Softball
AAU, CLUB, and Travel Softball Costs: When they say “Pay for Play” they really mean it!!
Whether AAU, Club, or Travel, softball is an expensive sport to play. The equipment required throughout the typical travel softball player’s 10-year involvement with the sport, combined with travel, registration fees, and instruction, quickly adds up. As USA Today recently documented, the total easily can exceed $30,000.
AAU, CLUB, and Travel Softball Registration Costs
Registration fees vary widely. A single-season spring Club, Travel, or AAU softball registration fee, depending on league level, can easily cost several thousands of dollars.
The bad news: If your child picks up an injury or is otherwise unable to play, you are stuck having paid the registration fee. Travel, provided tickets haven’t already been purchased, can be money saved. Equipment, provided it still fits, will be available to use when your softball player is healthy. However, the registration fee, which is the most expensive cost? That’s gone.
The good news: That doesn’t have to be the case. With softball registration insurance from Sports Refund, if your athlete can’t play, you don’t pay. Simple as that.
How Affordable Is Sports Refund?
Registration fees for AAU, Club, and Travel softball programs are thousands of dollars. And, leagues have a strict “No Refunds” policy, meaning that if your softball player gets hurt or can’t play, you’re stuck having to pay.
Until Sports Refund.
We offer softball season interruption insurance policies. Our policies cover the registration fees for sports programs and cost less than 5% of the total registration fee, on average. If your child can’t play, you don’t pay.
Why Do I Need Sport Registration Insurance?
AAU, Club, and Travel sports require commitment from their athletes. The days of children cycling through sports with the calendar are largely gone, and most sports now are year-round schedules–even softball.
This is having a huge effect on our children. Medical professionals have noted the increase in ‘recurring use’ injuries. WebMD and The Cleveland Clinic have both noted the rise in serious injuries among youth softball and baseball players. These injuries have historically been more associated with seasoned athletes — think Alex Lavine’s struggle to recover from a torn ACL, or Amanda Scarborough’s chain of injuries that forced her to miss significant time during her career as a softball player.
Players, parents, and coaches all are more aware of the health concerns and the potential long-term impacts that come with increased and early specialization. Sports Refund protects you from ever having to balance the money spent against your child’s long-term health. And with our easy sign-up system and low-cost coverage, there are no hurdles to clear. It’s as simple as:
Can’t Play? Don’t Pay!
What and Who Does Sports Refund Cover?
Sports Refund covers both individual AAU, Club, and Travel Softball players and teams/groups. Coverage is available for all players under the age of 26.
How Does Sports Refund Work?
Your Club, Travel, or AAU softball athlete’s physical well-being is covered by your health insurance. Their equipment, should it be stolen or damaged outside of normal wear-and-tear, is probably covered by homeowner’s or renter’s insurance. Even travel costs can be insured.
But the registration fee (which is typically the most expensive costs)? That is virtually always non-refundable. With Sports Refund’s season interruption insurance, however, your family is protected against real financial loss.
All you have to do is sign up. That’s it. No examinations, no long questionnaires.
AAU Softball and Travel Softball Season Interruption Insurance: An example
Charlotte’s family paid $2,000 for an elite travel softball registration running from April through July (120 days). Ten days into the season, Charlotte suffers a sprained ACL.
With just 20 days left in the softball season, Charlotte is ready to return to the diamond. She has missed 90 days (75%) of the season, but her family has still had to pay the full $2,000 registration fee.
If Charlotte’s family had Sports Refund season interruption insurance, at a cost of about $80, they would have received a check for $1,500–75% of the season’s total registration fee.