What’s going on with Seattle United

[Unregistered]

Exactly right. Take a look at some of the Hispanic and African leagues

Sorry should have finished reading other posts... I’m an idiot too

[Unregistered]

Idiot... swimming and tennis? You obviously don’t know what you are talking about. About the only two sports that cost more than soccer

Wow, imagine sharing your person experience here without being an *******?

Swimming may be expensive. That's a separate issue from the fact that USA Swimming has a strong diversity initiative.

https://www.endlesspools.com/news/ar...rican-swimming

https://www.npr.org/sections/thetorc...ty-in-the-pool

https://www.usaswimming.org/docs/def...mericanweb.pdf

[Unregistered]

King County Metro buses 150 and 154 stop on Interurban at the entrance to Starfire. I know multiple kids who aren't old enough to drive that take the bus to/from training each night.

Oh hey you're right! That's great that option is there but I live 20 - 25 min from Starfire and it's literally a 1 hr bus ride. Not practical for a lot of kids to do regularly, and probably not safe for younger kids, but it is possible.

[Unregistered]

The USA is competitive on the World Stage in many sports that are hugely more expensive than Soccer. I'm sure it is a barrier for some but it isn't the constraining variable or else it would be uniform across all expensive sports and the data doesn't support that. Not justifying the expense by any means but adding some element of context for good measure.

[Unregistered]

The USA is competitive on the World Stage in many sports that are hugely more expensive than Soccer. I'm sure it is a barrier for some but it isn't the constraining variable or else it would be uniform across all expensive sports and the data doesn't support that. Not justifying the expense by any means but adding some element of context for good measure.

Please do some actual research:

http://theconversation.com/until-you...-to-fail-85585

[Unregistered]

Please do some actual research:

http://theconversation.com/until-you...-to-fail-85585

+1
"U.S. kids don’t play soccer with bare feet on hardscrabble barrio fields where creativity dominates the action and with few grownups in sight.

Instead, too many American kids play soccer in high-tech cleats on manicured suburban fields, where they stand around quietly until an adult (often paid) runs them through repetitive drills – all to prepare for an expensive tournament three states away.
"
Insanity!

I think I'll try a different method.
Make the A team, boycott ECNL/DA travel, play HS soccer, invest the other $7,000 per year.
Enjoy life.

[Unregistered]

+1
"U.S. kids don’t play soccer with bare feet on hardscrabble barrio fields where creativity dominates the action and with few grownups in sight.

Instead, too many American kids play soccer in high-tech cleats on manicured suburban fields, where they stand around quietly until an adult (often paid) runs them through repetitive drills – all to prepare for an expensive tournament three states away.
"
Insanity!

I think I'll try a different method.
Make the A team, boycott ECNL/DA travel, play HS soccer, invest the other $7,000 per year.
Enjoy life.

Except the "A" team is not cheap. It's really the B team, and when we were at Seattle United it was $4000. $2400 club fee, $400 uniforms every two years. and Team fees up to $1200 or more. A team travel - Vegas, Bay Area, Portland. Portand was a wash. Bay Area and Vegas were not. And Guess what, the B team or rather..the "C" team cost the same and went too the same tournaments, just at a Lower level.

You can do select soccer. But forget about playing HS then, depending on your location.

I've met a lot of parents that tried to do this. But low and behold, their kids decides they want to try to go to college and play, and they find themselves getting into ECNL their Junior and Senior years.

[Unregistered]

Before all the clubs went ECNL several regular RCL and PSPL players were able to find colleges to play for. At the end of the day it comes down to talent. Playing ECNL or DA might help with exposure but exposure won’t help if a player isn’t talented. Several girls from Central / Eastern Wa is s great example of this.

[Unregistered]

Please do some actual research:

http://theconversation.com/until-you...-to-fail-85585

While that is an interesting article it attempts to create a causational relationship based on the economic income of people playing i.e. there are more people with money playing so it must be too costly for lower income families. The fact that there is a significant number from one of the lowest income brackets in the Country participating should highlight there are avenues and methods to play that already exist. My kids play Rec for $120 for example.

The article actually highlights the main issue when comparing Soccer to Basketball and other sports. It isn't as simple as saying its the inherent cost as the article itself states that to play at higher levels in Basketball can be equally as expensive. What Basketball is able to do better than the USSF is to have a network that is able to see players at all different levels. High School, Rec, local club, AAU travel. It isn't only relying upon 1 avenue (Think ECNL, DA) and assuming that if they are good enough they would be playing there already. They have recognized the notion that finances can be a factor and remedied it not by making things cheaper (those options already exist in almost every sport) but to get more eyes on different pathways so as to take the variable of cost out of the equation.

ABC did a great article that illustrates the comparable costs to those sports mentioned above.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/olympics/o...ry?id=16940902

As the original statement suggested, if this was simply 100% about cost prohibitation then Swimming, Gymnastics and a multitude of other sports would show a similar weakness on the international stage yet the US excels in those sports. Biles would be the perfect example considering her achievements this week at the Worlds.

[Unregistered]

While that is an interesting article it attempts to create a causational relationship based on the economic income of people playing i.e. there are more people with money playing so it must be too costly for lower income families. The fact that there is a significant number from one of the lowest income brackets in the Country participating should highlight there are avenues and methods to play that already exist. My kids play Rec for $120 for example.

The article actually highlights the main issue when comparing Soccer to Basketball and other sports. It isn't as simple as saying its the inherent cost as the article itself states that to play at higher levels in Basketball can be equally as expensive. What Basketball is able to do better than the USSF is to have a network that is able to see players at all different levels. High School, Rec, local club, AAU travel. It isn't only relying upon 1 avenue (Think ECNL, DA) and assuming that if they are good enough they would be playing there already. They have recognized the notion that finances can be a factor and remedied it not by making things cheaper (those options already exist in almost every sport) but to get more eyes on different pathways so as to take the variable of cost out of the equation.

ABC did a great article that illustrates the comparable costs to those sports mentioned above.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/olympics/o...ry?id=16940902

As the original statement suggested, if this was simply 100% about cost prohibitation then Swimming, Gymnastics and a multitude of other sports would show a similar weakness on the international stage yet the US excels in those sports. Biles would be the perfect example considering her achievements this week at the Worlds.

The only reason the US is strong in those sports is because of scholarships to universities to train as a full time athlete for what is in all intense and purposes an amateur system (olympics/worlds). It’s a clear leg up in sports where very little money is Earned . Soccer has much more of an even playing field . Hence why the US will never dominate in the male game . I have seen a huge decline in talent ever since the age changes came into force ! Our youth teams are actually getting worse and our mnt has declined hugely too .

[Unregistered]

While that is an interesting article it attempts to create a causational relationship based on the economic income of people playing i.e. there are more people with money playing so it must be too costly for lower income families. The fact that there is a significant number from one of the lowest income brackets in the Country participating should highlight there are avenues and methods to play that already exist. My kids play Rec for $120 for example.

The article actually highlights the main issue when comparing Soccer to Basketball and other sports. It isn't as simple as saying its the inherent cost as the article itself states that to play at higher levels in Basketball can be equally as expensive. What Basketball is able to do better than the USSF is to have a network that is able to see players at all different levels. High School, Rec, local club, AAU travel. It isn't only relying upon 1 avenue (Think ECNL, DA) and assuming that if they are good enough they would be playing there already. They have recognized the notion that finances can be a factor and remedied it not by making things cheaper (those options already exist in almost every sport) but to get more eyes on different pathways so as to take the variable of cost out of the equation.

ABC did a great article that illustrates the comparable costs to those sports mentioned above.

https://abcnews.go.com/US/olympics/o...ry?id=16940902

As the original statement suggested, if this was simply 100% about cost prohibitation then Swimming, Gymnastics and a multitude of other sports would show a similar weakness on the international stage yet the US excels in those sports. Biles would be the perfect example considering her achievements this week at the Worlds.

Obviously it isn't just about cost -- as I said, US Soccer has made no efforts to diversify the sport or make it accessible to more kids despite negative press coverage on the issue and people like Hope Solo speaking out. Sounders Academy teams are very diverse because Sounders has the means and the will to scout all over the world and bring kids here to train. Soccer has a problem.

[Unregistered]

kids are being moved around from team to team and hearing some coaches might be leaving

That is what our children are told to move them to different team and not allowed to leave the club. It is bullying.

[Unregistered]

Honestly folks? My recommendation is to actually go to board meetings and ask these questions rather than slandering clubs on line. Get involved.

I've been on the board of two different clubs. You'd be surprised at how few people actually get involved. It makes a difference.

Honestly, board members and team managers are involved only to take advantage for self, of the internal affairs most of the time and do not ever answer or help parents unless it is about threat to collect money one way or another from parents,

[Unregistered]

Not always true. I have multiple kids who have played soccer for the past decade. There is favoritism. I can't say more because I don't want to be identified and I have kids still playing, but I've seen kids disparaged and demeaned at one club be "impact players" on higher level teams elsewhere. Youth Sports, like everything else in life, is not a pure meritocracy.

Agree!

[Unregistered]

The only reason the US is strong in those sports is because of scholarships to universities to train as a full time athlete for what is in all intense and purposes an amateur system (olympics/worlds). It’s a clear leg up in sports where very little money is Earned . Soccer has much more of an even playing field . Hence why the US will never dominate in the male game . I have seen a huge decline in talent ever since the age changes came into force ! Our youth teams are actually getting worse and our mnt has declined hugely too .

You have no idea what you are talking about. The NCAA ha# very strict maximum training thresholds, 20 hrs per week in season, 8 hours a week out of season during the school year.
https://www.ncaa.org/sites/default/files/Charts.pdf

The reason the US is strong in those sports is because of the access kids have to facilities and the significant number of people that have the resources ($) to train.