So Really, What's This Select Thing Gonna Cost Me?

Assuming there is a range depending on club but some estimates of out of pocket for last year would be helpful for us newbies.  Are there different costs associated with having a GK?  Do clubs have GK kits that must be purchased along with a player kit if my DD plays the field as well as GK?  How are the fees typically broken down?  Dues, Kits, Tournaments and Travel?  Thanks!

04KeeperDad wrote:Assuming there is a range depending on club but some estimates of out of pocket for last year would be helpful for us newbies.  Are there different costs associated with having a GK?  Do clubs have GK kits that must be purchased along with a player kit if my DD plays the field as well as GK?  How are the fees typically broken down?  Dues, Kits, Tournaments and Travel?  Thanks!

The range is pretty wide. Extremely hard to get away with <$1k/year and that is going to be on a team with a head coach that isn't getting paid, has limited access to lighted and/or indoor practice facilities, and doesn't play many tournaments or travel at all.

At the top end, for a #1 team at one of the "big" clubs, where you are likely traveling to tournaments (including one's you have to fly to) once or twice a year, you could be looking at $5k-$6k.

The dues/fees/uniform kit costs/structures are all a bit different between the clubs. At some clubs, the team dues include a discretionary budget that covers 2-3 tournaments/year and possibly some indoor rentals. At some clubs, the dues only cover coaching fees/league fees/practice field fees, and all tournaments are additional out-of-pocket. Some include uniform kits in the dues, but most charge separately for kits. So you have to make sure you are comparing apples-apples.

If you are talking about a Lake Highlands level team, playing for one of the well established clubs (D'Feeters, Texans, Solar, Sting, FC Dallas, Liverpool, Andromeda, Tx. Spirit, Dallas Rush, Kicks, etc...), you are likely looking at between $3k-$4k per year when everything is done, and you add up every cent you've paid out of pocket towards soccer for the year.

Smaller clubs and independent teams, most are still probably going to be at least $2k/year.

...and yes, if your DD is a Keeper AND a Field player, you will pay extra for both field and keeper uniforms. Depending on the club/coach, some will let you get away with buying a full field kit and just 1 or 2 keeper jerseys, but some will require you to buy both a full field kit and full keeper kit, at the tune of ~$300 extra out of your pocket. ...oh, and for keepers, don't forget gloves at anywhere between $50-$150 a pop that will last anywhere from 3-6 months before having to be replaced... Welcome to the club!  

your 30s

Your sanity.

bwgophers wrote:

04KeeperDad wrote:Assuming there is a range depending on club but some estimates of out of pocket for last year would be helpful for us newbies.  Are there different costs associated with having a GK?  Do clubs have GK kits that must be purchased along with a player kit if my DD plays the field as well as GK?  How are the fees typically broken down?  Dues, Kits, Tournaments and Travel?  Thanks!

The range is pretty wide.  Extremely hard to get away with <$1k/year and that is going to be on a team with a head coach that isn't getting paid, has limited access to lighted and/or indoor practice facilities, and doesn't play many tournaments or travel at all.

At the top end, for a #1 team at one of the "big" clubs, where you are likely traveling to tournaments (including one's you have to fly to) once or twice a year, you could be looking at $5k-$6k.

The dues/fees/uniform kit costs/structures are all a bit different between the clubs.  At some clubs, the team dues include a discretionary budget that covers 2-3 tournaments/year and possibly some indoor rentals.  At some clubs, the dues only cover coaching fees/league fees/practice field fees, and all tournaments are additional out-of-pocket. Some include uniform kits in the dues, but most charge separately for kits.  So you have to make sure you are comparing apples-apples.

If you are talking about a Lake Highlands level team, playing for one of the well established clubs (D'Feeters, Texans, Solar, Sting, FC Dallas, Liverpool, Andromeda, Tx. Spirit, Dallas Rush, Kicks, etc...), you are likely looking at between $3k-$4k per year when everything is done, and you add up every cent you've paid out of pocket towards soccer for the year.

Smaller clubs and independent teams, most are still probably going to be at least $2k/year.

...and yes, if your DD is a Keeper AND a Field player, you will pay extra for both field and keeper uniforms.  Depending on the club/coach, some will let you get away with buying a full field kit and just 1 or 2 keeper jerseys, but some will require you to buy both a full field kit and full keeper kit, at the tune of ~$300 extra out of your pocket.  ...oh, and for keepers, don't forget gloves at anywhere between $50-$150 a pop that will last anywhere from 3-6 months before having to be replaced...  Welcome to the club!  

BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

It will cost:
All your old friends.
All Holiday weekends.
Any flexibility in scheduling family vacations.
For the next 8 years.
Enjoy!

There is a team out i know of that is under $1K that includes lighted fields, full uniform and practice kit, all league fees and 4-6 tournaments a year. Gunners...

your perspective...

Gunner9 wrote:It will cost:
All your old friends.
All Holiday weekends.
Any flexibility in scheduling family vacations.
For the next 8 years.
Enjoy!

Yes to all the above and...

Weekends in general...
The cost of a housekeeper (you won't have time to do it on the weekends)...
The cost of lawn care (unless you're unencumbered by a pesky HOA)...
Additional tolls traveling 121 to Plano or Bush to UTD...
Competitive Transfer/Release Processing fee's of $25.00...

any others we're missing?

3.22 a gallon

For me, ALL the above times 4! (four dds)
Plus two knee surgeries (one more coming after the season), three concussions, tons of tape and prewrap, and related MRIs, PT, etc.

And don't underestimate that $3.22+/gallon.. it really adds up!

Yep. About $10-15 in gas per practice. Double that for each Plano game.

Borussia wrote:BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

Yeah, but notice that I didn't get to them until after I mentioned Dallas Rush...  

SteamingBean wrote:For me, ALL the above times 4!  (four dds)
Plus two knee surgeries (one more coming after the season), three concussions, tons of tape and prewrap, and related MRIs, PT, etc.

And don't underestimate that $3.22+/gallon.. it really adds up!  

Anyone who can put four children through this circus gets nothing but respect. This site needs the bow down emoticon for you!

bwgophers wrote:

Borussia wrote:BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

Yeah, but notice that I didn't get to them until after I mentioned Dallas Rush...  

I don't buy it until you can purchase kicks gear in soccer corner. Then we'll know we're talking about a substantial organization....wait...big blue vola is only china direct? Nevermind...  

04KeeperDad wrote:Assuming there is a range depending on club but some estimates of out of pocket for last year would be helpful for us newbies.  Are there different costs associated with having a GK?  Do clubs have GK kits that must be purchased along with a player kit if my DD plays the field as well as GK?  How are the fees typically broken down?  Dues, Kits, Tournaments and Travel?  Thanks!

Your dignity and a little embarrassment when you realize how much time you wasted on this board ....

Staying away from Soccer Corner is the sign of a smart club in my book. That is unless you like delays, being lied to about orders and dealing with things being screwed up on a consistent basis.

On that note...add the cost of gas for frequent trips to Soccer Corner if that's who your club uses for gear.

4-3-3 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Borussia wrote:BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

Yeah, but notice that I didn't get to them until after I mentioned Dallas Rush...  

I don't buy it until you can purchase kicks gear in soccer corner.  Then we'll know we're talking about a substantial organization....wait...big blue vola is only china direct? Nevermind...  

Actually, it's Peru... where do you think all of the lottery money went???  

bwgophers wrote:

4-3-3 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Borussia wrote:BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

Yeah, but notice that I didn't get to them until after I mentioned Dallas Rush...  

I don't buy it until you can purchase kicks gear in soccer corner.  Then we'll know we're talking about a substantial organization....wait...big blue vola is only china direct? Nevermind...  

Actually, it's Peru...  where do you think all of the lottery money went???  

Careful now!   

4-3-3 wrote:

SteamingBean wrote:For me, ALL the above times 4!  (four dds)
Plus two knee surgeries (one more coming after the season), three concussions, tons of tape and prewrap, and related MRIs, PT, etc.

And don't underestimate that $3.22+/gallon.. it really adds up!  

Anyone who can put four children through this circus gets nothing but respect. This site needs the bow down emoticon for you!

My question after four kids is: Is it worth it?

04KeeperDad wrote:Assuming there is a range depending on club but some estimates of out of pocket for last year would be helpful for us newbies.  Are there different costs associated with having a GK?  Do clubs have GK kits that must be purchased along with a player kit if my DD plays the field as well as GK?  How are the fees typically broken down?  Dues, Kits, Tournaments and Travel?  Thanks!

Well as a GK parent the cost is more then a field player plan and simple. Your going to pay the same club cost as everyone else but your uniform kit is usually $50-75 more then a field players kit. Last year we bought both a field kit & GK kit. My dd only played the field in blow out games usually in tournaments. She only played the field a handful of times. This is a serious question you need to talk to your dd coach about. Find out what his expectations will be for her next year. Will she be a full time GK or share the position 50/50. This year we didn't even waste our money on a field kit as my dd is a full time GK. Roughly club & uniform fees was right at $3k (Sting). The club does a lot appx $1-1,200 in tournament fees per team if the team has a full roster (16 players). The tourney money is reduced if less roster players. Travel will be dependent if your coach decides to do out of town tournaments but plan to spend roughly $500-700 per out of town tourney that is within driving distance.

I don't even take into account gas/mileage/tolls getting dd to GK training. She plays for Sting and while she has attended club GK training she feels she doesn't get anything out of those sessions as it very basic/beginner training. She has been a GK for 5yrs now. She has been with an awesome GK coach for the last 3yrs that we pay out of pocket for. She trains with him every other week due to cost. That alone tacks on another $1200 a year in training cost to the bill.

Then add in her GK gear. She goes through 3-4 pair of gloves within the year (fall & spring). I am lucky currently her gloves are relatively cheap. Plus at least 1 pair of GK pants a year. Between gloves and pants that is roughly another $200-300 to the bill. That's not counting the cleats (lately 2 pairs a year as her foot is growing so fast right now).

So in total it's roughly $1500 in addition to the club/uniform fees. That is being very conservative to say the least. If I added gas/mileage & tolls in I might hide under a rock and cry but at the end of the day my dd LOVES being a GK and it makes it all worth it.

4-3-3 wrote:

bwgophers wrote:

Borussia wrote:BW just referred to Kicks as one of the more established clubs... nice! Movin on up in the world!! Haha

Yeah, but notice that I didn't get to them until after I mentioned Dallas Rush...  

I don't buy it until you can purchase kicks gear in soccer corner.  Then we'll know we're talking about a substantial organization....wait...big blue vola is only china direct? Nevermind...  

It is only by club choice that you cant. They have been asking for a year now to sell our spirit gear.

Wow! This had been an eye opening discussion for me. Little bit of a harsh realization. I only have 2 years until Select for my DD.   

By then, the costs will have doubled 

Also, part tongue-in-cheek and part not.. Don't let it cost you your job/career. Keep your head screwed on tightly, don't get too carried away, and keep things in perspective. Three close select friends through the years, a mom and two dads, actually lost their jobs. Too much leaving work early for cross-town practices, missing important meetings for tournament travel, team management during the work day, and overall team priority over work. You know you're getting close to insanity if you're already checking gopher's rankings (or whoever does your academy dd's age) every waking moment and if you have tequila or other stiff drink as part of your user name. JK. ((I may have been one of those two dads back before I had any sense)). I know that's extreme, but still kinda falls into the "what's this select thing gonna cost me" lol.