A Vent - Stand duty for sports

[DizBelle]

People may not like this answer, but...

My understanding if I am reading all the responses correctly is that 1) Parents are required to give 90 minutes to the concession stand during the course of the season and 2) This is known when they sign up and this particular parent even signed a form agreeing to it. I'd say absolutely remind her of these two things. You might also remind her of the times you have helped her out.

If she refuses and if this then affects you, the coach or the team, tell her to find another team. This of course only works if you are not a competitive team that needs her daughter.

If she was aware of this requirement and refuses to do it thus causing an issue for the team then boot them off the team. Just my two cents.

Dear Ms. Smarty-Pants,

We are sorry that your daughter will be unable to remain a member of the softball league this season since she is unable to meet the requirements of league membership. Enclosed is a refund of the league fee.

Have a nice season!

 

[clutter]

As for the consequences of her not working the stand, when she registers next year or for fall ball she is going to be made to pay $50 on top of her registration. She will only receive $25 back if she works the stand next year. The other $25 will be kept by the association. She knows this tho as it was in the registration papers that she had to sign to sign her daughter up. I guess she doesn't care? Who knows.

Just email her back with this info, and ask her to confirm that this is what she is doing so you can re-assign her spot.

 

[LisaNJ25]

What do you when people genuinely have to work during these game times? Or if someone isn't well?

I did work the concession this past year and we worked hard. The volunteers there the first time I worked had never done it before so I was a bit put out when the person in charge started yelling at us for not doing certain things right. You should at least be nice to "volunteers". Oh, we broke records for making the most money during that shift.

This mandatory volunteering stuff is pretty amusing.

Yikes... honestly I would of walked out.

 

[JustineMarie]

It's not a big deal to you -- maybe it's just something you're interested in.

I used to spend a lot of hours a week volunteering in reading programs for kids in the schools. That benefited a lot of kids as well. But I sure don't consider people FLAKES for not being interested in that type of volunteering. Working in a concession stand for an hour and a half would be miserable for me.

I'm actually not interested in working the stands but I understood that they were the rules when I signed my daughter up. I am personally not supposed to work the stand bc my husband is a coach, but I have bc I felt that it wasn't fair to make the parents work more than the 1 1/2 hrs that is required of them, that they knew about when signing their child up.

I can understand that working in a stand can be miserable for some people, I don't love it. It takes my time away from somehting else I could be doing and enjoying BUT I also knew that I needed to work it when I signed my daughter up.

Not only that but there are 8 other dates that the lady can choose to work and she is choosing not too. That's fine, but that's not what she agreed to and she is going to have to work it out with the association.

I didn't call anyone a flake?

I did email her back saying that I have her paperwork stating that she understood that by not paying the 25$ fee this year that she was agreeing to work the concession stand for a minimum of 90 minutes. I let her know that I had forwarded her emails and that the association will be handling all other communication about this matter. She emailed me back that she was going to see if her ex-husband would be able to work it. She said she didn't think to ask him if he could work it before she emailed me. Then she asked me if my husband could drop her daughter off after the game tonite! She said that she doesn't feel like staying the whole game bc they are so boring!

 

[castleview]

The concession stand thing is getting ridiculous. Here you have to work a four hour shift per kid or pay $50 for not working. Personally, I think it's ridiculous they turned this thing into a mini-restaurant just so they could pay for unnecessary trophies and countless tournaments.

 

[klj27]

It is funny how differently so many people can see the same situation. I am taken aback that people aren't willing to volunteer in an organization that is for their kids. Maybe it is because different organizations use the money differently, but ours is used to pay the umps, maintain the fields, get gym time, buy uniforms and equipment. Everyone in our Athletic Association is a volunteer. How could I tell them that I have no intention of volunteering an hour and a half when they are spending hours coaching my son or running the organization.

 

[jrmasm]

The concession stand thing is getting ridiculous. Here you have to work a four hour shift per kid or pay $50 for not working. Personally, I think it's ridiculous they turned this thing into a mini-restaurant just so they could pay for unnecessary trophies and countless tournaments.

I think you got off lucky. I have to pay $50 AND work.

Don't worry, I make my husband do it.

 

[jen0610]

The concession stand thing is getting ridiculous. Here you have to work a four hour shift per kid or pay $50 for not working. Personally, I think it's ridiculous they turned this thing into a mini-restaurant just so they could pay for unnecessary trophies and countless tournaments.

You need to go to your board of directors and ask to see a copy of the expense and budget ledger.

You would be suprised at what it costs to run a well oiled baseball leaue. I know the cost I paid for each kid - did not even come close to covering the INSURANCE cost that had to be in place for each child. Those umps, that come from a certified Ump agency, those cost. That was all covered by the profits from the fundraisers and money off of the consession stands.

And then it came time to making tournament teams - that cost ME money to buy the uniform and pictures. It was my dime spent on gas to get her there, hotel costs (if needed), food for her to eat while there. The league doesn't pay any of that. It's all outta pocket to the parents who's kids are chosen.

 

[castleview]

You need to go to your board of directors and ask to see a copy of the expense and budget ledger.

You would be suprised at what it costs to run a well oiled baseball leaue. I know the cost I paid for each kid - did not even come close to covering the INSURANCE cost that had to be in place for each child. Those umps, that come from a certified Ump agency, those cost. That was all covered by the profits from the fundraisers and money off of the consession stands.

And then it came time to making tournament teams - that cost ME money to buy the uniform and pictures. It was my dime spent on gas to get her there, hotel costs (if needed), food for her to eat while there. The league doesn't pay any of that. It's all outta pocket to the parents who's kids are chosen.

I'm on the P&R board. I know how much goes into running the league because we sponsor them, insure them and see that the street dept. maintains the fields. As a board, we also see that both the boys and girls leagues get a $2,500 stipend each. Our concession stand pulls in close to $15,000 a summer. Many parents have said they really don't think their children need yet another trophy. The parents of 5-6 yr. olds really don't care if their kid plays a game under the lights (that means past bedtime for most). Those cost money.

This is not a slight to your daughter, but I question the validity of a lot of these tournaments. If it's all about participating and getting a chance to play someone else, then great. But whenever I hear that our travel team needs more practice time or insurance coverage for travel because they are "chosen" to play in a tournament that's going to cost $$$, I wonder.

Either way - if your kid is playing at that advanced level, it's not the responsibility of a parent of a T-ball player who has two younger kids to look after to work a four hour shift in order to cover their expenses.


Sorry if I got off topic, but our league is seeing a decline in numbers at the rec level and I think it's because they are so focused on funding and filling up the travel teams (which is a small percentage). You need a good rec base to have advanced teams, so you don't want to tick off/overwhelm the newer, younger parents. Eventually, there will be no travel team without them.

 

[luvmy3]

The concession stand thing is getting ridiculous. Here you have to work a four hour shift per kid or pay $50 for not working. Personally, I think it's ridiculous they turned this thing into a mini-restaurant just so they could pay for unnecessary trophies and countless tournaments.

4 hours per kid? There is no way, I know people who have 5 kids playing

I think you got off lucky. I have to pay $50 AND work.

Don't worry, I make my husband do it.

You don't get that back if you show up? If thats the case, working the concession should be an option, not a requirement along with having to pay them.

 

[Cooky]

.

 

[klj27]

I'm on the P&R board. I know how much goes into running the league because we sponsor them, insure them and see that the street dept. maintains the fields. As a board, we also see that both the boys and girls leagues get a $2,500 stipend each. Our concession stand pulls in close to $15,000 a summer. Many parents have said they really don't think their children need yet another trophy. The parents of 5-6 yr. olds really don't care if their kid plays a game under the lights (that means past bedtime for most). Those cost money.

This is not a slight to your daughter, but I question the validity of a lot of these tournaments. If it's all about participating and getting a chance to play someone else, then great. But whenever I hear that our travel team needs more practice time or insurance coverage for travel because they are "chosen" to play in a tournament that's going to cost $$$, I wonder.

Either way - if your kid is playing at that advanced level, it's not the responsibility of a parent of a T-ball player who has two younger kids to look after to work a four hour shift in order to cover their expenses.


Sorry if I got off topic, but our league is seeing a decline in numbers at the rec level and I think it's because they are so focused on funding and filling up the travel teams (which is a small percentage). You need a good rec base to have advanced teams, so you don't want to tick off/overwhelm the newer, younger parents. Eventually, there will be no travel team without them.

This illustrates exactly what I was saying. Sometime there are so many disagreements on the dis because people are arguing two different things. Our league is not a traveling/select league. The only people who get trophies are the division champs (which I am fine with) and those times when my sons have been on teams where everyone got a trophy I later found out it was because the coach purchased them out of their own funds.

 

[jrmasm]

4 hours per kid? There is no way, I know people who have 5 kids playing



You don't get that back if you show up? If thats the case, working the concession should be an option, not a requirement along with having to pay them.

Nope. We have to pay the fee and work the stand. Not sure what would happen if we didn't.

 

[castleview]

4 hours per kid? There is no way, I know people who have 5 kids playing

.

That's how it all came to P&R's attention. One woman with five kids whose 6 yr. old as playing T-ball was told she had to work a shift during her son's game (which was at another park) or pay $50. Her husband travelled for work and she was not from the area. Hence, no family to help out. Technically, P&R doesn't want to tell the leagues how to run themselves, but since some of us were parents of kids in the league, we stepped in.

 

[C.Ann]

Two things that would bother me - the term "mandatory" - and having someone else schedule when my mandatory shift was going to be..

Back when DD played softball, I volunteered for the concession stand.. It was one of the most miserable experiences of my life.. The other workers were rude, pushy, bossy, and unwilling to take the time to show me (as well as another mom) exactly what it was that we were supposed to do.. Needless to say, I never volunteered again..

There is so much about organized kids sports today that I find unnecessary - and sometimes even ridiculous - but that's for another thread..

If this mother doesn't fulfill the mandatory time that you have assigned her, what are the consequences? If the consequences are something that she is willing to accept, I don't see where there's much that you can do about it..

 

[RitaE]

It is funny how differently so many people can see the same situation. I am taken aback that people aren't willing to volunteer in an organization that is for their kids. Maybe it is because different organizations use the money differently, but ours is used to pay the umps, maintain the fields, get gym time, buy uniforms and equipment. Everyone in our Athletic Association is a volunteer. How could I tell them that I have no intention of volunteering an hour and a half when they are spending hours coaching my son or running the organization.

Taken aback?

Maybe it is because my oldest son is 20 and my youngest is 7 .... but frankly I am just about "volunteered and fundraised" out. My husband and I have coached, we have tutored, we have mentored, we have collected tickets at the gate, we have chaperoned, we have sold everything from overpriced wrapping paper to rubber ducks that float down a river and you hope yours wins!!!! Frankly, it never ends and every time a parent turns around anymore there is somebody else standing there wanting my time, my money, or both all in the name of "but it's for the kids!"

I'm over the "if you loved your children you wouldn't mind....." thing. It doesn't work on me anymore.

Yeah, let me pay some extra money and hire a 13 year old kid to hawk the Bubbleiscious and Tab soda. I want to sit and watch the game.

 

[jen0610]

I'm on the P&R board. I know how much goes into running the league because we sponsor them, insure them and see that the street dept. maintains the fields. As a board, we also see that both the boys and girls leagues get a $2,500 stipend each. Our concession stand pulls in close to $15,000 a summer. Many parents have said they really don't think their children need yet another trophy. The parents of 5-6 yr. olds really don't care if their kid plays a game under the lights (that means past bedtime for most). Those cost money.

This is not a slight to your daughter, but I question the validity of a lot of these tournaments. If it's all about participating and getting a chance to play someone else, then great. But whenever I hear that our travel team needs more practice time or insurance coverage for travel because they are "chosen" to play in a tournament that's going to cost $$$, I wonder.

Either way - if your kid is playing at that advanced level, it's not the responsibility of a parent of a T-ball player who has two younger kids to look after to work a four hour shift in order to cover their expenses.


Sorry if I got off topic, but our league is seeing a decline in numbers at the rec level and I think it's because they are so focused on funding and filling up the travel teams (which is a small percentage). You need a good rec base to have advanced teams, so you don't want to tick off/overwhelm the newer, younger parents. Eventually, there will be no travel team without them.

Ours isn't a travel league, nor is it a league ran by the Parks and Rec Board of the city. It's Little League Baseball. The 13 year olds are trying to make it onto the team that tries to play in the Little League World Series you see on TV. The tournments are what gets these kids there. You make the All Star Team, which some of the All Star Teams are put together at the begining of the year, but our league doesn't do that. The best 12 players, 3 from each of the 4 teams are pulled an combine for playing beyond the regular season. Your kid makes the team - you foot the bill for them to keep playing. Now the further your teams goes, the League - your site, your district, and your state - will kick in funds to help, but the in state tournment cost are all yours.

A friend of my DD's plays in a Rec and Travel League, not thru the city, and luckly for that league, they have a former player that is now a Major League Manager, that donates money every year to the league. It's earmarked for an additional expense that travel teams may incur.

Around here, it cost more to play in the city's Park and Rec league then it does any of the little leagues. The two of little league softball programs here, actually play their games on P&R diamonds and there is are only port a potties at these fields and no snack stand. It was a shock to most of the parents the first time they played there, because they are use to being able to buy the girls their Gaterade and Big League Chew gum at the snack stand to support the league.

 

[castleview]

Ours isn't a travel league, nor is it a league ran by the Parks and Rec Board of the city. It's Little League Baseball. The 13 year olds are trying to make it onto the team that tries to play in the Little League World Series you see on TV. The tournments are what gets these kids there. You make the All Star Team, which some of the All Star Teams are put together at the begining of the year, but our league doesn't do that. The best 12 players, 3 from each of the 4 teams are pulled an combine for playing beyond the regular season. Your kid makes the team - you foot the bill for them to keep playing. Now the further your teams goes, the League - your site, your district, and your state - will kick in funds to help, but the in state tournment cost are all yours.

A friend of my DD's plays in a Rec and Travel League, not thru the city, and luckly for that league, they have a former player that is now a Major League Manager, that donates money every year to the league. It's earmarked for an additional expense that travel teams may incur.

Around here, it cost more to play in the city's Park and Rec league then it does any of the little leagues. The two of little league softball programs here, actually play their games on P&R diamonds and there is are only port a potties at these fields and no snack stand. It was a shock to most of the parents the first time they played there, because they are use to being able to buy the girls their Gaterade and Big League Chew gum at the snack stand to support the league.

I'm hoping ours goes back to Little League. We have so many independent leagues that seem to only benefit the future high school players.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Honestly- I do not want to work anything when my kids play sports. I want to watch them play! I pay for them to be in whatever league. It's not cheap and even still I would rather pay more then be forced to sell hot dogs. I have 5 children- so if one is playing I still have to tend to the others and they also like to watch their sibling play. It is a family event for us. As far as it "being for the kids!" I volunteer at school for a ton of things. I am even on the PTA board. I simply feel that if I am paying for an activity then I shouldn't have to work at it too. This is extra curricular that I pay a lot for.

 

[MushyMushy]

Taken aback?

Maybe it is because my oldest son is 20 and my youngest is 7 .... but frankly I am just about "volunteered and fundraised" out. My husband and I have coached, we have tutored, we have mentored, we have collected tickets at the gate, we have chaperoned, we have sold everything from overpriced wrapping paper to rubber ducks that float down a river and you hope yours wins!!!! Frankly, it never ends and every time a parent turns around anymore there is somebody else standing there wanting my time, my money, or both all in the name of "but it's for the kids!"

I'm over the "if you loved your children you wouldn't mind....." thing. It doesn't work on me anymore.

Yeah, let me pay some extra money and hire a 13 year old kid to hawk the Bubbleiscious and Tab soda. I want to sit and watch the game.

Exactly!

I think the kids would be just as happy without all the uniforms, fancy equipment, bleachers on the fields, paid umps, etc. Why have these sports become so time consuming and all-encompassing?