***Please Note: These numbers were generated using our 2018/2019 Budget. Yearly costs may fluctuate from year to year based on current National Fees, equipment costs, or new fees (such as processing fees, or volunteer background check fees)***
Hopkins AYSO is built ENTIRELY on volunteers. That’s right, even the person creating this post isn’t being paid a dime. Why do we do it? We do it because our kids love to play soccer, and volunteering a bit of our time helps ensure they have a fantastic soccer experience! But I know what you might be thinking……wait a minute, I pay $85 (assuming you capture the Early Bird Savings) every year for my child to play Hopkins AYSO soccer……if nobody gets paid, where does that money go?
Basic Overview:
AYSO NATIONAL FEE
Hopkins AYSO is just one region – we are part of something much bigger…..AYSO National. Right out of the gate, $17.50 (21%) of every player’s registration fee goes straight to AYSO National to keep the organization running. AYSO just announced that their National Fee will increase to $20/player in MY2019. They will also be adding Volunteer Fees for all of our adult volunteers (board members, coaches, referees, etc). Due to these increased/additional AYSO National fees, parents should expect Hopkins AYSO registration fees for MY2019 to increase.
UNIFORMS
Most of our divisions get brand-spankin-new uniforms every year. The uniforms include a dry-fit jersey, shorts, and socks. These uniforms are the player’s to keep. A few of the older divisions reuse uniforms and pay a reduced registration rate.
FIELD EXPENSES
Hopkins AYSO currently maintains 6 soccer fields. The Hopkins Park is home to 4 of our soccer fields, while the remaining 2 fields are located to Hopkins Community Church. The field expenses are used to ensure our soccer fields are mowed (weekly or biweekly) and painted (by a volunteer). In addition, we provide portable toilets at the fields for our players and parents.
EQUIPMENT EXPENSES
Part of your registration fee is used to provide/maintain our soccer equipment from year to year. Remember those 6 fields? This means we have 12 goals to maintain and replace (as needed) along with 12 nets. Each year we provide our volunteer coaches with coaching bags that contain the items they need to coach their players. These items include whistles, scrimmage pennies, cones, ball pumps, first aid supplies, keeper gloves/shirts, and a mesh bag to haul it all around in. We certainly try to reuse any items that we can but let’s be honest, nobody wants a used whistle!
AWARDS, VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND TRAINING
At the end of each spring season, the U5-U12 kids are given participation medals and a little treat for playing with us. Last year, their treat was a certificate for a free ice cream cone from Hop Cones!
We currently rely on youth volunteers to referee our games. As a small incentive, we give these youth volunteers the opportunity to earn small gift cards ($5/game) if they spend their Saturdays refereeing our children’s games. We are working diligently to find and train adult referee volunteers to help.
Finding volunteer coaches, referees, and board members would be impossible if they had to pay for training out of their own pocket. I mean who wants to PAY to volunteer, right?? This is why a portion of your registration fee is set aside to provide training to our volunteers. These AYSO training opportunities give coaches and referees the chance to develop their skills and provide the best soccer experience for your child.