Why don't clubs comp uniforms and cleats?

[happydad]

I know the obvious answer on TS will be that it's all a cash grab but seriously, it seems like an easy way to differentiate yourself as a top club from the rest if uniforms and cleats are included in the club fee. (even if that club fee sneakily creeps upward in the process). I recently saw an "unboxing" video on IG of an Oregon State player's "swag bag" and it seems like easy free marketing for the club if the players are showing off their free custom boots in club colors (maybe even with their numbers on them) and tagging the club. Feels like a decent recruiting play if clubs are trying to pry top players without the ECNL chip. I believe it's called a "loss leader" in business.

I know, keep dreaming.

[Guest]

This is the standard way for youth soccer in Europe. Not shoes, but uniforms.

[Guest]

Big difference between Division 1 and the pay to play club world but it would be nice.

Unfortunately it would just be added to the fees and still paid for by us .

[happydad]

Big difference between Division 1 and the pay to play club world but it would be nice.

Unfortunately it would just be added to the fees and still paid for by us .

Definitely it would be snuck into the fees but it's still bewildering to me why a club hasn't tried it. Why does every club handle uniforms the same? Seems like such an easy way to generate positive branding and differentiate yourself when every other club is using the same alphabet soup league recruiting techniques that all blur together.

Free uniform and Free boots would just be a huge separator, even if it is recouped through higher club fees. And parents would likely prefer one (albeit larger) club fee rather than paying the club fee and then immediately turning around and shelling out another $400 in another transaction...plus having their kid's cleats pre-selected and in club colors would feel like a convenience even if they are paying for it in the end.

Feels like a missed opportunity and the first club that takes this on would reap some benefits.

[Guest]

Speaking of uniforms. Can we all pitch in and get the rich kids a new one so we don’t have have to look at that ugly yellow one?

I’ve got 50 on that.

[Guest]

Kids don't want to wear club provided cleats. They want their individual styles. What's the difference if a club provide free uniforms but club fee is $300 more than a club where I pay for uniforms separately? Or if a free uniform club is $600 more than other clubs, I prefer more money in my pocket vs the more expensive fee for free uniform.

[happydad]

Kids don't want to wear club provided cleats. They want their individual styles. What's the difference if a club provide free uniforms but club fee is $300 more than a club where I pay for uniforms separately? Or if a free uniform club is $600 more than other clubs, I prefer more money in my pocket vs the more expensive fee for free uniform.

You may have a point but I do feel kids would feel like it's a flex to have high quality cleats in the club colors with their custom # on it. But every kid is different.
And I think the idea is that this is a recruiting/sales pitch so it wouldn't go right in as a $300 club increase in year one. Especially since uniforms typically can last 2-3 seasons it would be a one-time capital expense for the club that they can amortize over multiple years, while nudging the fee up every year. The kids get the immediate gratification of free uniforms and custom cleats, parents get an albeit temporary financial relief after just shelling out a club fees, and the club gets a sales pitch and free marketing as hopefully kids would share on socials while tagging the club.

Not perfect but it's a way to differentiate your brand and give clubs something besides ECNL/E64/NWC to pitch to families.

[Guest]

I get my kids their cleats at the adidas employee store for 50% off, so this wouldn’t save me if the club was providing.

[Guest]

I know in high school, brands like Nike and Adidas have been happy to subsidize uniforms knowing they are going to be moving a lot of volume. Not sure why clubs can’t arrange the same deals. Maybe they know they are going to get paid anyway with club soccer, whereas a lot of time high schools will go with cheaper options.

[Guest]

I would assume Clubs get a cut of the uniform sales proceeds either in the form of cash or free staff uniforms, etc. They force you to buy the ‘full pack’ even if you already have the socks, shorts or other basics. Not sure if the agreement is with the Nike/Adidas or with the retailer (soccer.com, etc) of the world, probably depends on the size of the club.
By the way, team cleats is not a thing in the real footbal/soccer world at any level.

[Guest]

I know in high school, brands like Nike and Adidas have been happy to subsidize uniforms knowing they are going to be moving a lot of volume. Not sure why clubs can’t arrange the same deals. Maybe they know they are going to get paid anyway with club soccer, whereas a lot of time high schools will go with cheaper options.

High school (and college) teams own the uniforms, not the players. In HS, the player has to give them back at the end of the season. (Except for socks--those players buy and keep).

On many college teams, players don't even get to go home from matches or training with their jerseys, they are kept (and washed, repaired, etc.) by the equipment manager when not being used by the player.

[Guest]

High school (and college) teams own the uniforms, not the players. In HS, the player has to give them back at the end of the season. (Except for socks--those players buy and keep).

On many college teams, players don't even get to go home from matches or training with their jerseys, they are kept (and washed, repaired, etc.) by the equipment manager when not being used by the player.

Again, same thing in many European countries for youth sports. The club owns jerseys, gives them to players each match, and then one family takes them home to wash during the week.

Might sound rinky dink, but doesn't stop them from having higher-level soccer than us! The whole vibe in US youth sports is overpaying for unnecessary accoutrements that don't actually improve skills.

[Guest]

High school (and college) teams own the uniforms, not the players. In HS, the player has to give them back at the end of the season. (Except for socks--those players buy and keep).

On many college teams, players don't even get to go home from matches or training with their jerseys, they are kept (and washed, repaired, etc.) by the equipment manager when not being used by the player.

again, I think the only reason that would matter is because Nike and Adidas know they are not going to get on a lot of high school jerseys unless they subsidize them. On the other hand, competitive youth sports in the US has conditioned us all to expect to pay a few hundred every couple years on uniforms.

[Guest]

again, I think the only reason that would matter is because Nike and Adidas know they are not going to get on a lot of high school jerseys unless they subsidize them. On the other hand, competitive youth sports in the US has conditioned us all to expect to pay a few hundred every couple years on uniforms.

Your Property taxes eventually trickle down to pay for HS Uniforms, so if you're paying prop taxes to your school district you are funding a portion of every OSAA sport activity at that HS, not just soccer.

if you are at a private school eveyones tuition covers the sports budget + fund raising can cover any gaps.

Here is the dirty little secret about 'nike high schools' They (nike) give a small (allotment) stipend to the schools athletic budget and require every HS sport to purchase only nike gear. The amount of money or stipend the school gets is based on the relevance of the high school football program. It's really not much.

Only the univ. Of jesuit in oregon has a special deal with Nike.

Local Non profit community based soccer clubs aren't any type of marketing tool that would warrant comp uniform gear to the masses of youth players.

But the part time coaching Staff will get some assorted gear complimentary. The clubs are selling hundreds and hundred even thousands in some of the bigger rec clubs of uniformed kits to their players..in exchange the coaches can get a jacket, sweatpants a pair of shoes and some training soccer balls even game balls.If they are lucky, recreational coaches usual get zippo.

Nike and adidas are in the business of selling not giving.

Currently the oregon soceer clubs don't have any cache of excellence that would warrant them getting free gear for the players

Instead the parents are the corporate sponsors.

[Guest]

Its a profit thing. Big uniform and shoe manufactures sell this stuff, don't comp it.