The money that clubs make by hosting a tournament is important to their continued existence. The proceeds usually go back into a club fund that takes care of expenses that most people don't see. I guarantee that no one in the program is pocketing this money. The alternative to raising club funds is the same as every other youth, Jr High and High School sport (or band, chess club, spirit squad, etc.), having your kids out selling popcorn, discount cards, pancake feeds, car washes and other fund raising activities that most of us don't enjoy. One way or another, you have to "pay to play". Hopefully, in the long run, for many of these youngsters, it pay off from the life's lessons that they will learn (competition, hard work, perseverance, integrity, discipline, and the list goes on and on).