As a club mom for 3 years, I have had the same experience as Txclubmom. Which can be good and bad. I know that at our club the 12-14's have a lot of parental involvement at the travel tournaments. Once they get to the 15's they become more of the responsibility of the club. I can understand this for a lot of reasons especially the legal ones. The club is responsible for our kids when they are at the tournaments. By keeping tight control they are protecting our kids. Not all parents can afford to go to all the tournaments. You can not make rules for one kid who's parents are there and another kid who's parents are not. That will only lead to trouble. The philosophy of the girls being responsible for one another also builds good habits. However I am guilty of feeling like an outsider at a travel tournament, only there to give money and an occasional hug, then off she goes with the team. I also realize I am paying a lot of money for my daughter to participate at this level. I would not trade it. I know she will be gone off to college soon and that makes me sad and happy. The most important thing is that at a travel tournament she is safe and she is doing what she is supposed to be doing, playing volleyball and growing up. We make sure we take care of the life skills when she is at home!