By Coach Carlos | Olympic Athlete, Club Owner & Performance Coach
Most parents underestimate club volleyball costs by 50% or more.
I know this because I run a club. I see the shock on parents’ faces when they realize what they’ve actually signed up for.
Three months into the season, the complaints start:
But by then, you’re locked in. No refunds. No escape.
Here’s the truth nobody tells you at tryouts.
Your club says: $3,500 for the season.
Sounds expensive. You budget for it. You commit.
Then reality hits.
That $3,500 is just the entry fee to a much more expensive game.
Club Fees: $2,500 – $8,000
Travel Expenses: $3,000 – $10,000+
Gear & Equipment: $500 – $1,000
Additional Training: $500 – $3,000
Miscellaneous: $500 – $1,000
Let that sink in.
And that’s for ONE child. Have two playing? Double it.
That’s why some families realize mid-season the costs are too high. Some consider dropping out. And a few actually do it—even though there are no refunds, even though it disappoints their child, even though the team is counting on them.
Because they literally can’t afford to continue.
These numbers vary significantly by region:
West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington): Higher club fees, more national travel, expensive hotels. Average total: $12,000-20,000
Midwest (Ohio, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin): Moderate fees, regional tournaments, manageable travel. Average total: $8,000-14,000
South (Texas, Florida, Georgia): Wide range, competitive pricing, varies by metro vs. rural. Average total: $7,000-15,000
Northeast (New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey): Higher costs overall, expensive venues, urban expenses. Average total: $10,000-18,000
Your location matters. A lot.
Here are the hidden costs nobody mentions at tryouts:
1. Tournament schedules come out AFTER you commit.
You don’t know where you’re traveling until you’ve already paid.
That tournament in Vegas? Orlando? San Diego?
Surprise. Hope your budget can handle a $2,000 weekend.
2. “All tournaments are mandatory.”
Miss one? Your child sits the next tournament. Or gets cut.
No flexibility. No exceptions. No refunds.
3. Hotel blocks “fill up fast.”
Translation: You’re paying $250/night for a hotel 30 minutes from the venue because the club block is full.
4. Meals add up faster than you think.
$15 breakfast. $20 lunch. $30 dinner. Times 3 days. Times 10 tournaments.
That’s $2,000 in food alone.
5. Other children pay a price too.
Your younger kids spend every weekend in gyms. They miss their activities. Your family life revolves around one child’s volleyball.
That’s a cost too. Just not a financial one.
I’m not saying don’t do club volleyball.
I’m saying: Know what you’re actually committing to.
Because here’s what happens when families don’t prepare:
The club volleyball experience you paid for becomes the source of your family’s worst stress.
1. Calculate the REAL cost before tryouts.
Don’t just budget for club fees. Budget for the full amount.
Use this formula:
That’s your real number.
Can you afford it without stress? Be honest.
2. Ask the hard questions BEFORE committing.
At tryouts, ask:
Get answers in writing.
3. Factor in regional realities.
Research your region’s typical costs. Talk to parents from previous years.
Don’t believe club marketing. Believe parents’ bank statements.
4. Decide what you’re willing to sacrifice.
Something has to give. Maybe it’s:
Be intentional about the tradeoff. Make it consciously, not by accident.
5. Plan payment strategy.
6. Know your “stop loss” number.
Decide in advance: “If costs exceed $X, we’re done.”
Having that number protects you from sunk cost fallacy.
“We’ve already spent $8,000… we can’t quit now…”
Yes, you can. Protecting your family’s financial health is more important than finishing a season.
Here’s something else nobody talks about:
Boys club volleyball often costs LESS than girls.
Why?
But also:
The cost-benefit equation is different. Factor that in.
As a club owner and club parent myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the financial stretch club volleyball involves for families.
Here’s what I can tell you:
If you’re willing to invest in club volleyball and can manage the costs without significant strain – go for it.
The experience can be incredibly valuable for the right athlete at the right time.
If you look at these numbers and think “This is too much for our family right now” – don’t feel bad about that decision.
You’re being wise and realistic. That’s good parenting.
And if you believe this is the path for your child to advance in the sport and you feel you really need to commit – then go in with your eyes open.
Know what you’re committing to. Understand the financial stress this will put on your family. Plan for it. Prepare for it. Make sure everyone in your family is on board with what you’re sacrificing.
But also be honest about these warning signs:
If club volleyball would require you to:
Then seriously reconsider.
Or at minimum, choose a lower-cost option (regional instead of national team, less expensive club, fewer extras).
Your family’s financial health and peace matter.
Club volleyball is valuable, but it’s not worth destroying your family’s financial stability or emotional wellbeing.
Only you know what’s right for your family. I’m just making sure you have the real numbers to make that decision wisely.
Club volleyball can be incredibly valuable when:
The experience isn’t the problem. The financial burden is.
Eliminate the burden, and club volleyball can be amazing.
Some families spend $15,000/year and get tremendous value:
Other families spend $15,000/year and get:
Same cost. Completely different value.
The difference? Choosing the right club, maintaining perspective, and protecting wellbeing.
I’m building the LOVA Parent Lounge as a space where club volleyball parents can find each other and support each other through this amazing, challenging, but rewarding journey.
Real conversations like:
Inside the Parent Lounge, you’ll find:
✓ Real budget numbers from families across the country (no shame, no judgment)
✓ Budget templates and cost-tracking tools you can download and use today
✓ Regional cost comparisons so you know what’s normal in your area
✓ Expert guidance from Coach Carlos (Olympic athlete, professional player, club owner, and parent who gets it)
✓ Support when financial stress hits mid-season – from people who’ve been exactly where you are
✓ Permission to make the right decision for YOUR family – not based on what everyone else is doing
✓ Strategies for making club volleyball work without breaking the bank
The families who handle club volleyball costs best aren’t the wealthiest.
They’re the ones with support, realistic plans, and a community backing them up.
Stop guessing. Stop stressing. Stop going it alone.
Join the LOVA Community and head straight to the Parent Lounge – that’s where the real money conversations happen.
→ Join the LOVA Community Now (Free)
Once you’re in, click on “Parent Lounge” in the left sidebar. That’s where parents share budgets, swap strategies, and support each other through the financial realities of club volleyball.
Plus, check out these other helpful spaces:
📖 The LOVA Playbook – Community guidelines and how to get the most value from LOVA
🔍 FAQ Space – Quick answers to your most common questions
👋 Welcome / Start Here – Get oriented and introduce yourself
The club volleyball journey is expensive. But you don’t have to figure it out alone.
The Bottom Line:
Club volleyball costs more than clubs tell you.
But now you know the truth.
And you have a community of parents ready to help you navigate it wisely.
See you in the Parent Lounge.
Coach Carlos is an Olympic athlete who represented Venezuela at three Olympic Games, played professionally overseas for 15 years, and is now a club volleyball coach and founder of Luna Online Volleyball Academy. He created the LOVA Community to help families navigate club volleyball with wisdom, realistic expectations, and fundamentals under pressure that win—in volleyball and in life.
P.S. – The Parent Lounge is where the magic happens. Real parents. Real numbers. Real support. No fluff. No judgment. Just honest help when you need it most.
