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[Guest]

These clubs hide behind "non-profit" status but we all know it's big business with a great tax benefit. Parents think because of all the $ they dole out that the clubs should be more transparent and communicative to their "customers". Well, you are not their customer but rather a "donor" supporting a demand that you created. The real lie is the "academy level" or "elite" level status that these clubs push forward to charge more $. We all know that outside of the top 2 teams at 90% of the big clubs and only the top team at the smaller clubs that it really should be called "recreational soccer", where the kids practice 2 x's per week, are coached by a volunteer parent & play a local game on Saturday for fun. However, if that were the case they could only charge you $150 instead of $2,500 and you couldn't brag that your lil' johnny plays "elite" soccer. At the core, the clubs are simply providing a service that the parents want for their kid while stringing them along that the kid is better than they really are OR simply avoiding that conversation altogether so they don't lose a donor that renews their gift annually. The parents need to wake up! Even if your kid is in that 2-3% that gets a scholly it's still going to be for 1/4 - 1/2 of the college cost at the most and usually at a college that the kid wouldn't want to attend but for that very reason that they are giving them a few dollars to do so. Unfortunately, most parents don't realize how much $ they've wasted until the kid is a JR in HS and they could've put that $10K+ into a college fund and drawn interest all this time. Welcome to youth sports in America! Don't blame the clubs or their leaders. They are simply doing what the market demands and it's only growing. If there's a lack of value in these services the parents don't pull out of the system they simply switch clubs until they hear what they want. Unfortunately, the clubs rarely have to deal with the ramifications of their lack of transparency and business acumen because there are always new "donors" to fill the pipeline regardless of their ineptitude. It's the perfect business to be in and you don't even have to pay taxes on your profits.

[Guest]

What if you already know all this but still think it is money well spent because my daughter loves it and sports are more important than ever for a kids mental health. I don’t plan on her getting a dime from a college to play soccer but spending $5000+ per year isn’t wasted. She’s doing something healthy that she enjoys with a bunch of friends.
As a family we choose to spend our money on club sports instead of a yearly trip to Disney that cost $10,000

[Guest]

What else is going to be doing Friday night and weekends? Drugs? Boys?

[Guest]

These clubs hide behind "non-profit" status but we all know it's big business with a great tax benefit. Parents think because of all the $ they dole out that the clubs should be more transparent and communicative to their "customers". Well, you are not their customer but rather a "donor" supporting a demand that you created. The real lie is the "academy level" or "elite" level status that these clubs push forward to charge more $. We all know that outside of the top 2 teams at 90% of the big clubs and only the top team at the smaller clubs that it really should be called "recreational soccer", where the kids practice 2 x's per week, are coached by a volunteer parent & play a local game on Saturday for fun. However, if that were the case they could only charge you $150 instead of $2,500 and you couldn't brag that your lil' johnny plays "elite" soccer. At the core, the clubs are simply providing a service that the parents want for their kid while stringing them along that the kid is better than they really are OR simply avoiding that conversation altogether so they don't lose a donor that renews their gift annually. The parents need to wake up! Even if your kid is in that 2-3% that gets a scholly it's still going to be for 1/4 - 1/2 of the college cost at the most and usually at a college that the kid wouldn't want to attend but for that very reason that they are giving them a few dollars to do so. Unfortunately, most parents don't realize how much $ they've wasted until the kid is a JR in HS and they could've put that $10K+ into a college fund and drawn interest all this time. Welcome to youth sports in America! Don't blame the clubs or their leaders. They are simply doing what the market demands and it's only growing. If there's a lack of value in these services the parents don't pull out of the system they simply switch clubs until they hear what they want. Unfortunately, the clubs rarely have to deal with the ramifications of their lack of transparency and business acumen because there are always new "donors" to fill the pipeline regardless of their ineptitude. It's the perfect business to be in and you don't even have to pay taxes on your profits.

Want to slap a paragraph break or three in there and try again? I ain't reading that rant.

[Guest]

so how much should it cost for my kid to have three 1.5 hour practices each week and 1 or 2 games each weekend for 32-42 weeks a year (my club does a summer program so we are at around $3500/year)


so calculate 120 practices and 40 games a year (including summer)

[Guest]

so how much should it cost for my kid to have three 1.5 hour practices each week and 1 or 2 games each weekend for 32-42 weeks a year (my club does a summer program so we are at around $3500/year)


so calculate 120 practices and 40 games a year (including summer)

I calculated it once (approximately how many hours my D was spent under the care of a club coach [i.e. training/games, etc.]) and I came up with 210 hours over the course of ten months as a SWAG.

If I had paid someone to watch them for that many hours, with a going rate of $20/hr, that comes to $4200/year

[Guest]

What if you already know all this but still think it is money well spent because my daughter loves it and sports are more important than ever for a kids mental health. I don’t plan on her getting a dime from a college to play soccer but spending $5000+ per year isn’t wasted. She’s doing something healthy that she enjoys with a bunch of friends.
As a family we choose to spend our money on club sports instead of a yearly trip to Disney that cost $10,000

You can’t accomplish sports without spending $5000+ per year?

[Guest]

so how much should it cost for my kid to have three 1.5 hour practices each week and 1 or 2 games each weekend for 32-42 weeks a year (my club does a summer program so we are at around $3500/year)


so calculate 120 practices and 40 games a year (including summer)

Club owners and coaches have entered the chat

[Guest]

You can’t accomplish sports without spending $5000+ per year?

On a per hourly basis, it's a bargain.

I mean, sure, I could probably find some local kid hanging out behind the grocery store on the cheap. I guess it's worth considering.

I also stopped skiing and just go sledding on the local hill. We dropped our membership to the club and just lift rocks all day and swim in the local pond. We body surf in the tub vs. going all the way to the beach.

[Guest]

Club owners and coaches have entered the chat

Try to argue with it, you can't. Yes club soccer is expensive, but as long as you're not at SSS you're likely getting good value for money.

[Guest]

On a per hourly basis, it's a bargain.

I mean, sure, I could probably find some local kid hanging out behind the grocery store on the cheap. I guess it's worth considering.

I also stopped skiing and just go sledding on the local hill. We dropped our membership to the club and just lift rocks all day and swim in the local pond. We body surf in the tub vs. going all the way to the beach.

You suck at all of them and that is exactly where you belong. But you think your special.

[Guest]

You suck at all of them and that is exactly where you belong. But you think your special.

I don't think I'm special.

Others do, so be it. I just be me and suggest you do the same and not worry about others?

[Guest]

If the clubs are set up as non profits, shouldn’t all their Form 990s be posted on the exempt org irs page?

I’d love to see their revenue and compensation numbers.

[Guest]

If the clubs are set up as non profits, shouldn’t all their Form 990s be posted on the exempt org irs page?

I’d love to see their revenue and compensation numbers.

Sure, knock yourself out if it means that much to you.

I expect a full report on my desk Monday morning. chop-chop

[Guest]

These clubs hide behind "non-profit" status but we all know it's big business with a great tax benefit. Parents think because of all the $ they dole out that the clubs should be more transparent and communicative to their "customers". Well, you are not their customer but rather a "donor" supporting a demand that you created. The real lie is the "academy level" or "elite" level status that these clubs push forward to charge more $. We all know that outside of the top 2 teams at 90% of the big clubs and only the top team at the smaller clubs that it really should be called "recreational soccer", where the kids practice 2 x's per week, are coached by a volunteer parent & play a local game on Saturday for fun. However, if that were the case they could only charge you $150 instead of $2,500 and you couldn't brag that your lil' johnny plays "elite" soccer. At the core, the clubs are simply providing a service that the parents want for their kid while stringing them along that the kid is better than they really are OR simply avoiding that conversation altogether so they don't lose a donor that renews their gift annually. The parents need to wake up! Even if your kid is in that 2-3% that gets a scholly it's still going to be for 1/4 - 1/2 of the college cost at the most and usually at a college that the kid wouldn't want to attend but for that very reason that they are giving them a few dollars to do so. Unfortunately, most parents don't realize how much $ they've wasted until the kid is a JR in HS and they could've put that $10K+ into a college fund and drawn interest all this time. Welcome to youth sports in America! Don't blame the clubs or their leaders. They are simply doing what the market demands and it's only growing. If there's a lack of value in these services the parents don't pull out of the system they simply switch clubs until they hear what they want. Unfortunately, the clubs rarely have to deal with the ramifications of their lack of transparency and business acumen because there are always new "donors" to fill the pipeline regardless of their ineptitude. It's the perfect business to be in and you don't even have to pay taxes on your profits.

Groundbreaking revelation. Thanks for pointing this out. And here I was thinking with my daughter on a quality League 2 NESCL team I had a free ride to UNC signed sealed and delivered.