Geoff Cameron has a few things to say

[Unregistered]

Very short sighted comments. Although the premier league is a great league, there are other leagues and many players out there playing. A drop in players in the EPL may reflect other avenues that players are considering. While the MLS is still a second tier league it too is improving. It is quite possible that talented players are looking at their financials which are factually improving in the MLS.

https://ussoccerplayers.com/usmnt-players-abroad
https://ussoccerplayers.com/us-national-team-squad

As for the DA, perhaps it is a step in the right direction but not the last step. The league has clearly recognized two facts about youth sports, especially in a country where sports has to compete with already established and very prominent alternatives.
1. Money. The less expensive club soccer becomes, the more attractive it will be. The DA clubs....and non-DA clubs....are looking for ways to make this happen. Granted...at the expense of players/families that are willing to pay the full fee.
2. Money. MLS salaries are increasing each year and interest (attendance and Media coverage) are increasing. Why go to Europe to make 50-80K pounds when you can stay home and make 125K dollars?
3. The DA has realized that two days per week training was worthless. Four (standard)- five days per week with weekend game (s) is moving in the right direction

The next step are residence academies.
IMG in Florida
Barca in Arizona
DC United with Calverton Academy

The direction is positive. To state otherwise is somewhat ignorant.

Yet USSF closed their own successful U17 residence academy @ Bradenton. Reality is they should have opened more

I agree that residence academies are a great

[Unregistered]

Very short sighted comments. Although the premier league is a great league, there are other leagues and many players out there playing. A drop in players in the EPL may reflect other avenues that players are considering. While the MLS is still a second tier league it too is improving. It is quite possible that talented players are looking at their financials which are factually improving in the MLS.

https://ussoccerplayers.com/usmnt-players-abroad
https://ussoccerplayers.com/us-national-team-squad

As for the DA, perhaps it is a step in the right direction but not the last step. The league has clearly recognized two facts about youth sports, especially in a country where sports has to compete with already established and very prominent alternatives.
1. Money. The less expensive club soccer becomes, the more attractive it will be. The DA clubs....and non-DA clubs....are looking for ways to make this happen. Granted...at the expense of players/families that are willing to pay the full fee.
2. Money. MLS salaries are increasing each year and interest (attendance and Media coverage) are increasing. Why go to Europe to make 50-80K pounds when you can stay home and make 125K dollars?
3. The DA has realized that two days per week training was worthless. Four (standard)- five days per week with weekend game (s) is moving in the right direction

The next step are residence academies.
IMG in Florida
Barca in Arizona
DC United with Calverton Academy

The direction is positive. To state otherwise is somewhat ignorant.

Average MLS starting salary is much lower. Minimum is $54.5K this year. The mean (average) across all of MLS is $314K but the median is $117K - in other words there's a big gap between the top few stars and the bulk of the salaries. Also 80K pounds is $113K US. Oh, and it's much better soccer than the MLS. If you really have pro potential you want to get out of the US to hone your skills.

The lack of soccer culture here in the US. The big sports dominate the media and the hearts and minds of fans and kids. Very US few kids want to be Messi; many want to be LeBron. That isn't changing soon. We can toss all the money we want at soccer but until it has broader support and more kids aspire to be soccer stars we will continue to lag

I do agree 100% that academies would be a much better development system. What we're doing now clearly needs to be blown up. Some MLS clubs are starting their own but it isn't nearly sufficient and I don't see USSF shelling out the money for it.

[Unregistered]

Average MLS starting salary is much lower. Minimum is $54.5K this year. The mean (average) across all of MLS is $314K but the median is $117K - in other words there's a big gap between the top few stars and the bulk of the salaries. Also 80K pounds is $113K US. Oh, and it's much better soccer than the MLS. If you really have pro potential you want to get out of the US to hone your skills.

The lack of soccer culture here in the US. The big sports dominate the media and the hearts and minds of fans and kids. Very US few kids want to be Messi; many want to be LeBron. That isn't changing soon. We can toss all the money we want at soccer but until it has broader support and more kids aspire to be soccer stars we will continue to lag

I do agree 100% that academies would be a much better development system. What we're doing now clearly needs to be blown up. Some MLS clubs are starting their own but it isn't nearly sufficient and I don't see USSF shelling out the money for it.

We probably agree on more than just the academy concept.
When you say that 'MLS starting salary is much lower'.....lower than what? Lower than other sports...absolutely correct. But increasing from 10 years ago. Although too slow for narrowed minded folk, there is upward progress in the American professional leagues.

It is funny to hear the Lebron/Messi comparison. While both are blessed by internal genetics, one is nearly impossible...Most are vertically challenged to be a Lebron.

[Unregistered]

We probably agree on more than just the academy concept.
When you say that 'MLS starting salary is much lower'.....lower than what? Lower than other sports...absolutely correct. But increasing from 10 years ago. Although too slow for narrowed minded folk, there is upward progress in the American professional leagues.

It is funny to hear the Lebron/Messi comparison. While both are blessed by internal genetics, one is nearly impossible...Most are vertically challenged to be a Lebron.

Messi is the product of large amounts of HGH when he was young.

[Unregistered]

Very short sighted comments. Although the premier league is a great league, there are other leagues and many players out there playing. A drop in players in the EPL may reflect other avenues that players are considering. While the MLS is still a second tier league it too is improving. It is quite possible that talented players are looking at their financials which are factually improving in the MLS.

https://ussoccerplayers.com/usmnt-players-abroad
https://ussoccerplayers.com/us-national-team-squad

As for the DA, perhaps it is a step in the right direction but not the last step. The league has clearly recognized two facts about youth sports, especially in a country where sports has to compete with already established and very prominent alternatives.
1. Money. The less expensive club soccer becomes, the more attractive it will be. The DA clubs....and non-DA clubs....are looking for ways to make this happen. Granted...at the expense of players/families that are willing to pay the full fee.
2. Money. MLS salaries are increasing each year and interest (attendance and Media coverage) are increasing. Why go to Europe to make 50-80K pounds when you can stay home and make 125K dollars?
3. The DA has realized that two days per week training was worthless. Four (standard)- five days per week with weekend game (s) is moving in the right direction

The next step are residence academies.
IMG in Florida
Barca in Arizona
DC United with Calverton Academy

The direction is positive. To state otherwise is somewhat ignorant.

Good post.
Why are bolts the only DA in this area that charges full price? Oakwood and seacoast are highly subsidized. Revs are free.

[Unregistered]

Good post.
Why are bolts the only DA in this area that charges full price? Oakwood and seacoast are highly subsidized. Revs are free.

Beachside charges full price, probably more than Bolts.

- CT DA

[Unregistered]

Beachside charges full price, probably more than Bolts.

- CT DA

ok Why are Bolts and Beachside the only DAs in this area that charge full price? Oakwood and Seacoast are highly subsidized. Revs are free.

[Unregistered]

Good post.
Why are bolts the only DA in this area that charges full price? Oakwood and seacoast are highly subsidized. Revs are free.

Good question. However, do you know for a fact that all the players on the Bolts are paying a full price?
It is my impression that many are subsidized by the rest of the club....which is otherwise pretty weak.
I also believe that the goal of the Bolts expansion is to reduce the fee for the DAP.

All this goes to support my earlier post regarding the reality of soccer training in the US and the direction toward academies, the latter of which will require partnering with larger entities so that the players will experience lower cost for the combined soccer training and education.

If you want to be good at anything then you need to train daily. if you want to be mediocre then do as what is currently done.

[Unregistered]

You need a decent sized club with many profitable teams to help subsidize DA. Smaller clubs will have a tougher time. I thinks most BDA clubs have managed to lower costs, some more than others. Most will try and help families in need. But costly travel is also a big issue. GDA fees seem to be higher and there's no free MLS (a few clubs are free to play but it's less than half a dozen). Its going to be very tough for a club with BDA and GDA to keep bank accounts healthy. Fund raising and sponsorships can help. It also takes good financial planning and face it, club owners aren't MBA types

[Unregistered]

Good post.
Why are bolts the only DA in this area that charges full price? Oakwood and seacoast are highly subsidized. Revs are free.

Oakwood is no longer subsidized and still requires raffle ticket sales

[Unregistered]

Oakwood is no longer subsidized and still requires raffle ticket sales

They have to pay for GDA now.

[Unregistered]

Good question. However, do you know for a fact that all the players on the Bolts are paying a full price?
It is my impression that many are subsidized by the rest of the club....which is otherwise pretty weak.
I also believe that the goal of the Bolts expansion is to reduce the fee for the DAP.

All this goes to support my earlier post regarding the reality of soccer training in the US and the direction toward academies, the latter of which will require partnering with larger entities so that the players will experience lower cost for the combined soccer training and education.

If you want to be good at anything then you need to train daily. if you want to be mediocre then do as what is currently done.

Bolts is subsidized and free for many. I’m not understanding how the thread turned to the cost of Bolts, but it is in fact lower than club costs elsewhere.

[Unregistered]

Bolts is subsidized and free for many. I’m not understanding how the thread turned to the cost of Bolts, but it is in fact lower than club costs elsewhere.

The poster probably has a beef with Bolts. That’s why smart people don’t rely on TS for real information.

[Unregistered]

Jack Harrison is a good example. Best kid to play around here this decade. Grew up playing in England. Played briefly at Berkshire and Black Rock. Went to Wake Forest, about as good as it gets in college, then GA to the MLS for a bit. Now he moves to the EPL. Where did he get trained, England or the US? Some of both. Or did it matter? He would have been a star regardless. Had he been born in Boston he may have tried hockey or lax.

[Unregistered]

Bolts is subsidized and free for many. I’m not understanding how the thread turned to the cost of Bolts, but it is in fact lower than club costs elsewhere.

Total Lie. my friends kid plays academy. He is not well off. Makes less than 60K per year. Applied for financial aid. Did not even get a reply. Called them multiple times and was finally told that they didn't have any money. He had to take a high interest personal loan. Heard similar stories from others.

They know they have people by the you know what. Only game in town other than the Revs and if you can't make the drive to Seacoast or Oakwood (most can't).