Parent Resource · Printable Checklist
25 Questions to Ask Before You Join Any Travel Team
Print this. Bring it to your next tryout or club meeting. A good club will welcome these questions. That's a green flag in itself.
Most of these questions apply across all 8 sports we cover. A few are written separately for team sports versus dance and cheer, since "playing time" and "roster placement" work differently in each.
Cost & Contracts
The real number is rarely the one on the registration page. Get every line in writing before you commit.
- 01
What is the all-in cost for the season, not just registration, but uniforms (or costumes), travel, competition/tournament fees, choreography fees, and any "optional" add-ons?
- 02
Is there a payment plan, and what happens if we need to leave mid-season?
- 03
Are there mandatory fundraising requirements, and what's the dollar amount if we opt out?
- 04
Is the contract auto-renewing? How do we cancel before that happens?
- 05
Are uniforms or costumes purchased separately each season, and can any of it be reused?
Coaching & Development
A coach's title tells you less than their credentials, their track record, and how they actually run a practice.
- 06
What are the coach's/choreographer's actual certifications and background check status?
DANCE / CHEERDoes anyone running stunts or tumbling hold current USASF Safety certification?
- 07
How long has this coach worked with this age group specifically?
- 08
What does a typical practice look like, skill development, or just full run-throughs?
- 09
How is individual progress tracked or communicated to parents?
- 10
Is private/extra training (tumbling lessons, choreography sessions, etc.) pushed or required outside of regular practice?
Team Culture & Placement
How a club decides who plays, and who doesn't, reveals more about its values than any mission statement.
- 11Team Sports
Is playing time earned, equal, or role-based, and who decides?
Dance / CheerIs routine placement (front row, back row, stunt position, solo vs. group) based on skill, seniority, or something else?
- 12Team Sports
How does playing time in tournaments differ from regular season games?
Dance / CheerDoes the competition lineup ever differ from the practice lineup, and if so, why?
- 13Team Sports
If my child is benched, is there a development plan for that time?
Dance / CheerIf my child isn't placed in a routine or stunt group, is there a path to earn that spot later in the season?
- 14
How does the club handle conflicts between parents and coaches?
- 15
What's the program's actual philosophy: competition, development, or both?
Logistics & Commitment
Before you say yes, know exactly how many nights, weekends, and miles the season will actually demand.
- 16
How many practices and competitions/games per week, realistically, during peak season?
- 17
Are multi-sport or multi-activity kids supported, or is exclusivity required?
- 18
How far will we be expected to travel, and how often?
- 19
Are hotel blocks mandatory for away competitions/tournaments, and is there flexibility?
- 20
What's the actual season length? Does it bleed into "optional" off-season training?
Before You Sign
Get the promises in writing, a program that means them won't hesitate to put them on paper.
- 21
What is the refund policy if my child is injured or we need to leave?
- 22
Is there a tryout-to-roster guarantee, or can placement change mid-season?
- 23
How are placement decisions communicated, and is there an appeals process?
- 24
What do former families say when you ask them directly (not testimonials on the club's own site)?
- 25
Can I get all of this in writing, not just verbally promised?
Why This Matters
A good program answers these questions clearly and without defensiveness. It has nothing to hide and expects to be asked. Hesitation, vague answers, or pressure to "just sign now and we'll figure it out" are the real red flags. How a club responds to this list tells you more than anything on its website ever will.
Want the polished, printable version?
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Keep going
Use these alongside the checklist to pressure-test what a club tells you.