NPL is dead in the Northeast

[Unregistered]

I love it when people say that youth soccer shouldn't cost money. Coaches, refs, field facilities and the people that maintain them don't deserve to get paid.

If you think that's the way to go start a free club. See how that works for you.

That’s the thing, they never have a plan how to fund a low cost system. Pay to play exists in every sport in the US and soccer isn’t the most expensive. I’m not saying we shouldn’t try and be more inclusive, but you have to pay for it somehow.

Soccer doesn’t have cultural significance in the US so you’re not getting significant corporate sponsorship like high end AAU BBall does, just not going to happen.

[Unregistered]

So tell us smart guy, what is the difference between ECNL, GDA, ECRL, GA, EDP, NEP .....? They all cost a ton, they all have good and bad teams .... they all have good and bad players ..... they all talk a good game ..... there is not one single league that can boast anything susbtantial about how they are fundamentally different than any other league. Sure, ECNL gets more coaches at their showcases ... but GDA stole a lot of that thunder for a year or two. It's easy, 1 stop shopping for stupid, lazy american college coaches. Plenty of kids in all of these leagues are good players and plenty of garbage as well. FC Bucks, FSA, LISC, EMSC, Stars White ..... keep listing awful teams in AMAZING leagues. plenty of teams in the leagues i know you will tout as amazing will get their asses kicked repeatedly by plenty of teams outside their AMAZING league. All of the national leagues are 2-3 times the size they should be. ALL OF THEM! DA 2.0 now has 96 teams?! What the fracture within DA2 and what it does for a bunch of the talent forced to continue to give up HS NOT to play MLS clubs. Soccer here is an f'ing joke! Parents need to stfu and let their kids play speak for itself. I hear you all snickering .... as if THAT would ever happen here in youth soccer. "Um coach, can i speak to you after practice .... i think we have a problem!"

Dude, it's Friday afternoon. Go have a beer or something. Nobody can follow your incoherent rants.

[Unregistered]

Dude, it's Friday afternoon. Go have a beer or something. Nobody can follow your incoherent rants.

I was just thinking the same. What the F is this guy talking about, needs a beer or something LOL

[Unregistered]

If a kid wants to play club soccer there should be a place for that kid to play. Even if he/she is "awful." Sports teaches a lot beyond the sport and any kid who wants it should have the opportunity. Yes, kids get priced out but don't bitch about that if you're not trying to help some kid. The clubs owners and coaches I know do a lot. I know coaches (and some parents on behalf of another kid) who have bought uniforms, paid tuition, bought boots and balls. What have "you" done short of complain?

[Unregistered]

Dude, it's Friday afternoon. Go have a beer or something. Nobody can follow your incoherent rants.

Some guy was on the verge about pontificating about how great whichever league his kid is in was .... sick of hearing that this is the only way, that is the only league, this is the only club/coach/team .... all because the poster's kid is there and it is truly because the posted did their homework, made the right choice and everyone else is an idiot. Plenty of chaff in whatever wheat field you choose and plenty of wheat too ... and there are many wheat fields to choose from. Club youth soccer is a money-making machine that under-serves probably more than 90% of their customers. They cater to a small, select few and they are mostly wrong. Just getting sick of it all. That's all.

[Unregistered]

Some guy was on the verge about pontificating about how great whichever league his kid is in was .... sick of hearing that this is the only way, that is the only league, this is the only club/coach/team .... all because the poster's kid is there and it is truly because the posted did their homework, made the right choice and everyone else is an idiot. Plenty of chaff in whatever wheat field you choose and plenty of wheat too ... and there are many wheat fields to choose from. Club youth soccer is a money-making machine that under-serves probably more than 90% of their customers. They cater to a small, select few and they are mostly wrong. Just getting sick of it all. That's all.

W t f ? He said have a beer, not drink the entire case! Please translate when you sober up.

[Unregistered]

Some guy was on the verge about pontificating about how great whichever league his kid is in was .... sick of hearing that this is the only way, that is the only league, this is the only club/coach/team .... all because the poster's kid is there and it is truly because the posted did their homework, made the right choice and everyone else is an idiot. Plenty of chaff in whatever wheat field you choose and plenty of wheat too ... and there are many wheat fields to choose from. Club youth soccer is a money-making machine that under-serves probably more than 90% of their customers. They cater to a small, select few and they are mostly wrong. Just getting sick of it all. That's all.

Yikes. What u smoking?

[Unregistered]

When my kid was first getting into club soccer, we joined a small club nearby. The coach had a meeting with parents and one of the things he said was, "Don't worry about what league we're playing in." Not knowing a thing about it at the time, my initial thought was, "What does that mean?" Anyway, the team ended up being really good, to the point of having to play keep-away in a lot of games just to not run the score up into double digits. Turned out we had joined a NSL club.

Love it and the coach was right to tell you that. Problem is that when your team outgrew the NSL, they should have been able to access the next highest level of programming in order to appropriately challenge the players. The next level would have been NEP but because your team belonged to a non-NEP club they were either a) not allowed to access the league or b) could access the league by affiliating (and paying) a current NEP member club.

That’s the fundamental problem with locked models. They’re not inclusive, they prioritize the dollar and a talented team is unable to advance without playing politics. Parents are generally insulated from these issues and are sold false promises by competing clubs that pertain to league access, college exposure related to having the acronym ‘NPL’ in the team name etc.

[Unregistered]

There are clubs out there trying to do the right thing for all of their players and are open and honest. They're not hard to find. You just need to look and not worry about what the other dad at the water cooler is selling to validate his decision.

[Unregistered]

Love it and the coach was right to tell you that. Problem is that when your team outgrew the NSL, they should have been able to access the next highest level of programming in order to appropriately challenge the players. The next level would have been NEP but because your team belonged to a non-NEP club they were either a) not allowed to access the league or b) could access the league by affiliating (and paying) a current NEP member club.

That’s the fundamental problem with locked models. They’re not inclusive, they prioritize the dollar and a talented team is unable to advance without playing politics. Parents are generally insulated from these issues and are sold false promises by competing clubs that pertain to league access, college exposure related to having the acronym ‘NPL’ in the team name etc.

Exactly right. We liked the club and the players all clicked with one another, but there was no opportunity for growth. We jumped to a NEP club, and my kid still has friends at the NSL club who are too apprehensive about tryouts and a "new team," so they's stagnating. It's a shame, because a few of them showed a lot of potential.

[Unregistered]

That’s the thing, they never have a plan how to fund a low cost system.

Other countries manage to offer free/low cost soccer.

At the top levels it’s funded by the professional clubs and the governing body. At lower levels it’s kept low cost with volunteers and sponsorship.

In the US everybody’s gotta get paid:

Coach
Field Owner
Referees
Director of Coaching
Marketing Guy
Operations Director
CEO
League Administrator
Referee Coordinator
League Regional Manager
League CEO
League Marketing Guy
Tournament Administrator
European Affiliate Clubs
Uniform Supplier
Referee Assessors
Referee Head
Head of Coaching Certifications
Governing Body
Overseas Travel Coordinator
Insurance Company
Shareholders
Private Equity Investors

[Unregistered]

Other countries manage to offer free/low cost soccer.

At the top levels it’s funded by the professional clubs and the governing body. At lower levels it’s kept low cost with volunteers and sponsorship.

In the US everybody’s gotta get paid:

Coach
Field Owner
Referees
Director of Coaching
Marketing Guy
Operations Director
CEO
League Administrator
Referee Coordinator
League Regional Manager
League CEO
League Marketing Guy
Tournament Administrator
European Affiliate Clubs
Uniform Supplier
Referee Assessors
Referee Head
Head of Coaching Certifications
Governing Body
Overseas Travel Coordinator
Insurance Company
Shareholders
Private Equity Investors

Butler
Maid
Chauffeur
Cook
Gardener
Interior Designer
Fashion Coordinator
Yacht Captain & Crew
Private Plane Pilot & Crew
Investment Manager

[Unregistered]

Butler
Maid
Chauffeur
Cook
Gardener
Interior Designer
Fashion Coordinator
Yacht Captain & Crew
Private Plane Pilot & Crew
Investment Manager

Lol brilliant

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;2773723]Other countries manage to offer free/low cost soccer.

At the top levels it’s funded by the professional clubs and the governing body. At lower levels it’s kept low cost with volunteers and sponsorship.

We have that on the men’s side. MLS at the top end and plenty of low cost town options if you’re not at the MLS level. NWSL doesn’t have the money so at the top end it’s going to be costly, but plenty of low cost alternatives.

But that’s not what people argue about. They want the good coaches, facilities and college coaches to come watch them play, but want it to be inexpensive and local. They want the top end, but somebody has to pay for that without a pro club supporting it.

[Unregistered]

If you think an unpaid volunteer youth coach = a paid professional youth coach I'll volunteer to fix your car next time it breaks down. What could go wrong.

If you don't want to pay club soccer prices, don't.