Try out fee

[SoftballDadDave]

A $20-$50 tryout fee is common in Minnesota for fastpitch tryouts. A few don't charge, however, but they are the exception, not the rule.

 

[HunterMO]

For hockey, tryout fees for travel programs are very common. Anywhere from $50 to $150. Depending on the org, some goes back to the organization/team fee (if you make the team) or a partial refund (if you don't make it).

I believe almost all baseball organizations around here charge a $20 - $50 tryout fee. I know some parents will pay it and use the tryout as an opportunity to see how their player stacks up to the rest of the talent pool. Small fee to get a workout in and evaluate your player.

In our region for softball, I've only seen a tryout fee once or twice in the 6 years DD has been playing. But, we're also not a large metropolis where the player pool is larger. The tire kicking is less an issue here. And at the older ages/higher skill levels the teams are pretty well set. Not a lot of player movement. A team may only need to replace 1-2 players a season. At which point the coaches have already likely identified the replacement(s) without need of a tryout.

 

[JayW]

They already have a kid chosen who didn't pay the tryout fee. It's a fundraiser like standing in front of the grocery store with a bucket.