Can someone explain why teen kids need to fundraise $1,000 for a public school sport?

[Anonymous]

Some sports, like crew and dance, get no funding in FCPS. They’re entirely self funded.

[Anonymous]

Our teams are not always funded by the school. Crew for example is a parent run club that has to raise all of its own funding. Other teams are given minimal funding, but it they want to participate in a tournament that requires travel expenses, they have to fundraise to do it, just as marching bands have to fundraise to support band camp. Lost of clubs and activities have some level of self-funding.

[Anonymous]

My primary extracurricular had to raise money when we won at state and got sent to nationals back in the aughts. This really isn't that unusual.

I wonder who you're accusing of being "tacky." It SOUNDS like the kids who acknowledged relatives had already donated, but surely you can't possibly mean it.

[Anonymous]

DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Districts don't fully fund sports. Even FCPS high schools have booster clubs to make up the difference

Can you please define why you mean by this. I really have no idea. Where exactly is the booster money going? What happens if they didn’t raise the money? This sounds like extras, like it goes towards an end of season party and personalized gear? I can’t imagine a season being cancelled because the soccer or swim team didn’t raise enough money.

Uniforms and equipment are the biggest expenses for our school's lacrosse team

If a school is rich enough to have a lacrosse team, let them budget for uniforms, for pete's sake.

What are you talking about? Every school in FCPS has a lacrosse team x

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

If parents want kids to do things like this, they should be prepared to pay. I'd pay whatever my kids expenses were. I mean, all throughout youth sports, parents pay happily. Why should it be different in HS? I think in most sports there is an expectation that the school covers somewhere between some and all of the cost but if its not all covered, just pretend its another club sport and write a check for you part of the costs.

I just don't do fundraisers, sorry. Just get the amount needed for each player from each player. If the cost is $2000 and there are 10 kids...bring your $200 or don't come on the trip.

And I think the first thing to do in cases where its known funds will be needed is to have a participation fee. Pay to play. Then any travel or unusual expenses can be collected later.

[Anonymous]

Said just like a rich person without regard to the teammates who cannot afford to pay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

If parents want kids to do things like this, they should be prepared to pay. I'd pay whatever my kids expenses were. I mean, all throughout youth sports, parents pay happily. Why should it be different in HS? I think in most sports there is an expectation that the school covers somewhere between some and all of the cost but if its not all covered, just pretend its another club sport and write a check for you part of the costs.

I just don't do fundraisers, sorry. Just get the amount needed for each player from each player. If the cost is $2000 and there are 10 kids...bring your $200 or don't come on the trip.

And I think the first thing to do in cases where its known funds will be needed is to have a participation fee. Pay to play. Then any travel or unusual expenses can be collected later.

Handy how your system keeps poor kids from participating with yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

If parents want kids to do things like this, they should be prepared to pay. I'd pay whatever my kids expenses were. I mean, all throughout youth sports, parents pay happily. Why should it be different in HS? I think in most sports there is an expectation that the school covers somewhere between some and all of the cost but if its not all covered, just pretend its another club sport and write a check for you part of the costs.

I just don't do fundraisers, sorry. Just get the amount needed for each player from each player. If the cost is $2000 and there are 10 kids...bring your $200 or don't come on the trip.

And I think the first thing to do in cases where its known funds will be needed is to have a participation fee. Pay to play. Then any travel or unusual expenses can be collected later.

Handy how your system keeps poor kids from participating with yours.

+1. My kids' school is about half free and reduced meals. I guess PP thinks that should be the first cut the coach makes at tryouts. We have boosters for every team and the expectation is that those who can pay do pay and that everyone able to volunteer volunteers. It seems to work pretty well

[Anonymous]

It is for the families who can’t afford to pay out of pocket. Obviously they don’t want to single those kids out, so they have everyone participate. I would think of it that way, when asked to donate (you are helping to pay for a family who can’t afford, even if it is an UMC kid doing the asking). Often parents have the option of just writing a check for the “goal amount” (and this is what we choose to do, if we have the option) but sometimes parents want their kids to do the “work” of fundraising even if they can afford to just write the check. Either way, it usually all goes into the same pot (for the team, not earmarked for a particular player).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

If parents want kids to do things like this, they should be prepared to pay. I'd pay whatever my kids expenses were. I mean, all throughout youth sports, parents pay happily. Why should it be different in HS? I think in most sports there is an expectation that the school covers somewhere between some and all of the cost but if its not all covered, just pretend its another club sport and write a check for you part of the costs.

I just don't do fundraisers, sorry. Just get the amount needed for each player from each player. If the cost is $2000 and there are 10 kids...bring your $200 or don't come on the trip.

And I think the first thing to do in cases where its known funds will be needed is to have a participation fee. Pay to play. Then any travel or unusual expenses can be collected later.

But it isn’t a travel team- it is a public school where all should be able to participate if they make the team. That would not be fair.

I also despise fundraising. The best way I have seen this handled was for an overnight field trip for my kid’s elementary school (a long time ago). A letter was sent to parents saying “cost is $250 per kid, please make check out to xyz. If you are willing to donate extra for a child whose family cannot afford the cost, we would be very appreciative ” I am sure it was written more eloquently and I can’t remember the exact dollar amounts, but many families just donated/paid an extra $50-$100 etc and it worked out. I wish sports would do this, and save us all the fundraising headaches. The only person who would have to know who did/didn’t pay would be the person collecting the $.

[Anonymous]

Oh boy…do I have opinions on this! Yes, high school sports are so messed up. In so many ways. It’s far different than when you grew up, OP.

But, to answer your question Our affluent district does NOT fund sports. There is some money in the budget (field maintenance and facilities), but all extra’s get paid for by booster club and team fundraising. Uniforms, transportation, equipment, balls, scoreboard replacement, and many field improvements- many of these larger items are funded by booster clubs).

Your niece & nephew are required to hit up friends/family. My kid’s team just sat in the gym during practice and the coach made all players send out these emails. They probably don’t care if you donate or not (although are touched if you do!) They’re most likely extremely embarrassed to send you the emails, and are praying you don’t think it’s too cringy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD was fundraising to cover travel expenses to a tournament the school will not pay for (hotel and dinner). Some girls didn’t participate at all in the fundraising and some only raised $50. Each player had a goal of $500. We didn’t need this much money from each player but because some just didn’t participate others had to make up the difference.

If parents want kids to do things like this, they should be prepared to pay. I'd pay whatever my kids expenses were. I mean, all throughout youth sports, parents pay happily. Why should it be different in HS? I think in most sports there is an expectation that the school covers somewhere between some and all of the cost but if its not all covered, just pretend its another club sport and write a check for you part of the costs.

I just don't do fundraisers, sorry. Just get the amount needed for each player from each player. If the cost is $2000 and there are 10 kids...bring your $200 or don't come on the trip.

And I think the first thing to do in cases where its known funds will be needed is to have a participation fee. Pay to play. Then any travel or unusual expenses can be collected later.

But it isn’t a travel team- it is a public school where all should be able to participate if they make the team. That would not be fair.

I also despise fundraising. The best way I have seen this handled was for an overnight field trip for my kid’s elementary school (a long time ago). A letter was sent to parents saying “cost is $250 per kid, please make check out to xyz. If you are willing to donate extra for a child whose family cannot afford the cost, we would be very appreciative ” I am sure it was written more eloquently and I can’t remember the exact dollar amounts, but many families just donated/paid an extra $50-$100 etc and it worked out. I wish sports would do this, and save us all the fundraising headaches. The only person who would have to know who did/didn’t pay would be the person collecting the $.

Punching bag PP here...This would be reasonable. I would even likely contribute. And for the peanut gallery, I'm not wealthy but I have enough to pay for basic extracurricular expenses without engaging in a dog and pony show. I'm not opposed to fundraising, I'm only opposed to forced fundraising. I'm happy to pay my kids cost. You want to fundraise, fine, but my kid isn't costing the team money so I'm not doing it. Except for contributions I might make. I'm not working, sending emails, sending letters, pounding pavement, asking, begging or anything else.

[Anonymous]

Think of the high school booster clubs as mini PTAs for athletics, music, whatever. They fundraise to supplement the basics provided by the school/county budget.

In our school, there are some big-ticket items that the boosters have funded for the athletic trainer, but they also cover things like paying for students in need to have the same boxed dinner as their other teammates for away games, and even charter buses if the opposing school is especially far away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh boy…do I have opinions on this! Yes, high school sports are so messed up. In so many ways. It’s far different than when you grew up, OP.

But, to answer your question Our affluent district does NOT fund sports. There is some money in the budget (field maintenance and facilities), but all extra’s get paid for by booster club and team fundraising. Uniforms, transportation, equipment, balls, scoreboard replacement, and many field improvements- many of these larger items are funded by booster clubs).

Your niece & nephew are required to hit up friends/family. My kid’s team just sat in the gym during practice and the coach made all players send out these emails. They probably don’t care if you donate or not (although are touched if you do!) They’re most likely extremely embarrassed to send you the emails, and are praying you don’t think it’s too cringy.

Our FCPS teams do fundraising months before kids even find out if they’ve made the team. Freshman parents really hop to it. Minimum $300 expected. Ridiculous.