Traveling for sports for young people is a normal event for most families, but according to a new report by Oklahoma Watch, he came with hidden channels. Their investigation highlights the growing use of “stays to play” rules, a policy that requires teams to reserve accommodation from a list of hotels approved by the tournament.
Oklahoma Watch journalist Jennifer Palmer spoke with news on the anchor 6 Dave Davis of what she found, including the way some families are forced to choose the costly hotel stays or risk the team of their disqualified child.
Q: What to “stay play” and how does it work?
Palmer: “It is essentially when families travel in sports tournaments for young people, and the tournament forces them to book a hotel from a specific list. This is common in sports such as football, softball, volleyball and hockey. If families do not comply, their child – or even the whole team – could be removed from the tournament. ”
Q: Why is it becoming a problem for families?
Palmer: “Families told me that they felt stuck. Even if they do not want to stay in one of the hotels listed – which are often more expensive than other options – they do it anyway to avoid disqualification. Some parents said they preferred to stay with parents or use their VR, but these options are outside the table. ”
Q: Are there any ways to withdraw from these hotel requirements?
Palmer: “Yes, but they are expensive. Some tournaments, especially in softball, offer an” buyout “option.
Q: What are the wider costs of youth sports these days?
Palmer: “Sports for young people, especially competitive teams, are already expensive. We are talking about thousands of dollars per child per season – for club costs, coaching and uniforms. The trip is actually the most expensive part, and when you add these stays to the forced hotel, the total cost becomes even more difficult to manage. ”
Q: What do the tournament organizers say about it?
Palmer: “I contacted several. The Dallas Stars hockey organization, which organizes many tournaments in Texas and Oklahoma, said they had to suspend their stay model this season. They said that some teams were in fact disappointed not to use the service. But each parent I spoke to said that the hotel offers did not describe them.
Q: Is this practice legal?
Palmer: “It was one of my big questions. I spoke to several lawyers federal antitrust laws. They said that grouping a product – like a stay at the hotel – the participation of the tournament could be problematic. Depending on how certain tournaments publish their policies, the legal experts to whom I spoke said they could respond to the elements to rape the antitrust laws.”
Q: What should parents withdraw from it?
Palmer: “Transparency was the biggest demand I heard from parents. They said, “Just tell us what it costs from the start. Instead of being forced to conclude costly hotels offers, they prefer to see the total cost indicated clearly – even if it means higher tournament costs. »»
Do you want to know more?
You can read the full report to Oklahoma Watch: Forced accommodation, hidden bribes: how to stay playing sports parents