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Have you bought a baseball glove for your Little Leaguer lately? Did you pay more than $100 for it?
How about a $250 bat?
A New York Times story headlined "Big Price Tags Attached to Even the Littlest Leagues," looks at the big business of equipping youngsters for participation in youth baseball and softball leagues, quoting those costs and more.
"A batting helmet protects tiny heads for $39.99," the Times reports. "A pair of Nike Jordan Black Cat cleats will make your child fast and fashionable at $51.99 until he or she outgrows them."
So what do you think? Has the cost of bats and gloves taken our kids too far from the simpler days of sandlot and playground ballgames? Or have you had better luck finding more modestly-priced equipment somewhere in Douglasville?
Suzanne Caricari
10:12 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
If you want to be the best you buy the best. You can still go to Walmart to buy a cheap bat & cleats.
James Blank
10:38 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
um, 10 years ago 5 year old rec cheerleading cost more than that in Douglas County. I was such a sucker-I even got up and waited in the dark to register my kid and paid a bunch of money thinking I would get the best. Instead I got a waste of time and a basket full of crazy. Our Rec Team modeled: win at any cost, winning is all that matters, public humiliating/bullying losers is natural, if you aren't perfect or someone important's child you have no worth...basically it was EVERYTHING I stand AGAINST.
And yes, I took my experience to the top and the response was - each park is responsible for their own leadership - and that is just the way it is. The bottom line is - carefully research the rec teams to make sure you find a good fit for your family values. We found that we receive more value and better VALUES in a private training facility.
Kelli Hindsman
10:18 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
When will the parents learn that it's not the equipment that makes the kid a better player? A child becomes the player that he is because of practice, one on one lessons, and striving / wanting to be a better player.
My child is 7, has been playing since he was 3...currently he plays with a $2 glove that was purchased at a yard sale and a $30 bat (originally $100 but managed to get it on sale) and is one of the better kids on his team.
Parents these days think that just because they purchase expensive equipment that it's going to make their kid a great player. Why don't they try working with their kid, make sure they are at practice, and most importantly...make sure their kid WANTS to play the game!
Cindy Brown
11:33 am on Thursday, April 26, 2012
We get our equipment off eBay, usually half price. I have started donating equipment my son's outgrown to the local rec league.
D J
2:10 pm on Friday, April 27, 2012
What is really sad about the expense and especially the fees is that the people who that do not have the money to throw away can not let their "talented" kids participate. What a waste and shame on the counties for not having a "real" rec department.
TMcKenney
3:16 pm on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Yes, we have paid for those expensive equipment and travel baseball fees. If you child wants to play and you can wrap it into a birthday gift, chores around the house, saving money, or christmas presents then it is worth it to us. If they are playing because they LOVE the sport.... it is worth the cost hands down.