The Real Cost of Club Volleyball

When the parents of first time club participants see the cost as compared with local sports, it often throws them for a loop. Although the Club does everything in its power to keep those costs we have direct control over at a minimum, the fees associated with tournaments-entry fees, hotel rooms, air fare, etc.-continue to rise.

But what do you actually pay when you look at cost vs. opportunity In other words, is club volleyball a sound financial commitment once you weigh the various fees against the benefit of participation?

Let's examine an analysis of the average cost of participation in club volleyball vs. the financial gain of attaining a college scholarship. In 2008, the average cost of club volleyball for a player on a top 18s and 17s team will pay about $3,660; a top 16s and 15s player around $3,500. That figure includes dues, uniforms, coaching fees, gym rental, tournament fees, and insurance. By comparison, as an example of the cost of one year of college-tuition, room and board, and books-let's look at several schools where current Club Synergy players are now furthering their education, along with some other college institutions :

If we now take these figures an extrapolate the costs if someone who played club four seasons (freshman through senior year) and then attended one of these universities for four years, the cost of club would be around $13,520, while the cost of college would range between a low of $48,720 to a high of $182,000, with the average cost of four years of college at one of the universities being around $126,000. This equates to an average cost savings per family of more than $105,000 per player, or an 832-percent increase on your club "investment." Even by attending UNR, the least expensive of these choices, a player who received a four year scholarship would save her parents over $35,000, a 260-percent increase over the four year cost of club participation at the highest competitive level.

Another often overlooked advantage of club volleyball participation is college entrance requirements for athletes. We all know that many top schools have literally thousands of applications more than available spots, and that entrance requirements-high school GPA and SAT scores-can be challenging for any student to meet. However, if a college coach is interested in an athlete joining his or her team, the coach can ensure that an athlete's transcript receives preferential treatment, including moving that person ahead of other applicants with higher GPAs and SAT scores.