GotSoccer monopoly

[Unregistered]

How is it that in this country of technology innovators, capitalist opportunity and burgeoning youth soccer GotSoccer is able to maintain a nationwide monopoly?

[Unregistered]

How is it that in this country of technology innovators, capitalist opportunity and burgeoning youth soccer GotSoccer is able to maintain a nationwide monopoly?

Don't let anyone stop you from trying to do so.

[Unregistered]

Don't let anyone stop you from trying to do so.

Because from Econ 101 -- monopolies exist (and maybe preferred) if there are high fixed costs associated with the use of a good or service, especially if multiple aspects are bundled (ie your player and team registration can be integrated with scheduling and then throw in some useless features that have marketing appeal to some (rankings)).

There is also monopoly power from being the first (or relatively first) in a market -- and the ability to make just enough changes to make the cost of switching sufficient to dissuade change, especially when many of the down stream users are volunteers with high turnover.

But, the good thing is youth soccer clubs (at least the not for profits) have some degree of democratic processes (either to change leadership and/or bring changes to club's operating procedures) so get yourself elected, persuade your club to buy a new product, start to influence other clubs/league and state association to change.. hmm, right, you can answer your own question now..

[Unregistered]

Because from Econ 101 -- monopolies exist (and maybe preferred) if there are high fixed costs associated with the use of a good or service, especially if multiple aspects are bundled (ie your player and team registration can be integrated with scheduling and then throw in some useless features that have marketing appeal to some (rankings)).

There is also monopoly power from being the first (or relatively first) in a market -- and the ability to make just enough changes to make the cost of switching sufficient to dissuade change, especially when many of the down stream users are volunteers with high turnover.

But, the good thing is youth soccer clubs (at least the not for profits) have some degree of democratic processes (either to change leadership and/or bring changes to club's operating procedures) so get yourself elected, persuade your club to buy a new product, start to influence other clubs/league and state association to change.. hmm, right, you can answer your own question now..

One can make this argument regarding any product or service. Look at sports league content management systems. There are 4 large competent ones in use by the majority of clubs. (Demosphere, Leagueathletics, blue sombrero, sportsngin). GS is a puzzle in this way.

Suppose it will take some combining of forces to muster up a challenger.

[Unregistered]

One can make this argument regarding any product or service. Look at sports league content management systems. There are 4 large competent ones in use by the majority of clubs. (Demosphere, Leagueathletics, blue sombrero, sportsngin). GS is a puzzle in this way.

Suppose it will take some combining of forces to muster up a challenger.

gotsoccer's rankings (in addition to all the evil they do to youth soccer development in putting emphasis on winning at all costs) produce network effects like facebook. this makes gotsoccer harder to displace.

[Unregistered]

gotsoccer's rankings (in addition to all the evil they do to youth soccer development in putting emphasis on winning at all costs) produce network effects like facebook. this makes gotsoccer harder to displace.

And everyone thought MySpace would never be displaced until Facebook came around!
GS is a terrible product and will be displaced at some point, but given their current scale and network effect they have created for themselves, it won't be easy for any new entrant.

[Unregistered]

The word monopoly implies GS has some kind of unfair advantage. But this isn't like say a cable company where the cost of market entry is very high and there are screwy state and federal regulations that can often give that unfair advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if people have looked into given how many people use the site. Whoever started GS got in first, or at least close to first and offered a better service so everyone went to that. If someone thought there was a way to make a $ they'd do it. It's the American way. The key is to find GS weaknesses and take advantage of them. And markets change over time, so what works for customers now may not work two years from now.

However even if someone does start to take market share away from them, the emphasis on points and rankings and winning probably will never go away. That is also the American way - we're #1!

[Unregistered]

The word monopoly implies GS has some kind of unfair advantage. But this isn't like say a cable company where the cost of market entry is very high and there are screwy state and federal regulations that can often give that unfair advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if people have looked into given how many people use the site. Whoever started GS got in first, or at least close to first and offered a better service so everyone went to that. If someone thought there was a way to make a $ they'd do it. It's the American way. The key is to find GS weaknesses and take advantage of them. And markets change over time, so what works for customers now may not work two years from now.

However even if someone does start to take market share away from them, the emphasis on points and rankings and winning probably will never go away. That is also the American way - we're #1!

No you're not. We are #1.

[Unregistered]

No you're not. We are #1.

lol. only because you won some crap tournaments that have GS points :)

[Unregistered]

lol. only because you won some crap tournaments that have GS points :)

FYI crap tournaments don't give you a lot of got soccer points.

[Unregistered]

WUP tournament boundless GS points

FYI crap tournaments don't give you a lot of got soccer points.

The WUP tournament did!