Choosing a spot for next year

[Unregistered]

Pretty much anytime someone writes "the kid has no talent/you are spending too much/your kid has no future" it is him. There isn't just one person calling him out. I think his continual negativity is destructive.

Where did that post say the kid had no talent? I didn't get that at all, what I took from the post was questioning the parent's logic for pushing so hard. Here is what the parent wrote:

Was facing similar issues last year. Our solution was to seek out private small group training an extra 2 days per week. If your player is really committed she should be doing as much work away from team practices as possible.

The post is presumably about a U11 so asking where the parents think they are heading is very much an appropriate question. There are a lot of hidden costs in club soccer and at U11 parents may not be aware that everything intensifies in club soccer as you age up, including the rate of spending. I am a former coach and have witnessed parents doing this with their kids plenty of times and truthfully most of them burn their kids out before high school. They will drop $$25-30K on club soccer only to have the kid walk away, is that supposed to be the goal we're defending?

[Unregistered]

No it's about finding the right level for the player in question, not quitting soccer altogether. Enough with the "only the elite should play"

Your point about find the right level is well taken. If you have a child who is really just happy with soccer being the second or third most important part of their life that is normal so why do you want to put them on the same track with the abnormal kids that have the game as their number one priority and who are selling out for it? Unfortunately some parents are very materialistic and end up confusing the issue of "playing soccer", with their ability purchase things for their children. Those sorts will put their kids on the same teams as elite players but then complain about the intensity or just don't follow the program. That has nothing to do with "playing soccer", it's about mismatched expectations and commitment and questioning the need to be the square peg on a team or round holes.

[Unregistered]

They will drop $$25-30K on club soccer only to have the kid walk away, is that supposed to be the goal we're defending?

I don't understand the focus on "Why are you wasting money on club soccer?" that seems to come up on almost every thread. Parents are only going to pay what they can afford. I seriously doubt that any family has been ignorantly led into financial ruin due to club soccer fees. If a family is really struggling financially, they either move from an expensive club to a more affordable mom & pop club or even back to town soccer, or apply for financial help from their club. Everyone else has the income to spend on soccer, and must actually feel it is worthwhile spending it there, otherwise they would spend it on an expensive vacation every year, instead.

[Unregistered]

I don't understand the focus on "Why are you wasting money on club soccer?" that seems to come up on almost every thread. Parents are only going to pay what they can afford. I seriously doubt that any family has been ignorantly led into financial ruin due to club soccer fees. If a family is really struggling financially, they either move from an expensive club to a more affordable mom & pop club or even back to town soccer, or apply for financial help from their club. Everyone else has the income to spend on soccer, and must actually feel it is worthwhile spending it there, otherwise they would spend it on an expensive vacation every year, instead.

It only comes up because one person is obsessed with it. He feels the need to save us from the evils of club soccer. Ignore him and do what's best for your player and family

[Unregistered]

Your point about find the right level is well taken. If you have a child who is really just happy with soccer being the second or third most important part of their life that is normal so why do you want to put them on the same track with the abnormal kids that have the game as their number one priority and who are selling out for it? Unfortunately some parents are very materialistic and end up confusing the issue of "playing soccer", with their ability purchase things for their children. Those sorts will put their kids on the same teams as elite players but then complain about the intensity or just don't follow the program. That has nothing to do with "playing soccer", it's about mismatched expectations and commitment and questioning the need to be the square peg on a team or round holes.

Of course you being the expert and all and knowing each player and family's own circumstances. SMH

[Unregistered]

Your point about find the right level is well taken. If you have a child who is really just happy with soccer being the second or third most important part of their life that is normal so why do you want to put them on the same track with the abnormal kids that have the game as their number one priority and who are selling out for it? Unfortunately some parents are very materialistic and end up confusing the issue of "playing soccer", with their ability purchase things for their children. Those sorts will put their kids on the same teams as elite players but then complain about the intensity or just don't follow the program. That has nothing to do with "playing soccer", it's about mismatched expectations and commitment and questioning the need to be the square peg on a team or round holes.

This sums about 85% of the kids playing club soccer!

[Unregistered]

BTNT cares about you, and cares deeply. Nothing less, nothing more. In fact, no one cares about (and respects) you more than he does.

[Unregistered]

I don't understand the focus on "Why are you wasting money on club soccer?" that seems to come up on almost every thread. Parents are only going to pay what they can afford. I seriously doubt that any family has been ignorantly led into financial ruin due to club soccer fees. If a family is really struggling financially, they either move from an expensive club to a more affordable mom & pop club or even back to town soccer, or apply for financial help from their club. Everyone else has the income to spend on soccer, and must actually feel it is worthwhile spending it there, otherwise they would spend it on an expensive vacation every year, instead.

The spending in club soccer has become like cold war arms race spending and some wealthy parents are following a Reagan like strategy of winning the war based upon the strength of the purchasing power, not the ability of their kids to play soccer.

[Unregistered]

The spending in club soccer has become like cold war arms race spending and some wealthy parents are following a Reagan like strategy of winning the war based upon the strength of the purchasing power, not the ability of their kids to play soccer.

Slow down, BTNT. Too many metaphors and analogies confuses the messages, BTNT.

[Unregistered]

Please stop ruining every thread you two.

[Unregistered]

Please stop ruining every thread you two.

TS would be so much better without them

[Unregistered]

TS would be so much better without them

What would you do without BTDT's constant, expert advice?

[Unregistered]

Slow down, BTNT. Too many metaphors and analogies confuses the messages, BTNT.

You guys are a couple of wack jobs. Why not meet somewhere and have it out so you can stop polluting us with your insanity. Oh that's right - then you'd have nothing to do!

[Unregistered]

It only comes up because one person is obsessed with it. He feels the need to save us from the evils of club soccer. Ignore him and do what's best for your player and family

Suggest you go read the thread about how soccer is organized in this state. What you have here is a constant marketing message that families need to sell out and speed tens of thousands of dollars on club soccer. That is not necessarily always appropriate advice for every kid because there are plenty of opportunities for kids to play soccer without spending a fortune while doing that. The club spokesmen on this site clearly don't want any hint of that dialogue popping up because it ruins their sales pitch.

[Unregistered]

The spending in club soccer has become like cold war arms race spending and some wealthy parents are following a Reagan like strategy of winning the war based upon the strength of the purchasing power, not the ability of their kids to play soccer.

Ok, I guess I had it wrong. You aren't so much upset that people are spending their money on club soccer. What really upsets you is that you think parents are buying their kid's way onto various teams, right? I don't really see this happening directly, as in some parent handing over extra money so that their kid, who is clearly not up to the skill level of the team, gets a roster spot over some more deserving kid who didn't pay extra. There are tryouts and in most cases the best kids are chosen for the top teams (as most people here point out, you could probably swap the bottom third of an A team for a top third of B).

If, however, you are complaining because some high level players can't afford fees and travel costs at top clubs, so in essence, only the people who can pay are filling the roster spots for these "elite" teams, then your problem is with the pay-to-play system, not the participants. You're a real fool if you think you can fix this by telling all those parents who happen to frequent TS, can afford the fees and travel of a top team, and their kid has enough skill to make the team through tryouts, that they really should step back to travel because their kid isn't really skilled enough to be considered "elite". Somebody is always going to fill the bottom roster spots on that top team, no matter how big the gap is between them and the top players on the team. Your ranting will never change that. What could change that is to up end the pay to play system. So why don't you put all your efforts toward that herculean task, your time would be better spent.