Considering Costs

Considering the Full Cost of a Travel Team Season

At FVC we strive to keep our base programs accessible and our ongoing analysis suggests that FVC remains very affordable compared to other AB & BC volleyball clubs. Each year, we fundraise as a club to offer a substantial subsidy—around $200 per player—to help reduce fees for our travel teams. For example, in 2025, base travel team fees ranged from $650 (13U) to $990 (18U) per player after this subsidy. Please note, this level of support can vary each year and isn’t guaranteed.

We encourage you and your athlete to understand the commitment involved, both in time and money, and consider the full picture before committing to a travel team season. The more prepared you are, the better the experience for everyone.

You may also refer to this Volleyball Alberta document for additional information about what to expect out of a season.

What FVC Fees Do Cover:

  • Entry to all Volleyball Alberta Premier tournaments and Provincial Championships and expenses for head coaches attending these events.
  • Team training (facility rental, coaching fees and expenses)
  • Jerseys and use of club equipment
  • Club administration and overhead (e.g., tournament registration, membership dues, insurance, legal/accounting)

What FVC Fees Don’t Cover:

  • Volleyball Alberta and Canada player fees: Competitive athletes must register directly with VA/VC. This cost was $123.55 per player for the 2024-25 season.
  • Travel-related costs: Families are responsible for transportation, lodging and meals for all away tournaments. These events usually require 2-night stays and most teams attend a minimum of 3 Premiers + Provincials.
  • Additional tournaments: These are not mandatory for participation on a team, but if a team / family chooses to attend extra events (like Nationals, play days or invitational tournaments), all coaching and event fees will be shared among participating families. 
  • Extra travel costs for additional events: Note that Nationals and large US tournaments can be much further afield, and span 3 days, requiring longer stays and creating substantial travel costs.

Budgeting Tips:

  • Set a full-season budget before committing to additional tournaments.  
  • Talk to other parents or FVC admin to get a realistic idea of seasonal costs.
  • Carpooling can help reduce travel expenses.
  • Share accommodation with another family or stay with friends / family when possible
  • Pack food and snacks to avoid the high cost of eating out.
  • Team fundraising is welcome to offset extra event costs, but it’s up to each team to organize, and must be carried out within FVC fundraising guidelines.

🏐 Sample Travel Weekend Cost Breakdown

Note that most teams attend a minimum of 3 Premiers + Provincials each requiring 2-night stays.

Tournament Location: Calgary, Alberta
Event Duration: Saturday–Sunday (most teams travel Friday night)
Assumes 1 athlete + 1 parent attending

Expense Estimated Cost (CAD)
Fuel (return trip from Fernie) $90–$120
Hotel (2 nights) $350–$400
Meals (2 days) $100–$150
Total Estimated Weekend Cost $540–$670
Travel budget for 3 Premiers + Provincials $2160 – $2680

Note that a larger family traveling together for the weekend should increase this budget accordingly per person. You could also consider sending your athlete with another family, as sharing accommodation, car-pooling etc, can decrease the cost of travel significantly.