Breaking Down Volleyball Club Fees: What Parents Should Know
November 10, 2025
Breaking Down Volleyball Club Fees: What Parents Should Know
If you’ve ever stared at that club volleyball invoice and thought, “How is this nearly $3,000 for a 13-year-old?” You’re not imagining things. As parents, we’re all in the same boat: we want the best for our kids, but we also deserve straight answers about where our money goes.
This guide is for you. I’ve broken down what a typical 14U club season actually costs, why fees might be higher, what red flags to watch for, and, most importantly, what you’re really paying for.
The Base Case: What a 14U Volleyball Season Costs
Most families end up in the $2,800–$3,300 range once scholarships, payment plans, discounts, fundraising, sponsors and club buffers are accounted for.
*Assumptions: 10 athletes per team, 2 practices per week, local tournaments monthly, 3 out-of-state qualifiers.
Breaking Down the Why Behind the Costs
-
Court time in Oregon runs $60–$150/hour in private gyms, or $30–$60/hour in schools (if you can even get access). Multiply that across two practices every week for six months, and you see why it’s such a big line item.
-
Volleyball clubs often play more events than basketball. Local one-day events average $300–$500, regionals ~$800, and national qualifiers $1,200 each. Entry fees alone can top $12,000 per team.
-
Head coaches and assistants are paid for practices, game days, and their travel costs for qualifiers. Covering flights, hotels, and per diems for multiple coaches adds up.
-
Parents foot the bill for those big qualifiers (flights, hotels, meals). We modeled three trips at ~$700 each.
-
Jerseys, shorts, warm-ups, and a backpack typically cost around $200–$300. Many clubs require new uniforms each season.
-
CEVA/USAV or AAU memberships, plus liability insurance, add ~$50 per player.
-
Behind the scenes, websites, marketing, scheduling software, SafeSport compliance, and bookkeeping often ~$500 per player.
Why Fees Might Be Higher Than This
Sometimes higher fees are legit. Elite travel teams, extra practices, higher-caliber coaches. But sometimes parents are subsidizing practices that don’t pass the sniff test.
Watch for:
Overpaying coaches or loading up unnecessary staff.
“B” teams subsidizing “A” teams, where lower-ranked kids’ fees fund elite squads’ travel.
Youth scholarships given based on ability, not financial need, which widens inequity.
Fundraisers that don’t touch your actual fee, leaving you to donate labor but not save money.
Nonprofits refusing transparency. If a club calls itself a 501(c)(3), it owes the community full financial disclosure.
If something feels suspicious, we encourage you to speak with your club administrator. 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
Let’s be blunt: clubs love to market the dream, “If your kid doesn’t play here, they’ll miss their chance at a D1 scholarship.”
The reality:
Only ~2% of high school volleyball players receive any NCAA scholarship.
Most “full rides” aren’t full at all; they’re partial.
Club volleyball helps develop skills and increase exposure, but it doesn’t guarantee a college offer.
What you’re truly paying for is:
Reps: Your kid touches the ball hundreds more times than in school ball.
Teamwork: The lessons of playing with and for others.
Experiences: Travel, friendships, and competition.
And sometimes, yes, a long trip where your kid hardly leaves the bench.
That doesn’t make it worthless, but it’s important to be real about it.
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 Volleyball 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 overreacting if you’ve felt uneasy about where your fees are going. You’re not wrong to ask questions. You’re not alone.
The real value of club sports isn’t a scholarship promise; it’s practice, teamwork, growth, and experiences that shape your kid’s character.
Let’s make sure the price tag reflects that reality, and that the programs we trust with our kids (and our dollars) are worthy of both.