. Jerseys, bag, helmet, a buttload of tourneys and college exposure, tons of high-level practice, and coaching by a small army of grown men who have inexplicably made my daughter's progress and future their personal business.

3. If I could imagine a way that those men could swing a profit on what we pay and otherwise raise, I would absolutely be thrilled to hear it.

4. Anyone who thinks that the source of the manager's mortgage payment is an important consideration, as opposed to whether they personally are getting a good return on what they personally pay, is at best not thinking very clearly, and at worst is a moron. Like BenAround.

Class dismissed.

One question for teacher.....

WHY -NOT- provide the budget as required ?

Because it's a pain in the ass. Geez.

If you don't think you're getting your money's worth, leave.
Please. Just go.

[Dreamseam]

But.. I know that disgruntled parents sometimes use this "budget" as a way to get back at coaches or managers whom they feel have been unfair to their children. They bring it up to stir the pot and get other unhappy parents to start mistrusting their coaches,

Isn't that a great reason for a coach to actually do what he's supposed to do and provide the budget? He'll take away the ability of someone to try the above?

I love the quick association of any parent that requests the required budget with "disgruntled"

It's not really a "quick" association, it's just coming from my own personal experience.
The parents that complain about a budget either are pissed about something the coach has done or are already planning to leave the team.
A budget is only required to play ASA. IF you do not compete in ASA tournaments you can run your team however you want.
As ESPN-Premier becomes the leader in "A" ball tournaments this budget may become a thing of the past.

[AlwaysImprove]

A budget is only required by SoCal ASA yellow book.

10 years of involvement in the sport. Only families that care where the money went are the ones that are disgruntled over play time. It is one that has stood the test of time and works like a charm.

Complain about playtime and you look like douche. Complain about the coach not getting your kid to hit, and you look like a douche. Complain how your kids is better than the kid they currently playing at xxx position, and you run the risk of no one agreeing with you, and you are definitely a douche. No one going to rally to your cause.

Complain about budget, bingo, that is something all the disgruntled parents can latch on too.