Team Treasurer Blog
How to Collect Money From Your Team Without the Awkwardness

Whether you're managing a youth hockey team, a weekend soccer squad, or a school travel group, one challenge is universal: getting people to pay up.

You’re not alone if asking for money makes you cringe. It’s awkward. It feels personal. And you don’t want to seem pushy.

But here’s the truth: collecting money doesn’t have to be stressful. With the right approach—and a few smart tools—you can stay organized, stay friendly, and keep your team running smoothly.

Here’s how:
  • ✅ 1. Be Clear and Upfront
    Don’t bury the ask or dance around it. Let people know:
    • What the money is for (e.g. tournament fee, jerseys, snacks)
    • How much each person owes
    • When it’s due
    Say it early in the season, and say it clearly. Example:
    “Hi team! We’re collecting $25 per player for jerseys. Please send it by Friday so we can order on time. Thanks!”
    When people know the why, what, and when, they’re more likely to follow through.
  • ✅ 2. Normalize It
    Treat team contributions like any other team commitment—just like showing up for practice.
    A simple line like:
    “Thanks for being part of the team! Everyone’s pitching in $20 to cover costs.”
    …helps make payment feel like a normal part of being involved—not a personal favor.
  • ✅ 3. Use Friendly Reminders
    People forget. Life gets busy. That doesn’t mean they’re trying to dodge payment.
    Send a group reminder first:
    “Quick reminder to send in your $20 for tournament fees by Friday. Thanks to those who’ve already sent!”
    Still not paid? Then go one-on-one, privately and politely. Try:
    “Hey [Name], just checking in on the team fee. Let me know if you need more time—no problem!”
    Kindness + clarity = results.
  • ✅ 4. Keep Track (Without Losing Your Mind)
    The #1 frustration team organizers share? Trying to remember who’s paid and who hasn’t.
    Scrambling through Venmo notes, texts, and sticky notes is a recipe for stress.
    That’s where Team Treasurer comes in.
    With our app, you can:
    • Track who has paid and who hasn’t
    • Send friendly reminders in one click
    • Avoid awkward conversations
    • Keep everything in one place
    • Feel like a boss 🏒📊
  • ✅ 5. Celebrate the Small Wins
    Thank people when they pay. Shout out early contributors. Mention the shared commitment at your next team huddle.
    The more people feel part of the process, the easier it is next time around.

Collecting money doesn’t have to feel weird.

Set clear expectations, stay friendly, and use smart tools to take the pressure off.

Team Treasurer was built by team parents who’ve been in your shoes.
We’ve made it easy to organize your finances, send reminders, and get back to the fun part: cheering on your team.

👉 Ready to make collecting money simple? Start using Team Treasurer today.

How to Communicate Team Finances Without Boring Everyone

Team finances are important… but let’s be honest: most people’s eyes glaze over when you bring them up.

Parents want to cheer, players want to play, and no one is itching for a 20-minute PowerPoint on your spreadsheet.

So how do you, as the team treasurer, share important financial info without losing your audience?

Here are some tried-and-true tips:

  • 🎯 1. Keep It Short and Simple
    Skip the jargon and long breakdowns. Share just the essentials:
    • What came in (dues, fundraising, sponsorships)
    • What went out (fees, uniforms, tournaments)
    • What’s left (current balance or what’s still owed)
    A quick, 3-bullet summary is all most people need. Save the detailed numbers for your own records.
  • 🎯 2. Use Visuals Over Spreadsheets
    Instead of dumping a table of numbers, show a pie chart or bar graph:
    “60% of our budget is going to tournaments.”
    “We’ve collected 80% of dues so far.”
    Visuals make the story obvious at a glance — no calculator required.
  • 🎯 3. Deliver Updates Where People Already Are
    Don’t create a new meeting just to talk money. Share quick updates in:
    • A group chat message
    • The weekly team email
    • A 2-minute note at the end of practice
    When updates are easy to access, people are more likely to stay engaged.
  • 🎯 4. Highlight Wins, Not Just Bills
    It’s easy for financial updates to sound like more money, more money, more money.
    Balance that by celebrating what the money achieved:
    “Thanks to everyone’s dues, we’re fully covered for the new uniforms!”
    “Our fundraiser covered half the tournament fee — amazing job!”
    This frames finances as progress, not pressure.
  • 🎯 5. Be Transparent, But Not Overwhelming
    Transparency builds trust. But there’s a difference between open and overload.
    Example: Instead of a giant Excel dump, send a clean summary like:
    • Income: $2,100
    • Expenses: $1,850
    • Balance: $250
    Enough detail to reassure, without drowning people in decimals.
Keep It Simple, Keep It Friendly

Communicating team finances isn’t about dazzling people with numbers — it’s about building trust and keeping everyone on the same page.

And here’s the good news: you don’t need to do it manually.

👉 Team Treasurer makes sharing finances easy. With clear dashboards, automatic reminders, and simple reports, you can update your team in seconds — without boring anyone.

Get started with Team Treasurer today.

How to Be a Team Treasurer

How to Be a Great Treasurer for Your Minor League Team

Taking on the role of team treasurer for a minor league or youth sports team can feel overwhelming. But whether you’re a parent volunteer or a coach trying to keep the finances straight, you can do it—and do it well—with a bit of planning and the right templates.

What follows is a practical guide—including a free Excel template you can download immediately—and an introduction to how the Team Treasurer app can make your life even easier.

📘 Before the Season
  1. Create a Budget
    Begin by listing expected income (player dues, sponsorships, fundraising) and anticipated expenses (uniforms, fields, travel, tournaments, admin fees). Set clear categories and allocate a contingency buffer. Our free Excel template uses a “Budget vs. Actual” layout to help you track progress.
  2. Open a Dedicated Account
    Never mix personal and team funds. If your team is under a larger club, request a dedicated account or sub-account so that finances remain transparent and safely tracked.
  3. Set Policies & Controls
    Even small amounts deserve oversight: require two signatures for larger spending, avoid storing cash overnight, and keep receipts for every transaction.
🏟️ During the Season
  1. Collect Player Fees Efficiently
    Send invoices early and clearly state deadlines. Use payment reminders (automated if possible) and assign one person to deposit all funds. Team Treasurer app lets you track fee collection seamlessly and automate reminders so you never chase families manually.
  2. Log Income & Expenses
    Enter every transaction into your system—Excel or an app—and categorize each line. Our Excel template separates income and expenses and auto-calculates balances. With Team Treasurer, you get real-time expense management—custom labels, clear categories, and mobile access for entries on the go.
  3. Communicate Regularly
    Share monthly or mid‑season financial snapshots with parents and coaches to maintain transparency. While Excel can generate a summary sheet, Team Treasurer’s detailed reporting makes it simple to export PDF or Excel statements for league compliance or team meetings.
🏁 End of Season Wrap‑Up
  1. Finalize Everything
    Use your template to compare budget vs actual spending, settle outstanding dues or refunds, and document any surplus or deficit.
  2. Hand Off Stewardship
    Compile financial documents, bank reconciliations, receipts, and guides. A successor can take over confidently—especially if you’ve used the Team Treasurer app, where easy setup, reset season, and role handoff are built‑in features.
  3. Reflect & Plan
    What worked well this season? What could be improved? Document lessons learned to make next year smoother for everyone.
🎁 Download the Free Excel Template

Here’s a clean and simple Excel workbook you can start using today:

  • Income Sheet: Date, category, description, payer, and amount
  • Expenses Sheet: Date, category, description, payee, and amount
  • Summary Sheet: Auto‑calculates total income, total expenses, net balance—it even shows budget vs actual if you add your planned figures

Download the Free Excel Template to get started with budgeting and tracking for your team.

✅ Why You Might Prefer the Team Treasurer App
  • Track Fee Collection: Collect dues and track every payment with automated reminders.
  • Expense Management: Log all expenses with custom categories, accessible from your phone.
  • Budget Planning: Set your seasonal budget, monitor spending, and track progress.
  • Mobile‑First: Designed for busy parents and coaches.
  • Easy Setup & Season Reset: Change team name, categories, or reset books for a new season.
  • Detailed Reports: Generate professional reports in PDF or Excel.
✔️ Final Thoughts

Starting with the Excel template gives you full control and a foundation in financial tracking. But if you want to reduce manual work, eliminate tracking mistakes, and add transparency without extra effort, the Team Treasurer app is made exactly for you.

Make your life easier with Team Treasurer—start your free trial today and let us handle the logistics so you can focus on supporting your team.