Am I crazy for considering this? basketball trip

[cjcouple]

My boys are on the school basketball teams.  DS1 is Varsity and graduating this June.  Starting college in the fall. 

DS2 is a freshman and full disclosure - he only made team because only 11 tried out and they didn't cut anyone.  He barely plays and is not as athletically gifted as his older brother.  But he loves being a part of team sports.  

There was basketball meeting last night for all underclassman and their parents.  The Varsity coach announced he wants to take the team on a team building trip next Christmas break to play in a tournament in Universal in FL.  Cost is about 2k per player and they want to start fundraising now.  They have to commit by the end of March. 

Only Varsity plays but he made it seem like he will find spots for all players (including JV) to be included in the trip (water boys, score keepers, etc).  However, he did admit the team changes each year.  Basically, saying not all kids will even make the team next year and there may be new players joining and they'll need to make adjustments, etc.

The fundraising is for the team and not individual players etc.  So a person could raise enough to cover their kids travel BUT it's in a pool so you may still need to pay if other kids are not raising as much.  In other words, no guarantees. they can take up to 20 kids I think. 

Anyway, I talked to the Varsity Head Coach on the side out of earshot of everyone and basically said "You probably know DS2 is a long shot to make JV and no way he will make Varsity next year.  Is this even something I should be a part of?  I don't want him excited, raising all this money and him be told, you didn't make the team." 

It's disappointing enough to be cut but this is like next level disappointment you know?

He said "we actually wanted to talk to you because we want DS2 to be the Team Manager next year.  He will go to all of the practices, games, travel with the team and everything. He is a great kid and all the boys like him".  I was really surprised and pretty pleased to hear that.  I still need to talk to DS2 and see if he even wants to do that.  I think he would actually enjoy it.  He'd still get to hang out with the guys, sit on the bench with them (not in uniform but I assume in a school polo/khakis) and be part of it all.  Just not as a player. 

If he wants to go, we will make it work. 

Now DH & I will obviously start saving to try and get the 3 of us (DH, Myself and DS1) along on the trip (at our costs) but it will depend how things go.  At a minimum, while parents are not required, we would like at least one of us to go.  Now here is the "Am I crazy" idea?   Would it be ok to send DS1 as DS2 guardian,  if needed?  He will be 18, a freshman in college and is a very, very, very responsible teen.  There will be other parents there.  There will likely be at least 1-2 older siblings of the players there and he can sit with them at the games, lots of other parents that we know well.  Not that they would need to watch either of the boys or anything.  DS1 said he understands he needs to stay with DS2 at all times and be his guardian.  I need to find out who he would stay with and if that is even allowed, etc. 

Ideally, I'm hoping all 4 of us can go.  But trying to have a back-up plan.  DS1 also said he will start saving to pitch in for some of his portion.  Realistically if he can save $30 a week, he will have about $1500.  He makes about $80-100 a week so there's plenty for him to save $30 a week.   I mean I went to Florida on spring break at 18 with a couple friends without any parents and DS1 is way more responsible than I was. lol

thoughts?
Absolutely deleting this information so....pdq
    

[traveltheworld]

I think it's a great idea and something you boys will remember and talk about for years to come.

[waverly]

This is hard becuase the fundraising and deadline to commit is March, and the team manager thing could go either way. He could be really excited about it and want to do everything or it could be hard to not play and travel and do all of that as a non player who wants to be playing.

Since 18 is an adult, I think it is acceptable to send the older brother.

[cjcouple]

waverly, I was thinking that but on this particular trip, he wouldn't be the only one not playing. ONLY Varsity plays anyway. The coach made it clear this is all about team building (1 game or practice a day) and the remainder of the day they are free to hit the parks. They even have a full day of no basketball and spent just in the parks.

[supertrooper1]

Yes, I think it would be fine to have your 18 year old go.

I hate it when coaches (and now employers) bill expensive trips as "team building". If one person from the team can't make it (in this case for financial reasons), then they feel left out. When I was in high school, I couldn't afford to go to all of the basketball camps, or to China with the volleyball team, and I felt left out. I did go on the high school band trip to Disneyland and it was a great experience, so I think it will be a great experience if your DS2 goes.

[cjcouple]

supertrooper1, Completely agree. This is our head coaches first year with our school. DH & I were saying, why couldn't he start with like going to a Celtics game or something? This is a huge ask for our area. Half of these kids, parents don't even go to games. We don't live in an affluent area

[supertrooper1]

cjcouple, on the flip side, he could be trying to give these kids an experience that they might not have experienced or may never experience. On my HS band trip, probably half had never been on an airplane, me included, and I'm sure even more had never been to Disneyland. My HS basketball coach tried to talk me into going to a college halfway across the country because she was worried I'd be stuck in my tiny hometown if I didn't get away. Spoiler, I didn't move very far from my hometown, but I've traveled more and done more than I'm sure my coach thought I would do.

[cjcouple]

supertrooper1, I get that. My kids actually have never been on a plane or to Disney either. Its just too expensive. But we've managed nice vacations that were more reasonable for our family (Niagara Falls and Toronto, Virginia Beach, Maine a few times, White Mountains, NH, NJ, PA, MD). We would like to make this work but I'm just not sure we can manage airfare and cost for all of us.

[mae0111]

I don't think you're crazy to consider it! Especially since it sounds like your DS2 would have a spot if he wants it. I think it would be fun if you could swing it!

I was the manager of the boy's basketball team when I was in middle school. I played on 2 teams outside of school and I really disliked the girls that played on the school team, so I opted to manage. It was a fantastic experience. I learned a ton, and the coach came to rely on me pretty heavily. It was a lot of fun!

[sdlaura]

I would totally be comfortable sending a responsible legal adult big sibling with a younger sibling for something like this, since there are other adults involved. It sounds like it would be a cool experience for your kids.