Buying Sports Equipment

Oct 18, 2024

Buying Sports Equipment

Hey Travelsporters!

In this newsletter, we wanted to highlight the options that you have when buying sports equipment. Whether your player plays in a high-cost equipment sport like hockey, lacrosse & football or relatively low-cost ones like swimming, basketball or soccer, finding the right equipment while not spending a lot of money can be a challenge. Check out our article below on how to save money when buying sports equipment.

On a different note, we are super excited about Halloween! Since it is getting closer, we wanted to see if you could send us a picture of your favorite sport-themed Halloween decorations that you might have. Check out our pick below! Send us an email: info@travlsports.com with your image, name and city-state/province so we can publish them on our social media pages!

- Team Travelsports

It’s time to plan your 2024-2025 season with CAN/AM Hockey! We are offering more tournaments, more locations, and more dates than ever before! Visit us at www.canamhockey.com

#canamhockey #GameOn #JoinUs #AreYouNext?

Tips on Buying Sports Equipment

Saving money when buying sports equipment is important, especially if you're a casual athlete or just starting out in a new sport.

Here are some tips to help you save money on sports gear:

1. Buy Used or Secondhand Equipment: Look for used sports equipment at thrift stores or stores like Play It Again Sports, online marketplaces (e.g., SidelineSwap, eBay), Facebook Groups or at garage sales. Many people sell their gently used gear at a fraction of the cost of new items.

2. Rent or Borrow: If you're trying out a new sport or just need equipment for occasional use, consider renting or borrowing from friends, family, or local sports clubs. This is a cost-effective way to access gear without making a big investment.

3. Shop Off-Season: Retailers often discount sports equipment at the end of the season to make room for new inventory, aka last years models. For example, winter sports gear is typically on sale in the spring and summer. Plan your purchases accordingly to take advantage of these sales.

4. Look for Sales and Discounts: Keep an eye on sales, clearance sections, and discount websites. Sign up for newsletters from sports retailers to be notified of upcoming promotions and discounts.

5. Buy Generic Brands: Generic or store-brand sports equipment is often more affordable than name-brand alternatives. While quality can vary, many generic options are suitable for casual athletes.

6. Trade or Swap with Others: Connect with fellow athletes/parents and see if you can trade or swap equipment. You might have gear that you no longer use but is valuable to someone else.

7. Wait for Special Sales Events: Major shopping holidays, like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, often feature significant discounts on sports equipment. Keep these dates in mind when planning your purchases.

8. Shop Local: Support local sports stores. Sometimes, they offer competitive prices and personalized service, and they may be willing to negotiate on prices, especially if you're a regular customer.

9. Maintain Your Equipment: Proper maintenance can extend the life of your sports gear. Regularly clean, inspect, and repair equipment to prevent the need for premature replacements.

Remember that while saving money is essential, safety and quality are also important when it comes to sports equipment. Ensure that the gear you purchase, whether new or used, meets safety standards and is appropriate for your level of skill and activity.

Weekend Hockey Tournaments. Reserve your spot!

Upcoming Tournaments
Check out upcoming tournaments, by sport, on Travelsports!

Hockey
Edinburgh Scotland Draught Series

Green Mountain Avalanche Hockey Tournament Series

Key City Collegiate Classic

Soccer
Girls Fall Classic & College Showcase

RUSH CUP

Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) Fall State Boys Soccer Tournament

Volleyball

Spooky Spikes

SoCal Cup: 18/17 Tourney 2

Hawaii High School Athletic Association (HHSAA) Girls Division I Volleyball State Championship

Lacrosse

Harvest High

Five Star Lacrosse Tournament

Fall Premier Showcase

Basketball
Hoop City Tip-off

Autumn Classic at Swish Zone

Elite 32 Middle School

TCS Hockey. Discover the Difference!

DID YOU KNOW?

Travelsports has partnered with InstaRaise, the leading school and sports team online fundraising platform, to help players, teams and clubs with their fundraising efforts. Whether your team is fundraising to go to a tournament, your club is fundraising for sports equipment and uniforms or you are fundraising for your player to play sports, we hope you check out InstaRaise for your youth sports fundraising needs.

MARKETPLACE

We want to highlight a business that has joined Travelsports' online marketplace. Be sure to click below to check out their store on Travelsports.

Bleacher Buddie

Bleacher Buddie is a wind and water proof wearable blanket! Bleacher Buddie's PATENTED design wraps around, zippers up & tightens at the waist....enveloping you in total warmth!

ADVERTISING

Interested in advertising on our newsletter or our website? Send us a note to info@travelsports.com

Athletic Scholarships

Oct 3, 2024

Athletic Scholarships

Hey Travelsporters!

Whether you have a high school student looking to play at the collegiate level or a youngster just starting their sports journey, the discussion of college athletic scholarships is bound to come up. We won’t try and walk you through the entire process, but over the past two decades, an entire industry has emerged, dedicated to helping your athlete land an athletic scholarship. With that said, having a realistic approach to athletics at the collegiate level is important for both you and your athlete, especially in the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) era.

- Team Travelsports

It’s time to plan your 2024-2025 season with CAN/AM Hockey! We are offering more tournaments, more locations, and more dates than ever before! Visit us at www.canamhockey.com

#canamhockey #GameOn #JoinUs #AreYouNext?

Collegiate Athletic Scholarships

Receiving an athletic scholarship to compete at the college level is the ultimate goal for many student-athletes. However, there are plenty of misconceptions about how scholarship offers work—and how much aid student-athletes actually receive.

Every year, millions of parents pay to place their children in youth sports programs in hopes the child eventually will develop the skills needed to earn a coveted athletic scholarship that pays for college. College isn’t cheap, so understanding the details of this part of the process is important if you’re looking to lessen your college costs.

The NCAA has some sobering news for those parents: just over 1% of high school athletes (1.3%, according to statistics from the NCAA) receive full or partial athletic scholarships. And just as important, those scholarships are not guaranteed for four years.

However, if your child is among the elite in their chosen sport, there is an incredible of amount of financial aid available. Division I and Division II schools provided more than $3 billion in athletic scholarships in 2017 to just over 175,000 athletes. That averages out to $17,142 per athlete, but there are a couple of catches to that equation, the most obvious one being that not every athlete is going to get $17,142.

While most scholarship money comes from the college itself, there are some ways for student-athletes to receive funding from private sources. Many athletic departments have endowment scholarships set up by former athletes or alumni who support a specific sport or cause.

While scholarships are the traditional way for student athletes to off-set the cost of college, the emergence of Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) at the collegiate level, allows athletes to receive financial compensation for the use of an athlete’s name, image, and likeness through marketing and promotional endeavors. This can include autograph signings, product endorsements, social media posts, and more.

What do athletic scholarships cover?
Athletic scholarships cover a portion of the costs for tuition and fees, course-related books, room, board and, sometimes, living expenses. The amount covered is dependent on whether the offer is a full or partial scholarship.

Who gives out athletic scholarships?
Athletic scholarships are offered at the NCAA D1 and D2 levels, as well as at the NAIA and NJCAA levels—combined, that’s thousands of schools.

Do D2 schools give athletic scholarships?
Yes, D2 schools give athletic scholarships. Most scholarships at the D2 level are partial scholarships. Full scholarships at D2 school are rare, but still possible.

Are full ride scholarships for all 4 years?
No, full ride athletic scholarships are typically one-year agreements between the college and the athlete, although some are multi-year.

Weekend Hockey Tournaments. Reserve your spot!

Top 20 Tournaments
Check out the top 20 tournaments, by sport, on Travelsports!

Hockey
Top 20 Most Popular Hockey Tournaments

Soccer
Top 20 Most Popular Soccer Tournaments

Top 20 Most Popular Golf Tournaments

Basketball
Top 20 Most Popular Basketball Tournaments

Field Hockey