Youth Sports Team Travel Planning

Youth sports team travel planning means organizing hotels, transportation and logistics for tournaments and competitions so coaches and parents are not doing it by spreadsheet. 7220 Travel was started by a cheer dad, Dave Engel, who saw how expensive and overwhelming travel athletics can be for families, and it now helps teams across the country.

What we do for teams

• Tournament hotel blocks. Rooms held for the team at a group rate, with clear cutoff dates.
• Stay-to-play guidance. Help understanding the event’s requirements and the lodging options.
• Rooming lists and updates. One organized list instead of many text threads.
• Group communication. A clear information sheet for parents.
• Season planning. Help planning travel for several events, including bigger trips and nationals.
• A fundraiser for your club. 50% of the commission 7220 Travel earns on qualifying team lodging goes back to your organization.

Sports we support

Youth cheer and dance, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, wrestling, basketball and other traveling programs. Each sport has its own tournament formats, but the logistics are similar: dates, hotels, transportation and families on different schedules.

How youth sports travel planning works

1. Tell us about the event. Name, dates, location and any lodging rules.
2. Review hotel options. Dave compares official and nearby hotels and the rules for each.
3. Open the team block. Families book into the block by the deadline.
4. Track and confirm. We keep the rooming list, handle changes and confirm details.
5. Give back. Qualifying bookings generate a donation to your club.

Common problems we help solve

• Official hotels fill before families can book.
• Prices rise as the event gets closer.
• Families book in different places and the team is split up.
• Coaches become accidental travel agents.
• Stay-to-play rules are unclear.

Read our guide on booking hotels for a youth sports tournament, learn about stay-to-play hotel options or see how the youth sports fundraiser program works. Teams can also use group travel planning for end-of-season trips, including Disney trips for teams.

Season travel checklist for coaches and managers

Item	When
Review the tournament’s lodging policy	As soon as registration opens
Set a team hotel or block	At least 6 to 8 weeks before the event for popular tournaments
Send parents the booking deadline and rules	The same day the block opens
Collect rooming needs	Before the cutoff date
Confirm cancellation and change rules	Before families pay
Share an information sheet with schedules	One to two weeks before the event

Ways teams save on travel

• Booking hotels at the start of the season, not week to week.
• Choosing hotels with free breakfast and parking.
• Carpooling or sharing rooms where rules allow.
• Asking about group rates for each event.
• Using the fundraiser program so lodging returns money to the club.

Why a travel advisor for team travel

Coaches and parents already have a lot to do. Dave handles the lodging research, the paperwork and the communication, and keeps the team’s rooming list organized. Because he started 7220 Travel after seeing how expensive all-star cheer travel can be, the program is built around saving families money and returning funds to the club.

Frequently asked questions

Can you book hotels for our tournament?

Yes. Dave can compare tournament hotels, set up a team block and help meet the event’s lodging rules.

What is stay-to-play?

Stay-to-play means the tournament requires teams to book rooms through an official hotel list. See our stay-to-play guide.

How does the fundraiser work?

When families book qualifying team lodging through 7220 Travel, 50% of the commission 7220 Travel earns is given back to your club, gym or team. Details are on the fundraiser page.

Which sports do you work with?

Cheer, baseball, softball, hockey, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, dance and other youth athletic programs.

Who coordinates the rooms?

Dave can track the team block and rooming list so coaches and parents are not doing it by hand.