Cost of Mass Clubs

[Unregistered]

Here is a realistic view of what it takes to participate in club soccer based upon years of involvement with a couple of different children. The costs change rather dramatically based upon the level of expectations and what the parents choose to do in order to meet those expectations.

One of the problems when people try to compare club costs is a parent with a younger player typically doesn't see how things begin to pile up over time. That over night stay in a hotel when the kids are 11 is nothing compared to staying down at the Region 1 Championship or one of the new NPL events. As the kids get older the costs explode if you are in a situation with a competitive team. Also the higher the team expectations the more you have to do for your child in order for them to remain competitive within the group. You may not feel that things like private trainers are necessary but when everyone around your child is putting in extra work, yours has to match their work rate to stay with them and that costs money.

Also, not in this budget are medical costs. If your child is playing as much soccer as possible they will eventually be seeing doctors for injuries. Those co-pays could be a couple of hundred dollars or the costs could amount to thousands depending on the severity. Rehabbing from an ACL tear is not cheap.

Average Club Player
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $150 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $200 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
2 in region tournaments $500 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
1 Summer camp $500

$3,350

Average Club Player on Top Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $300 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $300 (2 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
2 out of region tournaments $2,700 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$6,650

Average Club Player on Championship Level Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $400 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $400 (3 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
3 out of region tournaments $4,000 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
1 championship event $2,100 (600 air, 500 car 600 4 hotel 400 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$10,150

ADD ONS

Basic ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,500
Uniforms, cleats $100 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)

$1,850

Regional Pool ODP Add On
Regional Fee $700
2 out of region training $600 ($300 transportation )

$1,300

Regional Team ODP Add On
Regional Fee $350
1 out of region tournaments $1,350 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)

$1,700

International Trip ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,800
Visa Fee $300
Spending Money $300

$2,400

Private Trainers
Soccer Skill Trainer $650 (50 per)
Strength % Conditioning $650 ($50 per)

$1,300

[Unregistered]

Here is a realistic view of what it takes to participate in club soccer based upon years of involvement with a couple of different children. The costs change rather dramatically based upon the level of expectations and what the parents choose to do in order to meet those expectations.

One of the problems when people try to compare club costs is a parent with a younger player typically doesn't see how things begin to pile up over time. That over night stay in a hotel when the kids are 11 is nothing compared to staying down at the Region 1 Championship or one of the new NPL events. As the kids get older the costs explode if you are in a situation with a competitive team. Also the higher the team expectations the more you have to do for your child in order for them to remain competitive within the group. You may not feel that things like private trainers are necessary but when everyone around your child is putting in extra work, yours has to match their work rate to stay with them and that costs money.

Also, not in this budget are medical costs. If your child is playing as much soccer as possible they will eventually be seeing doctors for injuries. Those co-pays could be a couple of hundred dollars or the costs could amount to thousands depending on the severity. Rehabbing from an ACL tear is not cheap.

Average Club Player
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $150 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $200 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
2 in region tournaments $500 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
1 Summer camp $500

$3,350

Average Club Player on Top Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $300 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $300 (2 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
2 out of region tournaments $2,700 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$6,650

Average Club Player on Championship Level Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $400 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $400 (3 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
3 out of region tournaments $4,000 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
1 championship event $2,100 (600 air, 500 car 600 4 hotel 400 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$10,150

ADD ONS

Basic ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,500
Uniforms, cleats $100 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)

$1,850

Regional Pool ODP Add On
Regional Fee $700
2 out of region training $600 ($300 transportation )

$1,300

Regional Team ODP Add On
Regional Fee $350
1 out of region tournaments $1,350 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)

$1,700

International Trip ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,800
Visa Fee $300
Spending Money $300

$2,400

Private Trainers
Soccer Skill Trainer $650 (50 per)
Strength % Conditioning $650 ($50 per)

$1,300

Crazy ..small pool of players can or should access much of that.

[Unregistered]

Here is a realistic view of what it takes to participate in club soccer based upon years of involvement with a couple of different children. The costs change rather dramatically based upon the level of expectations and what the parents choose to do in order to meet those expectations.

One of the problems when people try to compare club costs is a parent with a younger player typically doesn't see how things begin to pile up over time. That over night stay in a hotel when the kids are 11 is nothing compared to staying down at the Region 1 Championship or one of the new NPL events. As the kids get older the costs explode if you are in a situation with a competitive team. Also the higher the team expectations the more you have to do for your child in order for them to remain competitive within the group. You may not feel that things like private trainers are necessary but when everyone around your child is putting in extra work, yours has to match their work rate to stay with them and that costs money.

Also, not in this budget are medical costs. If your child is playing as much soccer as possible they will eventually be seeing doctors for injuries. Those co-pays could be a couple of hundred dollars or the costs could amount to thousands depending on the severity. Rehabbing from an ACL tear is not cheap.

Average Club Player
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $150 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $200 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
2 in region tournaments $500 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
1 Summer camp $500

$3,350

Average Club Player on Top Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $300 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $300 (2 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
2 out of region tournaments $2,700 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$6,650

Average Club Player on Championship Level Team
Base club fee $2,000
Team fees $400 (extra tournaments & coach travel)
Uniforms, cleats $400 (3 pair cleats & misc apparel)
2 local tournaments $0
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)
3 out of region tournaments $4,000 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)
1 championship event $2,100 (600 air, 500 car 600 4 hotel 400 meals per)
2 Summer camp $1,000

$10,150

ADD ONS

Basic ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,500
Uniforms, cleats $100 (1 pair cleats & misc apparel)
1 in region tournaments $250 (1 hotel night & Meals per)

$1,850

Regional Pool ODP Add On
Regional Fee $700
2 out of region training $600 ($300 transportation )

$1,300

Regional Team ODP Add On
Regional Fee $350
1 out of region tournaments $1,350 (600 Air, 250 car, 300 2 hotel nights, 200 meals per)

$1,700

International Trip ODP Add On
Base Fee $1,800
Visa Fee $300
Spending Money $300

$2,400

Private Trainers
Soccer Skill Trainer $650 (50 per)
Strength % Conditioning $650 ($50 per)

$1,300

Pay to play model will never bring the best athletes to the game of soccer. USA is doomed to mediocrity. Not saying anything should be free but if we want to compete on international level we need to trim back all of these extra costs.

[Unregistered]

Pay to play model will never bring the best athletes to the game of soccer. USA is doomed to mediocrity. Not saying anything should be free but if we want to compete on international level we need to trim back all of these extra costs.

I agree, good, not great will be the result. As a soccer culture, we talk the talk when it comes to participation and development, but that ends quickly when it comes to walking the walk. LOTS of competing interests have an adverse impact.

For starters, when there's a focus on teams winning and that begins to overshadow individual development, even at recreational levels, along with the economics of pay to play limiting participation, then it stands to reason soccer won't attract, retain and fully develop the best of the best.

[Unregistered]

I agree, good, not great will be the result. As a soccer culture, we talk the talk when it comes to participation and development, but that ends quickly when it comes to walking the walk. LOTS of competing interests have an adverse impact.

For starters, when there's a focus on teams winning and that begins to overshadow individual development, even at recreational levels, along with the economics of pay to play limiting participation, then it stands to reason soccer won't attract, retain and fully develop the best of the best.

So we don't win a world cup. Many more pressing issues to attend to in this world than that. Let the kids just have fun with this great game.

[Unregistered]

I agree, good, not great will be the result. As a soccer culture, we talk the talk when it comes to participation and development, but that ends quickly when it comes to walking the walk. LOTS of competing interests have an adverse impact.

For starters, when there's a focus on teams winning and that begins to overshadow individual development, even at recreational levels, along with the economics of pay to play limiting participation, then it stands to reason soccer won't attract, retain and fully develop the best of the best.

You are not going to change the pay to play model in this country. Just not going to happen and there is no way that US Soccer creates a European club system in this country by essentially vesting something like a DAP status across both genders to 1-2 clubs in this region. No way that happens because DAP hasn't actually shown that it is really developing players all that efficiently. Some good ideas in that program for sure but overall all it did was pick who was going to control certain areas of the country and didn't really solve the development piece. The big thing that US Soccer could do right now is encourage USCS to put a promo relegation process in place with their leagues. That would clean up a lot of the bull crap that is happening now because that USCS world has just allowed clubs to just spread out like weeds with no way of really ascertaining which teams were actually any good. What we really need is a clear understanding of which leagues are what and a pathway for qualified teams to advance within it. The first step is US Soccer really needs to step in and do more to clarify things at the semi-pro and youth levels (levels 4 & 5 of the pyramid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._league_system). I believe that will do a lot towards putting some sanity in the cost structure because eventually when consumers start to realize what they are paying for 3rd & 4th tier leagues they will eventually put pressure on the clubs to normalize their pricing to the level of service. Personally I think clubs are going to end up looking towards connecting their top youth teams with something more like the PDL that has a pathway into the professional ranks than the ECNL/NPL which is clearly just a money grab for the clubs.

[Unregistered]

So we don't win a world cup. Many more pressing issues to attend to in this world than that. Let the kids just have fun with this great game.

Interesting that your response would suggest that I'm not a supporter of participation, development and fun for kids. I've spent more years than I can remember volunteering to do just that. I find one of the biggest myths in youth soccer to be that we can get both ends of recreational and competitive play more right. The best development of our national team depends on our success at the broad, grassroots level. Adults all along the way are doing plenty to screw it up. So yeah, I'm in agreement with kids playing and enjoying the game.

[Unregistered]

So we don't win a world cup. Many more pressing issues to attend to in this world than that. Let the kids just have fun with this great game.

I agree as well, however the pay-to-play model prohibits many from participating. I'm on our town soccer board, which is very reasonable priced, yet we have requests for scholarship there as well. Some truly talented players will get discovered and given scholarships, etc. but many will not.

[Unregistered]

You are not going to change the pay to play model in this country. Just not going to happen and there is no way that US Soccer creates a European club system in this country by essentially vesting something like a DAP status across both genders to 1-2 clubs in this region. No way that happens because DAP hasn't actually shown that it is really developing players all that efficiently. Some good ideas in that program for sure but overall all it did was pick who was going to control certain areas of the country and didn't really solve the development piece. The big thing that US Soccer could do right now is encourage USCS to put a promo relegation process in place with their leagues. That would clean up a lot of the bull crap that is happening now because that USCS world has just allowed clubs to just spread out like weeds with no way of really ascertaining which teams were actually any good. What we really need is a clear understanding of which leagues are what and a pathway for qualified teams to advance within it. The first step is US Soccer really needs to step in and do more to clarify things at the semi-pro and youth levels (levels 4 & 5 of the pyramid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_..._league_system). I believe that will do a lot towards putting some sanity in the cost structure because eventually when consumers start to realize what they are paying for 3rd & 4th tier leagues they will eventually put pressure on the clubs to normalize their pricing to the level of service. Personally I think clubs are going to end up looking towards connecting their top youth teams with something more like the PDL that has a pathway into the professional ranks than the ECNL/NPL which is clearly just a money grab for the clubs.

I basically agree, but isn't there every financial disincentive for this to happen? The status quo of every club having the broadest base to their own pyramid, paying the same as the top, without the clarity to the consumer you're talking about, is the ideal situation for the clubs business-wise, no? And by the way, I don't think you can blame the way the club model has evolved, it's a response to market demand. The consumer is driving all of it. I'm not sure what will change that other than a perception of value and that emotional component weighing more heavily than chasing some status. In years to come as more parents of kids who've spent thousands upon thousands begin to see their kid not have a spot on the varsity roster, never mind the field, things might change a bit.

[Unregistered]

I agree as well, however the pay-to-play model prohibits many from participating. I'm on our town soccer board, which is very reasonable priced, yet we have requests for scholarship there as well. Some truly talented players will get discovered and given scholarships, etc. but many will not.

And accepting a scholarship is an uncomfortable proposition for many families even if they could use it. At our town club it a delicate issue that is handles with as much discretion as possible. I see comments about resentment regarding scholarship families but i think the opposite is true. I wish more would approach the club to get one so more kids could play.

[Unregistered]

And accepting a scholarship is an uncomfortable proposition for many families even if they could use it. At our town club it a delicate issue that is handles with as much discretion as possible. I see comments about resentment regarding scholarship families but i think the opposite is true. I wish more would approach the club to get one so more kids could play.

OP here and I agree. At the same time most clubs aren't willing to give too many out. It is a business after all and sadly there are many willing to pay full ticket. A good club will recognize the talent and do what is needed to get the player in because that club is more about development than making a few more $

[Unregistered]

OP here and I agree. At the same time most clubs aren't willing to give too many out. It is a business after all and sadly there are many willing to pay full ticket. A good club will recognize the talent and do what is needed to get the player in because that club is more about development than making a few more $

Our town club is not so much a business. No one is turned away to my knowledge. Some families just stay away because they don't have extra money for these kinda of activities for their children. I was talking more about more scholarships based on financial need rather than talent.

[Unregistered]

One of the huge problems is that US Soccer has created an absolute maze of conflicting leagues with no clear cut pathway for teams and or players to advance through the layers which has turned soccer into a sellers market in this country. Take a quick look at the soccer pyramid in this country. The first thing that you notice is that you have competing leagues on the same level and on the women's side there is whole levels that are missing. If you want to clean up soccer in this country start clarifying who really is at what level and get rid of the duplication. I also think that we need to have a formal process based upon merit by which teams can move in and out of leagues

Here is my take on the soccer pyramid in this country.

MEN'S LEAGUE PYRAMID
LEVEL 1 - MSL (USSF)

LEVEL 2 - NASL (USSF)

LEVEL 3 - USL PRO (USL) * Agreement with MSL to serve as farm league

LEVEL 4 - PDL (USL) | NPSL (USASA) | EAL (USASA) * college & adult

LEVEL 5 - S20 (USL) * college level

LEVEL 6 - USSDA (USSF) * high school level - serves as farm league for MLS

LEVEL 7 - NATIONAL LEAGUE (USYSA) * simply because of qualification process

LEVEL 8 - SUPER Y (USL) | REGIONAL LEAGUE (USYSA) | NPL (USCS)

LEVEL 9 - STATE LEAGUES (USYSA) | PREMIER LEAGUE (USCS)

LEVEL 10 - AYSO LEAGUES

WOMEN'S LEAGUE PYRAMID
LEVEL 1 - NWSL (USSF)

LEVEL 2 - W-LEAGUE (USL) | WPSL (USASA)

LEVEL 3 - **NOTHING**

LEVEL 4 - EAL (USASA)

LEVEL 5 - W20 (USL)

LEVEL 6 - **NOTHING**

LEVEL 7 - NATIONAL LEAGUE (USYSA) * simply because of qualification process

LEVEL 8 - SUPER Y (USL) | REGIONAL LEAGUE (USYSA) | ENCL (USCS) | NPL (USCS)

LEVEL 9 - STATE LEAGUES (USYSA) | PREMIER LEAGUE (USCS)

LEVEL 10 - AYSO LEAGUES

[Unregistered]

I basically agree, but isn't there every financial disincentive for this to happen? The status quo of every club having the broadest base to their own pyramid, paying the same as the top, without the clarity to the consumer you're talking about, is the ideal situation for the clubs business-wise, no? And by the way, I don't think you can blame the way the club model has evolved, it's a response to market demand. The consumer is driving all of it. I'm not sure what will change that other than a perception of value and that emotional component weighing more heavily than chasing some status. In years to come as more parents of kids who've spent thousands upon thousands begin to see their kid not have a spot on the varsity roster, never mind the field, things might change a bit.

I don't blame the clubs, I blame US Soccer for creating a colossal mess of leagues and then basically pitting them at each other's throats. I think that if they were to clarify which leagues are at which level and create a process that allows clubs to move teams between them that is would solve a whole lot.

[Unregistered]

I don't blame the clubs, I blame US Soccer for creating a colossal mess of leagues and then basically pitting them at each other's throats. I think that if they were to clarify which leagues are at which level and create a process that allows clubs to move teams between them that is would solve a whole lot.

Solve what exactly. The bottom line is that sports is a sub set of the entertainment business. As long as folks are happliy entertained, they will pay for it. The form of the business is different in this country than other places but it is still all for entertainment.