My 16 years old son plays on an 18AA ice hockey team in Southern California.  Which means that we travel all over California every weekend and pray that he doesn't get hurt or break a $250-$300 stick.  (We are averaging 3-5 sticks a season!)  On average we pay about $4000-$5000 per season (August-March).  That price includes games, tournaments, practices, uniforms, equipment and travel expenses (for the whole family). 

We were in Arizona this past weekend for a tournament in which we played 3 teams from Calgary and 1 from Idaho.  I happened to find myself talking to one of the Calgary coaches and interestingly enough I found out that team management (especially with elite level) in Canadain hockey is quite regulated by their federation.  For example, in the US a mom/dad can volunteer to be the team manager without any experience.  Not so in Canadian hockey (elite teams only).  The team manager (usually a parent) has to be credentialed/certified just like the coaching staff and approved by their governing board.  Also, Canadian hockey has strict regulations on how a team is managed as a whole.  For example, each team is required to have a certified sports trainer present at every game (home and away) and practices.  Nor are the players allowed to travel independently; meaning that they are required to travel, eat, and sleep together.  Parents can accompany with the team but are literally on their own.  Unlike in the US system, my husband and I can drive our son to all of his games, stay at a different hotel from his team and eat every meal with him.  The only time he is required to see his coach or teammates is an hour before each game.  Not so with Canadian hockey.  EVERYTHING is managed and mandated by the coaching staff.  Therefore, the players do not room with their parents - even when they are at the same hotel!  They literally travel, eat, sleep, and play as a team.  It was no surprise that all the Calgary teams dominated the tournament.  Even our best AAA teams couldn't beat their worst team!  

The Canadian hockey organization does this to protect the players and parents from being soaked by hidden fees.  The cost to play on a AA or AAA team begins at $10,000 (cost varies with each team) for a season (same as ours) in Canada. Most parents pay that upfront!  The fees includes games (regular season), practices, coaches, trainer(s), ice time, uniforms, chartered buses, hotel accommodations, set-meals, tournaments and MARKETING!  This is where it gets really interesting...

Marketing players is HUGE!!!!  Parents will pay up to $20,000 to put their 16 years old on a team where they know the coaches and manager are skilled at marketing players.  They will take their players to specific tournaments where they know scouts are present.  They will also write articles about their teams/players in hockey magazines, and network with various schools scouting  for players. 

Upon further investigation I found out that in California, we have one person who is actually breaking ground and doing a good job of marketing his players.  He has taken his team to Minnesota, Detroit, Phoenix, and Chicago.  The fees start at $3700 but that didn't include travel cost.  Should his team go to play-offs and compete in Nationals (which they are expected to win) we are guessing that parents of each player will have paid at least $10,000 for the season.   While the cost might seem prohibitive, three of his players have already been given offers to play at prep-schools on the eastcoast - his players are 15 years old.   

I'll be the first to admit that I'm niave about how other sports organizations are runned.  I know a lot about hockey because of my son.  I'm just wondering if coaches marketing their players at such a young age is being seen in other sports as we are now seeing in tier hockey?