Capital City Articles
The REAL Cost of Club Volleyball | By Steve George
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 Capital City VBC vs. the financial gain of attaining a college scholarship. In 2008, a player on the top 18s and 17s team will pay about $3,660; a top 16s and 15s player around $3,500. That figure includes dues, uniform, travel, 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 Capital City VBC players are now furthering their education, along with some other college institutions in the area:
| University of Nevada, Reno | $12,180 |
|---|---|
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | $14,188 |
| UC Davis | $26,243 |
| University of the Pacific | $38,330 |
| Santa Clara University | $45,500 |
| Arizona State University | $26,498 |
| Cornell University | $46,740 |
| University of Hartford | $36,488 |
| Hofstra University | $38,313 |
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.
Is everyone who participates with Capital City VBC guaranteed a college scholarship? Of course not, as there are many factors that will determine each individual player's ability to earn a college scholarship. However, Capital City VBC is also privileged to have a terrific coaching staff, which includes two former NCAA Division I coaches who were responsible for recruiting, along with many additional coaches who competed or coached at the college level. In fact, Capital City VBC has a dedicated College Recruiting Coordinator, Jim Saari, who served as the recruiting coordinator for several top level NCAA Division I programs.
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. Further, many former Capital City VBC players are attending Ivy League schools where it would have been nearly impossible for them to gain entrance without the benefit of being an athlete.
