Why We Require an Attendance Performance Bond

SoCal Basketball is free. No monthly tuition. No hidden fees. No contracts. Your child plays every Saturday for as long as they want at zero cost.

But free only works if players actually show up.

When a child registers, they get placed on a team. That team has a coach, a schedule, and teammates counting on them. If half the team doesn't show, we can't run balanced games. If too many players disappear, we have to cancel tournaments and every family who did show up gets let down.

This is the exact problem that kills free youth sports programs everywhere. Kids sign up because it's free, never show up, and the program collapses.

We solved it with the Attendance Performance Bond.

How it works: The $100 bond is a refundable security deposit — not a fee. It's our way of making sure you're as committed to your child's spot as we are. When your child attends their games, you get the full $100 back. That's it.

Why it matters: Without the bond, we'd have 200 signups and 30 kids on the court. With it, our teams are full, games run on time, and your child gets the experience they signed up for.

We don't want your money. We want your commitment.

Every dollar collected through the bond goes right back to families who show up. We'd rather refund every single bond than keep a single one — because that means every kid showed up and every game was played.

What the bond guarantees for your child:

• Full teams every Saturday — no 3-on-3 because half the roster ghosted

• Games that actually happen — no last-minute cancellations

• Fair competition — balanced teams with committed players

• A real program — coaches who can plan because they know who's coming

• A better experience for everyone — players, parents, and families

The bottom line: The bond is what makes free basketball actually work. It's the reason we can offer what AAU programs charge $200-300/month for at zero monthly cost to you.