Time to take the big money making clubs down

[Unregistered]

I agree these academies are run like organized crime with some really bad kids around our kids.

So how do we take them down?

You don't take them down. They will lose their impact if the product they are offering - soccer training and access to college scholarships / admissions - either ceases to exist or becomes less desired by families.

Access to college is what drives demand. If Covid results in hundreds of college programs being shut down or de-funded, then elite club soccer training has less value. If there are still thousands of scholarships available every year, and admissions tips at elite schools around the country, then parents will be willing to pay for the elite training that gives their kids an edge.

If you don't have the intellect to understand this dynamic, then I can't help you.

[Unregistered]

I think there should be a maximum amount of money that teams can charge cover expense and pay for ours worked. It is supposed to a sport for the kids to play the greatest game - not a get rich scheme

How would that be set - legislation? You want a law passed? Are you a socialist? Do people come to your place of work and limit what you can charge for your services?

If someone can provide the same service with the same perceived benefits at a lower price, then customers would flock to them. Many have tried and failed, because the customers see that they won't get the same results.

[Unregistered]

And there are all kinds of options out there for all budgets. Cheaper options come with tradeoffs

I think you're wasting your energy with this guy. He knows that there are other options at lower prices. He's just frustrated because they won't get his untalented kid a scholarship offer.

[Unregistered]

I'm angry because my kid isn't great. Let's tear the big clubs limb from limb!

[Unregistered]

Thats where you are wrong - it should not be a business when dealing with our youth. Only in America is it like this - people from Europe came here and took advantage of the people here and it stuck - much different than groceries - these are our kids and soccer i am talking about. not a place for people to get rich by ripping people off

How are they ripping people off? Be a better consumer and make a better choice of where you spend your $'s.

People like me are willing to spend some $ to get good coaching, a good playing environment, and perhaps exposure to college programs. As more of us seek out this service, the offering got more sophisticated, more selective, and consequently more expensive. We either opted out or continued paying. Our choice.

If you don't want to be "ripped off" by these clubs, play with your town program. It's incredibly cheap, fun, and involves little travel. No one is forcing you to overpay for an elite club, just like no one is forcing you to overpay for your Mercedes. Free market.

[Unregistered]

Thanks Coach get a real job, this should be a hobby

It is a hobby for some. It was for me when I helped coach a town team for a couple of years. For others, it is a career - because families are willing to spend $ to get better coaching, better facilities, better competition, better exposure. That's their choice.

If people didn't want this service, the career wouldn't exist.

BTW - do you insist that all of your kids' high school coaches work for free? Shouldn't that be a hobby too?

[Unregistered]

Scholarships are rare and clubs usually require proof of need with ver low income levels. Lots of kids are left out due to fees and especially travel

Play for your local town. It's cheap and fun and local. Why won't you explain why this is not an option for you?

Why are you angry about $2,500/yr club fees when there are WAAAYYY cheaper choices? Go ahead, be brave enough to say it...

[Unregistered]

And, that's OK.

Let's just acknowledge that the players are the best of the rich, and let's move along. No need to change anything. Accept that youth soccer in America is not a sport for everyone, which is unique across the world.

The typical American youth soccer player plays it because the already rich mommy and daddy wants to tell everyone on Facebook their kid got a scholarship (and who are those who least NEED a scholarship).

Quality of the game, and advancing to become the world leader our history of success and athleticism in all sports? Not a factor.

Quality of play and advancing the game have NEVER been a factor. The only people that would care about such a thing are the very top people at US Soccer and bozos like you that don't have kids and are hopelessly idealistic.

All that matters is whether the service offered meets an individual family's goals. Most want their kids to be happy, play a sport they like, grow as people/athletes --- and the better ones want to play beyond high school.

Also - only the highest level leagues require the kind of spending that upset you so much. There are lots of "typical" American club soccer players paying far less than the numbers you quote. Stop your shrieking.

[Unregistered]

Exactly. The funny thing is the crap that college players play is a direct reflection of the failed American soccer experiment from youth to Pro. Watching the game played any where else but America is a pleasure for the most part. The numbers don't lie. Americans can't compete with most other countries in this sport because of the crap that starts when the kids are 5 years old.

Its not a failed experiment unless the stated goal was to dominate world soccer. That goal has to be implicit in a soccer culture. It never was or will be in the USA. You could argue its a successful experiment if the goal was how do you design a system that makes money year in year out without having to prove you develop better talent by any objective measure.

[Unregistered]

This assumes $1500 is worth the same everywhere and does not differentiate between the cost of real estate, employees and other overhead between different regions. So who prorates the appropriate sum that should be spent?

Nevermind the fact that "everywhere else" where soccer is not being ruined, they have different set ups for making money. Usually that is via developing and then selling players. Take a look into that practice and what it means for the 99.8% of players there and say honestly that it is a more honorable way to fund things than what we have.

Monetizing free College athletes is better? Honor is subjective

[Unregistered]

Club owners get too much flak. Other than people like BA Bolts, most people get into this business for reasons other than money. It’s true, the biggest issue is with the current league/competition access.

Why is JD Stars able to control league access? How is it possible that LL is allowed to dictate what leagues others play in, as well as what fields they use?

If these issues went away we’d see a whole new model exist. And greedy adults would have to find another way to fleece families.

[Unregistered]

Club owners get too much flak. Other than people like BA Bolts, most people get into this business for reasons other than money. It’s true, the biggest issue is with the current league/competition access.

Why is JD Stars able to control league access? How is it possible that LL is allowed to dictate what leagues others play in, as well as what fields they use?

If these issues went away we’d see a whole new model exist. And greedy adults would have to find another way to fleece families.

Because he is part of the group that founded the ECNL. Barrier to entry is high for others and as long as the model is parents pay, it wont change

[Unregistered]

Club owners get too much flak. Other than people like BA Bolts, most people get into this business for reasons other than money. It’s true, the biggest issue is with the current league/competition access.

Why is JD Stars able to control league access? How is it possible that LL is allowed to dictate what leagues others play in, as well as what fields they use?

If these issues went away we’d see a whole new model exist. And greedy adults would have to find another way to fleece families.

Maybe you should join a club that’s not in ECNL. There’s plenty of other teams that play in other leagues or simply play other towns. There’s no need for you to care at all about ECNL, since it’s one of many leagues out there. Why do you even think about leagues and club affiliations, when they’re so easy to avoid?

...unless there’s something about your situation that you aren’t sharing, and you’re hiding your true agenda....?

[Unregistered]

Club owners get too much flak. Other than people like BA Bolts, most people get into this business for reasons other than money. It’s true, the biggest issue is with the current league/competition access.

Why is JD Stars able to control league access? How is it possible that LL is allowed to dictate what leagues others play in, as well as what fields they use?

If these issues went away we’d see a whole new model exist. And greedy adults would have to find another way to fleece families.

Other than people like BA at the bolts? The worst of the lot.

[Unregistered]

It is a hobby for some. It was for me when I helped coach a town team for a couple of years. For others, it is a career - because families are willing to spend $ to get better coaching, better facilities, better competition, better exposure. That's their choice.

If people didn't want this service, the career wouldn't exist.

BTW - do you insist that all of your kids' high school coaches work for free? Shouldn't that be a hobby too?

IMHO- most high school coaches are so bad they should pay us. Intern we could use that money to reinvest into club to correct the bad habits they create.