So much has changed over the decades in regards to what is provided versus what the student has to pay for. As as student all I needed was a glove (and cleats)... basketball you needed shoes... the same for football. From my perspective sports are becoming more exclusive year by year. An example of this is my DDs high school. Tens of thousands raised on the backs of player fundraising. Why does a high school team need that kind of money - seems excessive ?
The only thing I require of players is a glove and cleats, and we have a bunch of team gloves players can use until they get their own. We currently have no fees*, and the only monetary contribution they need to make is to sell a single box of candy.
One thing I forgot in my first response: Every new HS player gets a sweatshirt with their name/number on the back once they sell that first box of candy. We essentially break even on fundraising for that player that first year (unless they opt to sell more), but our fundraising is mostly so I can get us a fancy new bat each year or for some of those extra goodies since the school is good about paying for the stuff we really need.