Club fees

[Guest]

Are club fees negotiable? Not meaning financial aid or making payments but if you have a very good player negotiate an amount versus sticker price?

[Guest]

Yes..

[Guest]

Yes. No. Maybe. Some clubs will laugh you off, especially if it's a better and full team OR your kid isn't as good as you think. Discounts are correlated to how badly they want your kid or more fillers for a struggling team. Partial fees are better than none if a team needs a certain position or bodies.

The only way you will know is to ask

[Guest]

Considering the fees are created with little to no thought aside from "how much do we think people will pay?", yes, in certain circumstances they will drop their fees. Some clubs are actually capable of doing math and they know a team is "paid for" with a certain number of players on the team. Seacoast, for example, a long time ago at this point, coaches knew an 11v11 team was paid for with 15 players, so coaches had wiggle room to fill the last three spots at a discount.

[Guest]

I've heard of it and I suppose, theoretically it's possible. We never did, whether that was because I wasn't confident enough to leverage anything, or because for the amount we pay compared to the what we get, from a $/hr perspective, I always found it reasonable.

[Guest]

I have a player needing to make a switch due to birth year. I have been approached by a few coaches knowing our situation. It is a ballsy move but wondering if I have leverage to ask for a discounted rate and of course not mention it to anyone on the team. But also wondering if maybe the top teams wouldn’t do this because they already have interest to fill all spots.

[Guest]

I have a player needing to make a switch due to birth year. I have been approached by a few coaches knowing our situation. It is a ballsy move but wondering if I have leverage to ask for a discounted rate and of course not mention it to anyone on the team. But also wondering if maybe the top teams wouldn’t do this because they already have interest to fill all spots.

Unless he's going to be a top 3 player on a very top team and you have a financial need it will be tough.

[Guest]

Clubs will definitely let a player switch during the season and discount whatever they paid to their current club or just come over for the cost of a uniform because in the long run they'll make money and they put on over a rival club. I've been able to offer "just pay for the uniform" many times during the end of fall/winter period to bring a player over if they would help the team.

[Guest]

Desperately needed GKs have the most leverage. Other positions not so much. Top teams generally won't discount, they don't need to. Some clubs will give financial assistance but require you submitting paperwork. Most soccer families can afford soccer, but affordability is a topic for another thread.

[Guest]

Yes if your player is good enough a top team won't make you pay so you play with them so that they can win. Clubs in ECNL and GA do this for sure. TBH if they aren't already coming to you with free club - then she/he probably isn't at that level. They have PLENTY of kids at your child's level who will gladly pay that fee to be on that team.

[Guest]

Yes if your player is good enough a top team won't make you pay so you play with them so that they can win. Clubs in ECNL and GA do this for sure. TBH if they aren't already coming to you with free club - then she/he probably isn't at that level. They have PLENTY of kids at your child's level who will gladly pay that fee to be on that team.

Which is exactly why top teams DO NOT discount rates. They don't need to, not even for most of the better players. Discounts happen more often on lower level teams or any team desperate for bodies or a certain position (my GK kid got offers all the time, their field player siblings did not).

[Guest]

Yes but I can afford it and some other families cannot so I would never do so. I wouldn't be comfortable getting a free ride knowing another family is making a huge financial sacrifice to have their kid play. Obviously it doesn't exactly work that way, I'm sure clubs would be happy with every player shutting up and paying full price but maybe somewhere along the line I can help someone else get a break.

[Guest]

Which is exactly why top teams DO NOT discount rates. They don't need to, not even for most of the better players. Discounts happen more often on lower level teams or any team desperate for bodies or a certain position (my GK kid got offers all the time, their field player siblings did not).

Discounts or waiving of any fee for the 1-3 best players is very common, boys and girls. Some MLS Next clubs waive fees entirely and the Revs will offset travel costs for parents if your kid is good enough to justify it, On the girls side I know parents who have been handed checks playing on the top ECNL teams to cover hotel costs and that was after waiving fees to secure a player. It’s a very common part of the game, but it’s very dependent on the quality of the talent.

[Guest]

Yes but I can afford it and some other families cannot so I would never do so. I wouldn't be comfortable getting a free ride knowing another family is making a huge financial sacrifice to have their kid play. Obviously it doesn't exactly work that way, I'm sure clubs would be happy with every player shutting up and paying full price but maybe somewhere along the line I can help someone else get a break.

I agree. I wouldn't take it either because we can afford it. It should be purely need based, not because they really want a player.

[Guest]

I agree. I wouldn't take it either because we can afford it. It should be purely need based, not because they really want a player.

Same here. Could we have tried and got something? Most likely. Never considered it. My naive hope is it goes toward a player who needs it more