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Post by Soccerhouse on Oct 17, 2017 17:52:56 GMT -5
Capitalism is what has caused youth soccer to fail in the US. It’s going to catch up soon and be the demise of the girls program also. Fortunately for girls the college game is still a great place to grow and develop.
There i said it. Do some research on what some local directors are making. Local Tourneys are mostly to justify salaries vs offer affordable Soccer.
Still not the answer but, it’s a start. Without some sort of revenue it’s gonna be tough to ever have change. We won’t see an open system any time soon.
Many other problems as well, but had to get that off my chest. I also know that many players don’t ever pay a dime - seem this for years. Seems to be inconsistent for sure, some kids are studs and others are average, but know they don’t have to pay a penny.
So on the flip side - I do think many kids are playing that can’t afford to. But - if your a 9th grader and your a quality point guard and maybe a super quality soccer player, unless you have “soccer in your blood” your playing hoops!
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Post by paterfamilias on Oct 18, 2017 7:07:23 GMT -5
Without a full fledged economic study, I think it might be premature to blame the failure on capitalism. Other sports seem to be doing just fine. Junior league hockey, aau basketball etc.
I agree it is appalling what directors make, but we willing pay those fees. If we did not after we would find another outlet to spend our money. That is the beauty of a semi-free market. Choices abound to compete for our leisure dollars.
I'd be more inclined to place blame on uninspired leadership starting at the very top, Sunil Gulati. There needs to be a visionary in that position not a technocrat.
You may notice that mls and larger clubs are moving away from competition that capitalism thrives on by adopting closed club leagues without promotion and relegation. That more than anything else breeds complacency at the top ranks which permeates throughout.
The system is the problem, not the economic one though. The one US Soccer has chosen for itself.
Just my humble opinion.
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Post by soccerdaddy on Oct 23, 2017 22:01:09 GMT -5
At what point is Elite Soccer free for the youth player? MLS Academy - yes. DA non MLS academy - No; ODP - No, ODP region team - I don’t know? I would think so. National or SRPL- No. Sorry but that is is a business. There are a few scholarships for players, but is based solely on skill level and refusal to pay. Those clubs give free rides to those players they choose but ensure they get it from other players to compensate including coaches fees. Youth club soccer has become all about the $ money to play. I still believe that it is a “business” that gets in the way of “Development”, period.....
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Post by goteam on Oct 23, 2017 22:26:14 GMT -5
Seriously. What a money grab. Just this weekend I was talking with a parent , my son's age group has roughly 21 travel teams between DA, ECNL, RPL. Why the heck do you have 21 teams (roughly) all w/ 18 or more kids traveling to play elite soccer? There are not this many elite player's people! Seems to me school and studies come at a much lower priority - all for kids who have zero shot to play college ball or get scholarships. Just craziness and frankly - it's been a disservice to both soccer and kids alike
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Post by rifle on Oct 24, 2017 6:27:56 GMT -5
Seriously. What a money grab. Just this weekend I was talking with a parent , my son's age group has roughly 21 travel teams between DA, ECNL, RPL. Why the heck do you have 21 teams (roughly) all w/ 18 or more kids traveling to play elite soccer? There are not this many elite player's people! Seems to me school and studies come at a much lower priority - all for kids who have zero shot to play college ball or get scholarships. Just craziness and frankly - it's been a disservice to both soccer and kids alike So right. A P/R based bracket format, including the MLS and DA teams earning their position, would better serve the game. Let the best of the top bracket play regionally and for an annual tournament where each region's best all meet. Otherwise, "when everybody's elite, nobody's elite".
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Post by soccerlegacy on Oct 25, 2017 10:14:07 GMT -5
So how do you go about changing the culture of pay to play? IS there a way?
I wish there was some soccer fanatical philanthropist that would start up a club that made it affordable to ALL youth players. I know this is corny, but I often think about what I would do if I ever won one of those Powerball lotteries.... I have dreamt of buying a prime, centrally located field (not some flood plain), paying top notch coaches and then charging (a bare minimum fee just to cover basics like uniforms and equipment) and open it up for anyone to come and play, putting the emphasis on the players and not the organization. Then, sit back and watch it flourish as a powerhouse.
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Post by rifle on Oct 26, 2017 6:13:48 GMT -5
When MLS and USSF stop intercepting training compensation payments for players that have signed professional contracts in Europe, or to domestic pro teams, the cost will come down.
An open pyramid, with multiple levels of pro teams with academies - ie "clubs" buying/selling and training their own to play or sell, is another avenue to reduce the cost of [country] club soccer at the grassroots level.
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