No, I'm not an owner or deputy director of a club. I'm a parent who's been with the same club a long time and I appreciate the director's honest communication. Like most of you, we've been sitting in hotels with kids running around because a tournament was cancelled after five rain drops or strong wind on one day, but perfectly great weather the next morning as we're checking out. The tournament organizers never reschedule, issue credits or refunds. It would be great if they did in this instance, and clubs passed that savings on, but asking for a refund would be asking your club to take a loss because it's money they've also already paid or that's due. And, if a club doesn't pay a tournament organizer, I'm sure that club won't be allowed to sign up for any future tourneys.

Our club director doesn’t even reply to parent emails so it’s very unlikely we will ever see a refund.

I agree we can't keep every small business afloat but this is already spent money. I am sure most clubs will try to do right by their families. If there are refunds or credits for things they've already spent money on (tournaments, etc) I am sure they will pass them on in terms of future credit and/or refunds to families. Even the best of these clubs still run on very slim margins and you can't draw blood from a stone. Be patient and trust in good faith. That is what will get us all through. If you don't think your club will treat you with good faith, you probably need to look for a new club anyway.

^^ You must either own, or be a Deputy Director of, one of these clubs.

You must be at a club that you didn't really value before this pandemic or your child wasn't progressing as quickly as you thought they would.

We can’t keep everyone in business
As small businesses go, these clubs aren’t at the top of my list.
They are hardly the best examples of valuable small businesses.
They feed on parental insecurities and some of them actually kinda suck.

I will pursue refunds.

The fees you are speaking of due to the club are likely already paid - but if there is no season the clubs will likely get some credit at tournaments in the fall, and they won't pay for field space or coaches - you should not expect a full refund but the clubs should do something for these families.

Absolutely not. The travel leagues and tournaments must be planned years in advance and the Clubs have already paid for those expenses. The tournaments may give some credit to the Clubs, but they don't give refunds. These Clubs operate like any other small business. Please pay your fees and keep them in business.

Anonymous wrote:If all spring league games and summer tournaments are cancelled, I would assume fees will be refunded to the club. Those should absolutely be refunded.

Meat to say the refunds should absolutely be passed on to parents

If all spring league games and summer tournaments are cancelled, I would assume fees will be refunded to the club. Those should absolutely be refunded.

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn't and you should not ask them to if you want these clubs, which are businesses, to stay viable. Club sports are, for the most part, small businesses. Small businesses wont survive this pandemic and shut down if their patrons dont supprt them and that means not asking for or expecting refunds. Having to refund all players fees will result in these club having to close down.

Please thingk this through. Getting a small refund, for the cost of a league or a tournament, if the league or tournament has given refunds, should be passed on to you but the overall fees should not.

- Club Lax Parent

It is ridiculous to imply that asking about refunds means you don’t support small businesses. Some of these club LAX parents are small business owners, too, and their families have been hit hard by this situation as well. Nobody is trying to put clubs out of business by inquiring about refunds. However, club fees pay for things like field space and coaching that will likely not be fully paid out by the club. Why shouldn’t families have savings passed on to them during this hard financial time?

Any cost savings they receive as a result of no games and tournaments and practices should absolutely be passed on. They should not be profiting from this - And they must have some cost savings.
If they want to send a detailed email about how they are continuing to pay all coaches, etc, then fine. BUT just keeping the money is not ok.

We are not all wealthy. Some of us do club sports for our kids despite not being super wealthy. The burden should not be entirely borne by the player families.

Anonymous wrote:They shouldn't and you should not ask them to if you want these clubs, which are businesses, to stay viable. Club sports are, for the most part, small businesses. Small businesses wont survive this pandemic and shut down if their patrons dont supprt them and that means not asking for or expecting refunds. Having to refund all players fees will result in these club having to close down.

Please thingk this through. Getting a small refund, for the cost of a league or a tournament, if the league or tournament has given refunds, should be passed on to you but the overall fees should not.

- Club Lax Parent

+1

They shouldn't and you should not ask them to if you want these clubs, which are businesses, to stay viable. Club sports are, for the most part, small businesses. Small businesses wont survive this pandemic and shut down if their patrons dont supprt them and that means not asking for or expecting refunds. Having to refund all players fees will result in these club having to close down.

Please thingk this through. Getting a small refund, for the cost of a league or a tournament, if the league or tournament has given refunds, should be passed on to you but the overall fees should not.

- Club Lax Parent

Who is giving any refunds?
Pride?
Stars?
It seems like pride may refund some money. But sounds like it won’t be a lot.