The football school fee is increasing.

Once again, the management is raising participation fees – does this mean extra money in the owner’s pocket?

Dear Parents,
Have you ever wondered why your child has to pay a fee to participate in a football school? Some of you might ask why membership in an academy comes at a cost. Often, we don’t realize the actual expenses involved in running a football school. Let me break it down.

The calculations are more complex than simply multiplying the number of participants by the membership fee, and the result cannot be considered pure profit for the owner. Let’s assume we have 300 participants paying 150 PLN each, which totals 45,000 PLN per month.

Is that a lot? Let’s take an example of a single training group.

Suppose the group has 16 players:
16 players × 150 PLN = 2,400 PLN

Coach salary: 1,000+ PLN (gross)

Assume we hold 2 training sessions per week, each 1.5 hours, at a cost of 100 PLN per hour.

Field rental: 150 PLN × 8 sessions = 1,200 PLN

Of course, the school might have its own facilities, but even then, maintenance costs are significant.

So far, we have 2,200 PLN in costs, leaving just 200 PLN. Does this 200 PLN go directly into the owner’s pocket?
Partially, perhaps, but we must first account for other costs that are spread across all training groups.

Examples of additional costs in a football school:

☑ Renting a facility for league matches
☑ Assistant coach or second coach
☑ Travel and allowances for coaches/staff
☑ Referee fees
☑ Office maintenance costs
☑ Management staff salaries
☑ Administrative staff salaries
☑ Software and system fees
☑ Football equipment purchases
☑ Accounting
☑ Marketing
☑ Licensing fees
☑ Medical care
☑ Insurance for players and coaches
☑ Training and development
☑ Incentive systems
☑ Clothing for coaches
☑ Additional initiatives such as free club birthday events, outings to matches with players

…And many more. These numbers are approximate but reflect realistic proportions, which may vary depending on the school’s location.

Each of these items generates costs necessary to maintain high-quality training and safe conditions for young athletes. That’s exactly what you expect, right?

Football school pricing vs. reality

It’s also important to remember the work that isn’t directly visible during training. Coaches spend hours preparing sessions, management develops training programs, and administrative staff ensure smooth operations. If children miss training, does staff take a pay cut? Of course not. Fixed costs like hall rental and salaries must be covered regardless of attendance.

See also: https://rafalwarchol.com/en/wynagrodzenie-trenera-pensje-trenerow/

So, parents, don’t pressure the school and don’t expect fees to be reduced if your child misses a session. Membership fees cover both your child’s participation and the school’s readiness to provide comprehensive training.

If the school asks for help renovating a field or clubhouse, it’s not greed – it’s an effort to reduce costs.

Camps, half-day programs, club shops – all are attempts to generate funds to support the school while benefiting the athletes’ development.

After all, when you enroll your child, you expect them to grow and have the best possible coach.
The management team negotiates fair terms to attract qualified professionals to work with your child.
But these coaches also need fair compensation, and sometimes they ask for a raise. That also affects the final price of lessons.

Are you upset that a ball or jersey is cheaper at a retail store? Of course! That’s the result of mass orders and specialization. Every sale at the club shop contributes to the school’s development.

“Yes, but you also have grants, subsidies, and sponsors!” Of course! Without these additional funds, sessions would cost much more. Every project seeks external support to spread costs, rather than burdening parents alone.

Owners don’t want to exploit parents’ wallets. High fees that discourage participation would defeat the purpose. Academies diversify revenue streams to manage costs before raising participation fees. Yet rarely can a school increase its level while keeping fees constant. Like households or offices, utility costs rise, and staff deserve fair pay. Schools invest to improve quality, set new goals, and grow, just like any other organization.
Think about schools that have been afraid to raise fees despite needing to for growth. It’s a constant struggle for survival, not strategic thinking about “how to provide the best conditions for your child’s development.”

Please reflect on this. Remember these facts if you ever feel frustrated by a membership fee increase.

I decided to write this “short” letter to parents because my experience allows me to take a broader look at football school fees. I no longer run my own schools, but through my current projects, I have oversight of thousands of schools in Poland and abroad. My schools were always among the most expensive in the region, not due to greed, but this made conversations about fees with parents more challenging. Now, looking back, I see how important it is to openly communicate that high-quality training requires appropriate costs.
I hope this letter sheds light on what monthly fees cover and helps you understand that every zloty is an investment in your child’s future – an investment that ensures better facilities, equipment, qualified coaches, safety, and the proper development of your child as an athlete and a person.

Only cooperation and mutual understanding can ensure that our young talents have everything they need to achieve their sporting dreams.

Thank you for your involvement and support, which are invaluable at every stage of a young athlete’s development.