Scott Berndes is the President of the Power Surge travel organization out of San Diego and has coached for nearly a quarter of a century highlighted by his winning two ASA National Championships and a runner-up finish at PGF Nationals in 2018.

In his impressive career in softball and sports overall, Scott has also been:

• the Athletic Director at the University of California San Diego,
• the President of the Hickman Youth Athletic Complex—a 50-acre facility for baseball, soccer and softball for over 2,000 youth participants,
• the winning coach of Two Triple Crown World Series titles,
• the head coach of an amazing 15 Top 10 finishes in a row at PGF Nationals
• a father and grandfather (perhaps his proudest accomplishments!).

Scott also has helped develop hundreds of softball players who would go on to win NCAA champions such as pitcher Selina Ta’amilo, outfielders Aaliyah Jordan and Chip Bennett at UCLA, infielder Cydney Sanders at Oklahoma and other standouts such as catcher Carlee Wallace, who helped Auburn finish second at the Women’s College World Series in 2016.

The SoCal-based fastpitch figure is a regular contributor to Line Drive Softball and an outstanding writer and knowledgeable source for all things softball.

Here are just a few of the previous articles he’s written for us:

• 15 College Camp Must Do’s! (Jan. 15, 2025
• 13 “Don’ts For Softball Parents (Jan. 10, 2025)
• The Importance of Hustle & A Good Attitude (Nov. 6, 2024)
• How to Create Your Top College List ( 5, 2024)
• Recruiting Strategies… From the Perspective of a Head Recruiter (Sept. 22, 2024)

Today’s topic that Berndes focuses on is the rising cost to play softball, from youth up through college, international and pro, and asks…

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Is Softball Becoming (Too Big Of) A Business?

By Scott Berndes

I’ve been at this a long time, that is, being involved in the administration of softball teams and organizations.

But, dang, times have changed!

And not the game so much but the rising costs of being involved as a softball player, coach, organization administrator, or parent.

I sure hope these rising costs do not price some out of this game…. Because “The Game” has certainly become a “Big Business” for some.

For example, tournament fees are over $1,000 now in some instances and that doesn’t even account for the other costs to go on the road—from travel to housing to food. Playing in a nationwide event can even reach the five-figure dollar amount (read: $10,000 or more!).

And don’t even think about delaying what events you’ll play in; just know you better get the $1,000 entry fees in at least 6-to-12 months in advance or your team will probably not be in the tournament.

It can be very hard for many teams to come up with thousands of dollars a year in advance as dues and/or fundraisers may not have happened yet. However you look at it, it has become very hard to stay ahead financially getting in these tournaments.

For example, here are some of the current Entry Fees charged by some of the bigger tournaments:

• Colorado Fireworks (Aurora, Colo.): $2,700… and they have already announced it will be $3000 next year.
• Zoom Into June Showcase (Hemet, Calif.): $1,900… but, really, it’s a 5-game “friendly” so comes out to $380 a game.
• Independence Showcase (Boulder, Colo.): $1,900
• Ronald McDonald Tournament (Houston, Texas): $1,800

And remember that for all of these tournaments you have to pay months in advance.

Many of you, I am sure are saying: “Hey, plan ahead and make sure to fundraise and you will be ready to pay (and play).”

Not the point here.

The point here is what have we created as softball aficionados? Are we creating a monster here? Or, maybe even too late, have we already created a monster here?

Money, Money, Money, Money, as the “Love of Money” 1970’s song goes by the O’Jays:

And how about fees for Travel Ball Nationals that used to be under $500 a decade ago?

Now, these tent-pole events are charging up to five-times that amount in some cases:

• PGF Nationals: $2,700
• Alliance Nationals: $2,500
• ASA Nationals: $1,500
• Triple Crown World Series: $2,400
• USSSA Nationals: $1,500

And, of course, some of the “Big Time” travel ball organizations have found that fastpitch softball is a “Cash Cow.”

Honestly, we must give these organization’s directors kudos for being industrious and creating a great business for themselves. They have created a business and a living.

It is the American Way! People won’t pay for what doesn’t have value, right?

But things have gone up—way up—for many the parents because of the per-month charge it costs to be part of one of these organizations.

Add to these monthly charges other costs such as:

• “Team Initiation Fees” to join the organization,
• A per month individual fee paid to the organization by each member of the team,
• Mandatory in some cases batting lessons, pitching lessons, fielding lessons, catching lessons and more…

It all adds up to more money charged to the player/parents than ever before.

And what about all the organizations/teams that have “Strength and Conditioning” as part of their programs? Great idea, perhaps, but that just raised the parent’s dues another $50-to-$100 a month, depending on who you use.

Still, we have to acknowledge that it does seem Softball as a sport is healthier than it ever has been. Just turn on your television in-season and you will see college softball on many networks.

Youth and travel ball weekend tournaments in many parts of the country are full with waiting list to get in… and parents keep paying what is asked and don’t seem to mind or complain.

So maybe I am just an old-timer who has been sitting on my bucket too long!

But to see a tournament go from under $500 and five years later triple in cost just seems wrong to me.

But you know what?

These tournaments fill up every year and have a waiting list so the value apparently is worth the cost to those involved.

All in all, I am just not sure of the answer to the question: “Is softball becoming a business?”

It sure seems so… but the sport is doing great, so is that so bad after all?