From U12 to U18 parents are going to spend close to 20K in club fees. Is it worth it? Is there a large enough return? Please explain your answers. If it's about team building can't they get that somewhere else for a fraction of the cost and play rec soccer?
-
-
OPFC 2011 boys spent 10k last year. 20k is low. -
Wow 10K in a year. How is that possible and what is the expectation?Comment
-
-
This has been discussed endlessly on the board. Yes, travel/club sports are a luxury good that are not "necessary". If your goal is to get physical activity/team building/college scholarships/whatever, there are always more cost-effective "efficient" paths you could have taken.Originally posted by Guest View Post
But if you have the resources and enjoy travel/club sports, it can be great fun.Comment
-
Just like trips to Orlando (Disneyworld), time shares in Cabo or Cacun, Maui resorts and luxury cruises. Which have about the same value as Oregon club useless travel. Great Point.Originally posted by Guest View Post
It can be Grest Fun, which is unrelated to player development and appropriate competition.Comment
-
Again? Every few this seems to come up.
Each year a couple teams have extended seasons and the costs climb it is always optional though. No one has to do any of these.
wsm 08 and 09 have traveled a lot
opfc have had a few 09 and 04 and more recently 10 and 07
updx 07 were all over the us for a few years before they fell off. And the 06 has done a bunch too.
We can afford and don’t go into debt for it so watching our kids play and enjoy their favorite thing is worth it to us. The experiences they have with teammates is also invaluable.
Very important to mention its not going to get your kid a college scholarship or anything so know that when spending
Comment
-
I wouldn't go that far. For most places, the higher level club soccer teams are going to have the best competition in their area, which is going to be the most conducive to player development. Yes it's possible that some phenoms could play on weaker teams and then privately train themselves up into superstars. But that's rare.Originally posted by Guest View Post
It's more that pursuing sports 'excellence' is a luxury for most of these kids. It's not like they're actually on a professional track. It's more of a hobby. If that can afford to spend and develop their hobby into a high level, that's great. But if resource constrained they can find other cheaper hobbies that set them up just as well for success later in life.
Comment
-
I agree with last poster. There are many routes to success. In our daughter’s case we spent from U9 - U18/19 easily $100K and we were very low spenders on her team utilizing friends houses at times, fundraising money and lower cost travel. I know without a doubt 10 years in club soccer you will spend on- fees that include coach pay, coach travel cost, ref costs, field costs, registration costs, admin costs, and then gear costs, player travel costs, private trainings, copays and out of pocket $$’s for injuries. All this easily adds up to over $10k a year on the VERY LOW END. Average I would say was $15K especially if a parent traveled to watch their kid play a couple times. Pay to play is alive and well.
We only spent this vs local club ball because it was more fun spending $$ on this vs paying a college for her education. We pay nothing and she gets money to go to college so it was all worth it for us. If you have the money OR if your kid has enough talent (be realistic) to get most or all of their college paid for at any level (D2, D1 and NAIA, remember D3 is academic scholarships only) then I think it is a good spend.
Comment
-
E64 was complete garbage for competition and cost us thousands to participate . Saying we do it because we can afford it, pretty much sums it up. Poetic profundity.Originally posted by Guest View PostComment
-
Over the last ten years, I've spent roughly $100k on blow and hookers. But I can afford it because I'm a full time youth soccer coach at a club that caters to rich parents who think their kid will become the next Mbappe, and who am I to disappoint them?
Of course, I made well more than $100k over that time, but as George Best said, the rest of it I squandered.Comment
-
I think clubs should disclose results for the last five years. Who went where and average athletic scholarship?Comment
-
Originally posted by Guest View Post
As a suggestion and keeping on point , if the parents of boys that were lured into excessive elective travel would please post/disclose their air mileage awards for the last 5 years, as it's truly the only tangible award other than the feeling of having fun previously mentioned.
Comment
-
Am I the only one who spends like $2,000 a year? Even with that there are too many events to keep track of. If my kid didn’t like it, I’d sign them up for rec. What am I missing?Comment
-
Worth every penny to me. At one time I had 3 kids playing at the same time. It was alot. But we got to spend a lot of family time enjoying a game we all enjoy. We made good friends and had good experiences. All 3 of my kids went off to have great HS careers. Two won state a championship, the third played for it. All were some kind of All'League - the other was All State. I know it enriched their HS experience.
Some people spend their money and time on dirt bikes, or hunting; we spent ours playing soccer.
I do know some parents that though this was some kind of ticket to college - that's crazy. There really isn't any money in soccer.
It doesn't have to be soccer. It can be music or BMX bikes and it can be sports. Something where a kid learns about working hard; the highs and lows, overcoming adversity. Just so happens it was soccer for us. YMMVComment
Comment