Breaking Down basketball Club Fees: What Parents Should Know
November 17, 2025
Breaking Down Basketball Club Fees: What Parents Should Know
If you’ve ever written a check for a youth basketball club and wondered, “Why does this cost so much?!”—you’re not alone. I’m a parent too, and I know how heavy these costs can feel. Let’s walk through what’s actually behind those fees, what’s reasonable, and what red flags to watch for.
This isn’t about scaring you away from club sports, it’s about making sure you know exactly where your money’s going, and how to hold programs accountable.
The Base Case: What a 14U basketball Season Costs
Here’s a transparent “base case” model for a 13-year-old athlete in Oregon playing 14U basketball. Team size: 10 players.
With small buffers and overhead, families usually pay $2,500–$3,500 for the season.
Breaking Down the Why Behind the Costs
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Renting a court is expensive—anywhere from $60–$150 per hour. Multiply that by two practices per week, six months straight, and you’re looking at thousands just to have a place to train.
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Entry fees pile up fast. Local one-day events cost ~$400, weekend regionals ~$600, and national-caliber events ~$1,000. Multiply that by 15–20 tournaments, and it adds up.
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A good coach deserves to be paid. Stipends cover practices, game days, and often their travel. If your club pays for airfare and hotel for coaches to attend away tournaments, that’s part of your fee too.
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When your team goes to Las Vegas, Houston, or Arizona, those flights and hotel stays are on you. For this base case, we assumed ~$700 per trip, twice per year.
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Jerseys, warm-ups, bags—typically $150–$200.
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Liability coverage + governing body memberships (~$40).
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Websites, marketing, registration platforms, and bookkeeping—about $400 per player
Why Fees Might Be Higher Than This
Some clubs will charge above the baseline. Sometimes it’s legitimate—extra training sessions, higher-level travel schedules, specialized equipment, or a larger paid staff. But sometimes? Not so much.
Here are some common (and not always ethical) reasons fees climb:
Overpaying coaches far beyond market rates, or hiring too many for one team.
Lower-level “B” teams subsidize elite teams, meaning your child pays for another kid’s travel.
Youth scholarships based on ability, not financial need, which creates inequity.
Fundraisers that don’t directly reduce your family’s fee (your work benefits the club, not you).
Claiming 501(c)(3) nonprofit status but refusing transparency. If a club is a nonprofit, they are legally required to make certain financial disclosures. If you suspect shady practices, talk to your club administrator. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt that it’s an honest mistake or misunderstanding.
If you aren’t satisfied with their explanation and you still suspect that something is “off,” you can report it to the IRS or the Oregon DOJ Charitable Activities Division.
What Parents Are Really Paying For
Clubs love to pitch: “If your kid doesn’t play here, they won’t get seen, they won’t get a scholarship, they won’t make it.” Or worse “If your kid doesn’t play for us then they won’t make their High School team.” The truth?
Club experience is NOT a requirement to make a High School team.
Sometimes there is collusion between a “feeder” program and the HS Coach. That’s a shame. We need to put a stop to that.
Only ~1% of high school basketball players go D1.
Even fewer get meaningful scholarships, and most are partial.
A season of club basketball doesn’t guarantee opportunity—it just guarantees exposure to reps and experiences.
What you’re actually buying is:
Practice and training time.
Life lessons from being on a team.
Travel and competition opportunities.
Sometimes, yes, a long trip to watch your kid ride the bench.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t valuable, but let’s be honest about what it is and isn’t.
Questions Every Parent Should Ask Before Paying
What’s included in the fee (and what’s not)?
Which tournaments are confirmed, and are travel tournaments guaranteed?
How are coaches paid, and who covers their travel?
Do all teams cover only their own costs, or are some subsidizing others?
What’s the refund or rollover policy if my athlete quits or is injured?
How are scholarships awarded—need or talent?
How much play time is my athlete realistically expected to get?
“The Fair Play Promise”
We don’t have to accept vague answers. Imagine if all of us parents held our clubs accountable to the same standard. Here’s a proposed policy that we urge all Club Basketball teams to adopt:
As parents, we have the right to expect that our child’s club will:
Provide a clear, written breakdown of how fees are spent.
Be transparent about what’s included vs. extra costs.
Disclose if lower teams are subsidizing higher ones.
Offer scholarships based on financial need—not just ability.
Ensure fundraisers directly reduce my child’s costs.
Share nonprofit filings and financials if they claim 501(c)(3) status.
Set expectations for playing time before the season starts.
Never use fear-based recruiting tactics (“If you don’t play here, you won’t get recruited”).
Print it. Share it. Post it.
Let’s make fee transparency the standard for youth sports in Oregon.
You’re not crazy for wondering where your money goes. You’re not alone in feeling the pinch. And you don’t have to accept vague answers.
When parents band together and ask smart questions, clubs rise to the challenge, or they lose families to the ones that do things right
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At the end of the day, this isn’t about chasing a scholarship. It’s about giving your kid the chance to practice, learn, compete, and grow. That’s the real win.