Grade school playing fees for sports

International Falls is shrinking. Therefore, the tax base is also shrinking. Many programs and functions were created and funded while International Falls was a larger community or with grant money. (Which is why I have a love/hate feeling about grants. Politicians love taking grants and creating things that are usually unsustainable in the future...a different forum topic.)

Back to my point...all of these things require funding. As the community shrinks, the programs and functions do not shrink as quickly. Sometimes, they cannot shrink at all (building/park/road maintenance, et. al.).

Politicians are quick to create new 'things' because there is political glory in doing so. Maintaining existing 'things' is not as visible or politically rewarding. So, things that need maintaining get put to the wayside, including infrastructure and 'other' things like youth activities.

You and I encounter similar situations all the time in our personal lives. However, since it is our own money, we are usually more responsible. After all, when it comes to financial security for you and your family, you cannot get voted out of office. Just an earful from the wife.

Since the basketball association cannot find funds to subsidize the costs then they have to do what any other business would do...pass the cost along to the consumer. I am sure the association has a treasurer...you could ask him/her about the cost.

Where I live most of the year, our youth sports associations team together and have exclusive rights to pull tabs in all local establishments within the school district.

All proceeds from the pull tabs go directly to subsidize the overall cost of youth sports. In addition, they also use those funds to assist lower income families. Last year it generated about $108,000.

I see no reason why this wouldn't work in International Falls. It would surely be a way to tap outside money and bring it into the community.

I experienced "sticker shock" last year when I offered to cover the cost of my two grandkids when they decided to play basketball. The youngest was in first grade at the time. However, once I understood what I was paying for, it wasn't quite so hard to swallow. The rec fee is $35. The $17 covers the cost of a reversible jersey - not just a "tshirt" - which the child uses each year until they outgrow it. My grandkids will probably get 2-3 years out of theirs. I had four kids who played all sorts of sports all through school and this jersey deal sure beats paying 10-12 bucks EVERY year for a little tshirt that was faded, worn out, washed out, and too small by the end of each season. The $48 for candy is just that - you sell the candy you get your $48 back. So your real out of pocket cost is $52 IF you need a jersey = $35 if you don't.

I think it's ridiculous to expect young kids to peddle candy to help cover the cost of sports. And $48 worth? That's a LOT of candy! What's the actual cost of the candy before it is marked up to $1? Why not just charge that amount as a fee and get rid of the peddling?

I guess I just experienced my own feeling of sticker shock recently when I signed my child up for a sport and also need to vent a little bit. But what are you going to do when you're kid really wants to play and gives you that "Mommy, please?" look. And the added exercise and social interaction is good for them... especially in the winter. Then there's the added value of learning the importance of sportsmanship and teamwork. It's almost like you're stuck; grit your teeth, pay the fee, and end up with a kitchen drawer full of candy (that you don't want your 6 year old going door-to-door to sell).

But they put a cap of $500 for the year. Lot of good that does if you only have 1 child in sports. I paid $100 for 7th/8th grade football, will pay $150 for a winter sport and another $150 (I think that is what the cost was last year) for a spring sport. And now they have no grant programs to pay for the kids that cannot afford to be in sports. Even if a kid gets free lunch, they still have to pay 50% of the fee. Guess you need to have rich parents in order to be in sports. And the kids that need to actually have something to do to stay out of trouble can't afford it. I know roj is going to say something about the welfare system but that is another subject. It's not the kids fault but they are being punished in yet another way for their parents choices.

MamaG that is great of you to suggest that. I would say contact either the rec director for grade school sports or the athletic director for high school sports and see what needs to be done. Hopefully this will be a good start and some of those less fortunate will be able to play.

MamaG a very caring soul you must be. Great idea. Maybe there is something the school could do with that idea. As for selling of the candy bars--maybe they could sell something more healthy such as trail mix or trail mix bars. Even those note pads that they had in the all class reunion bags only they could have the Bronco logo on them.

That's what I thought Kay. Would it be possible to set something up? Sign up for grades 1-8 basketball is on the 22nd. How would we go about doing this? I would "adopt" a student under the terms that if she started, she must finish the year. (Same rule applied for my own children.) I would love to know that I helped out. There are limited things to do in this town for our young people and a lot of time this leads to "too much time on their hands". Keep 'em busy; keep 'em off drugs. I would invest in one child just to see if it really does make a difference in her life. Can you imagine sponsoring a child and then having her become the next Ivory Latta?? I always hated the candy bar idea. (Only good thing about it is that it falls around halloween so you can hand them out.) What about bronco kazoos? I'd like to hear a whole gym or arena humming to "Diana" someday. Let's get some school spirit back in this town.

Has anyone else noticed how quiet roj is on this forum? I think this is the ONLY discussion that he hasn't tried to get the last word in on. Perhaps he is still looking for Tammy in the mountains.