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The Weekly Receipt: Straight Talk for Travel Sports Parents
Short videos on what's really happening in youth travel sports. New episode every Wednesday at noon Central. Free and independent. Nobody pays me a dime.
Latest Episode
Moms Carry the Stress of Youth Sports Costs. A New Poll Shows It.
A 2026 Harris Poll for the nonprofit Good Sports found 38 percent of moms say youth sports costs stress them out, compared with 25 percent of dads. Here is the one number to ask your club for.
More Episodes
23 videosDid Your Club Ever Hand You the Full Price in Writing?
A New York bill would make clubs hand you the full price in writing before the season starts. A New Jersey bill would call mandatory tournament hotels consumer fraud. Neither has passed. Here is the question to ask in the meantime.
Everybody's Talking About Travel Sports. Who's Helping Parents?
Everybody is talking about what's wrong with travel sports. Almost nobody tells parents what to do before they sign. Here is why I built this site.
The College Door Just Shrank (New NCAA Rule)
The NCAA approved a new "5 in 5" eligibility rule starting with 2027-28 enrollees. Some college programs say that means fewer freshman roster spots. One question to ask your club: how are you handling the new NCAA rule?
Your Kid Has a Price Tag (Wall Street Just Noticed)
Investors put more than $2.1 billion into amateur sports in the first five months of 2026, more than all of last year (S&P Global, June 2026). One question to ask your club: who owns it?
A New Nike-Backed Youth Soccer Program. No Price. No Application.
A new Nike-backed youth soccer travel program launched with no published price and no application. If your club pitches it, ask: "What does it cost?" and "Who decides which kids go?"
Parents Just Sued Over Mandatory Tournament Hotels
Hockey parents filed a class action over stay-to-play hotel rules. The lawsuit's claims are allegations only, not proven in court. Before your next tournament, ask: "Is there a buyout?"
They Want You To Pay Just To Watch Your Own Kid Play
Ice time, gear, travel, and now some big operators charge families just to watch their own kid play.
Travel Sports Is Now a $40 Billion Industry. Check This Before You Pay Registration.
Youth sports costs are up 46% since 2019. Here are the red flags to check before you pay.
A Volleyball League Bought 90 Youth Clubs. Here's the Playbook.
A two-year-old, investor-backed volleyball league bought up about 90 youth clubs. Here's what parents should know.
How Much Does Travel Hockey Really Cost? The Number Nobody Adds Up
Nobody tells you the real all-in number before you sign. Here's how to add it up.
Youth Travel Sports Isn't a Meritocracy. It's a Filter.
Some of the best kids never play because their families can't afford the tryout.
Why I Built Travel Sports Truth (Nobody Pays Me a Dime)
After 14 years coaching travel sports, here's why I built the resource I wish parents had.
The Travel Sports Refund Policy That Isn't a Refund at All
In many travel sports contracts, you owe the full year even if your kid quits in October.
Why Parents Don't Read the Travel Sports Contract
You'd read reviews for a $40 toaster, but sign a $4,000 contract in five minutes.
The Fear Driving Youth Travel Sports
It's not your kid's love of the game driving the machine. It's the fear of falling behind.
Everybody Knew. Why Nobody Warns New Travel Sports Parents
The doubling costs, the tryout that isn't a tryout, the contract you can't escape. Everyone knows. Nobody says it.
Can You Leave a Travel Sports Club Mid-Season? Read This First
Before you leave mid-season, understand the release clause in the contract you signed.
The Off-Season Nobody Schedules
About half of youth sports injuries are overuse injuries, per the American Academy of Pediatrics. Rest matters.
Why Do Clubs Always Rush You to Sign?
The clipboard, the contract, the pen, and 30 seconds to commit thousands. Here's why.
The One Sentence Most Travel Sports Parents Miss in Their Contract
If your child gets hurt mid-season, many contracts say you still owe the full amount.
The Stay-to-Play Hotel Rule No One Warns You About
Some tournaments won't let your kid play unless you book through their required hotels.
Less Than 2% of Athletes Get a Scholarship. Here's the Real Number.
Fewer than 2 in 100 high school athletes receive any athletic scholarship money. Know the odds before you spend.
I Coached Youth Sports for 14 Years. Parents Find This Out Too Late.
What 14 years of coaching taught me that parents usually learn too late.