What has happened to and in American youth soccer over the past fifty years? I will take you on a stroll down memory lane, sharing some of my fondest memories and others I would like to forget; but cannot.
Soccer in America has become "All about the money." Some have forgotten it really is, and needs to always be "All about the players" and to develop their lifelong love of and passion for the sport. Parents are willing to pay "whatever the market will bear" as the club and/or coaches charge ever increasing to astronomical fees with the hope to have their child will succeed in obtaining the holy grail of a college soccer scholarship and not let their child fall behind their peers. The problem is that many parents have no idea what is actually going on in America's youth soccer today, what they may soon face, or how to best navigate any of it.
The hashtag I use to describe this is #youcantmakethissoccerstuffup.
Money Grab $$-A Parents' Guide to American Youth Soccer is an insider's view of the actual soccer player developmental life cycle beginning with recreational FUN then to the drama, pain points, best practice actions and costs of competitive soccer. From just starting in the sport through your player's deveIopmental life cycle, we will share what it takes to enjoy, survive, and possibly even make a professional soccer team and then stay at that level. Having been involved for so long, I have heard this same parents' cry for help and understanding repeatedly, especially in the past few years. Parents who always want to do the best for their player but don't have a clue, or for those who thought they had the clue, only to find out otherwise, need guidance and insight into what is going on. It will be invaluable and settling to understand in advance the decisions parents may face so that they may make the correct ones given the information available or to obtain what is needed to make and intelligent, data-driven decision, what to look for in a coach and, when to run.
It will also identify many of the current and potential methods for a variety of folks to take parent's hard-earned money out of their wallets providing little to nothing in return, also known as "Money Grab."
Knowstoomuch, Timmy: - The information on these pages results from the author's fifty+ year soccer journey and includes diverse experiences from street soccer, high school soccer, college soccer and beyond. The author was ultimately signed as a professional soccer player. After his playing days ended, I became a college coach, then high school coach, youth club coach, club president, youth and high school referee, and held various other roles, all the while loving and living the game of soccer as it evolves. The author shares, "When we became parents, we thought it would be a great idea to play organized soccer. Who knew what would happen? #youcantmakethissoccerstuffup happened. To us! And so, this was the inspiration for this book. All the best on your player's personal journey!!
