New or Used Equipment

[Just saying...]

What are your thoughts on teams passing out used helmets and bags to new players on the team? Should the new player expect new equipment with their start up fee? (Jersey excluded).. This is not a backorder or limited stock issue, or a time crunch to be ready for a tourney- just normal practice. is this common or a warning sign?

[basher1]

BIG-RED-FLAG. If you have a team manager collecting $200 + as a start up fee plus asking for $100/month then absolutely you should expect new equipment. If you do the math, you are talking $175-200 tops for the equipment (bag, helmet, pants, a couple of T's, hoodie, etc. NOT including the jersey). So anyone that takes start up money and passes out used equipment one has to ask, "where does the money go if not towards the equipment?" I also think that the equipment should be YOURS TO KEEP (not including the jersey). With regard to the jersey...if I were running a team, I would take a $50-100 deposit toward the jersey and give the player the choice, turn in the jersey and get the deposit back or turn the jersey back in and get the deposit back. Requiring the deposit will incentivise the player/parents to take care of the jersey and will help offset the cost of replacing said jersey if necessary.

My take.