Terms of Service
FINANCIAL OBLIGATION
The cost of youth sports has increased significantly over the last decade and shows no
sign of slowing down. There is a financial obligation that comes with participating in the
Top Dog Athletics program. The goal for Top Dog Athletics is to provide cost effective
opportunities that keep opportunities to learn and love sports available to any individual/
family that is interested. There are many factors involved that we do not control and are
continuously working to keep everything affordable for all.
Top Dog Athletics program budgets provide the ability for families to pay on a payment
schedule that is broken up over the course of 12-months, with each individual balance
being an equal share in the overall team expenses for the year. It is the responsibility of
each athlete to pay their share in fees. Failure to pay fees may result in the suspension
or removal from the Top Dog Athletics program until fees are made current.
a. If an athlete falls more than 1 month behind on fees they will be held from all
practices and games until fees are made current.
b. If an athlete leaves with an outstanding balance Top Dog will take necessary
action through Small Claims Court or Collections to have the balance paid in full.
All fees are non-refundable. The financial obligation is for the given budget per the team
the athlete is rostered on. This budget is effective from AUGUST 1, 2026 to JULY 31,
2027.
For any questions regarding player fees please contact TopDog.Finances@gmail.com
TOP DOG FEES
Top Dog Fees are paid on a MONTHLY basis. Top Dog Fees cover:
- Top Dog Athletics Business and Administrative Fees
- Top Dog Performance Center Player Membership
- Player Profile (14u, 16u, 18u) | Recruiting Information
- Academic Support
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If payment is not received by the 30th of every month, the athlete will be held from team practices. There will also be a $20 late fee charged for every month the account is not made current.
TOURNAMENTS
Tournament Fees are paid on a QUARTERLY BASIS (for 8u - 14u age groups). Tournament Fees cover:
- Tournament Entry Fee
- Non-Parent Coach Travel (if applicable)
- Non-Parent Coach Stipend (if applicable)
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The ultimate goal is for families to fundraise to cover the cost of tournaments. Top Dog Athletics will provide 4 to 6 fundraisers throughout the course of the year to help athletes and their families cover the cost of tournaments.
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If an athlete's tournament fees are not paid for in that quarter they will be withheld from participating in tournaments. Parents will still be held responsible for their financial contribution to the team for that quarter.
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*BASEBALL*
Baseball tournament fees may be charged on an event-by-event basis. This will apply to Baseball and Baseball ONLY! If an athlete has not paid for the tournament they will not be available to participate.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY CHILD DOES NOT FINISH THE SEASON?
If an athlete does not complete the season for any reason (hurt, quit, removed from the
team for a violation of the standards and expectations, etc.) they are still responsible for the remaining balance on their account (through July 2027). Athletes will not be refunded any portion of fees paid or fundraised. When leaving a Top Dog team families understand they will not be released from a roster if they have an outstanding balance.
If a player has an outstanding balance for the budget of August 1, 2026 to July 31, 2027 the remainder of their fees will be sent to small claims court or collections.
HOTELS & TRAVEL
In the Top Dog Family our focus is for our athletes to break the mold of thinking it’s okay
to just be what we call “CENTRAL VALLEY GOOD.” We prepare our athletes to
compete (on and off the field) against competition from across the United States and in
some cases around the world. With this we want to help them in gaining an
understanding of the importance of competition and how it can be an influential piece for their success in life adventures.
Top Dog Teams will have events on their schedule that will require the team to travel. It
is important to understand that there are many factors in traveling that are now out of
our control. The days of a team representative going out and finding group rates are
coming to an end. Tournaments are progressing into utilizing third party businesses that
focus on obtaining group blocks at hotels for youth sporting events. With these
businesses we are required to meet a certain amount of room nights or we are hit with a
penalty for each room requirement that is not met.
As of August 1, 2023 the Top Dog Family implemented the following procedures
to make sure our families incur as minimal penalty fees as possible:
a. Top Dog will send a reservation link to all families with the deadline for
booking.
b. Families will be required to book their hotel and send their confirmation
number to Top Dog by the date the reservation booking window closes.
c. If a family chooses to not stay at the team hotel they will be required to pay a buyout fee to Top Dog on the following criteria:
- AST Tournament: $40 per Weekend
- PGF: $75 per Weekend
- USAPreps: $50 per Night (2 Night Minimum)
- Triple Crown: $100 per Event
FUNDRAISING
To help families cover costs for the year the Top Dog Athletics program will set up
fundraisers throughout the year. The Top Dog Athletics program is a 501(c)3 organization. All donations
and sponsorships are Tax Deductible.
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Top Dog Athletes will receive 100% of the amount donated/sponsored credited to their account.
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Businesses & Sponsors will be listed on the TopDogAthletics.org website and Top Dog Team Social Media pages.
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Top Dog Athletics will also sell advertising space on the TopDogAthletics.org website.
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The Top Dog Athletics program will NOT do “booze basket” types of raffles.
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Every raffle event will broken up with 75% of funds collected being credited to the athlete’s account and 25% of the funds collected being utilized to cover the expense of the raffle and for general benefit of Top Dog Athletics as a whole.
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Top Dog Athletics will have fundraising raffles on the following schedule (but not limited to):
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August/September: iPad Bundle​
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March/April: Disneyland Vacation
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Top Dog Athletes will receive 40% of the amount of their individual sales. The other 60% will pay for the product.
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Top Dog Athletics will have item selling fundraisers on the following schedule (but not limited to):
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February: Rocky Mountain Chocolate
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WHAT CAN MY FUNDRAISED FUNDS BE USED ON?
Fundraised funds will be applied to an athlete's account in the following order:
1. Tournament Fees
2. Additional Event Fees / Nationals & World Series Events
3. Top Dog Fees
In the event an athlete fundraises more than their individual account balance the
remaining funds can be utilized for the following:
a. Individual travel expenses
b. Can be applied to Top Dog Athletics to help cover expenses for families that
are in need of financial assistance.
c. Can be applied to extra training opportunities at Top Dog Performance Center.
d. Can be applied to the General Top Dog Athletics fund to help cover expenses of but not limited to: team meals, team equipment, team apparel, team event pins, etc.
e. Can be applied to the purchase of Practice Shirts, Game and Practice pants, Game and Practice Socks, Extra Game Tops
If an athlete does not complete the season with their team all fundraised funds will be
forfeited and will not be refunded to the athlete.
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If an athlete has funds remaining on their account at the end of the year, those funds will be applied to the GENERAL Top Dog Athletics Fund to purchase items such as but not limited to: balls, warm up equipment, field equipment, etc.. Funds remaining on an athlete's account WILL NOT BE CARRIED OVER to their player account for the next year. Funds fundraised can and will only be applied to the budgeted year they were fundraised for.