Soccer gave away the golden goose to other sports at high school

[SoccerJones]

Perhaps 20 colleges have profitable football programs. Maybe in Texas a popular school football turns a profit, but I have seen nothing in California high schools that would lead me to believe any of them turn a profit.

Growth in Division I athletics expenses outpaces revenue increases

Revenue generated by athletics through ticket sales, broadcast agreements and other sources continues to rise among Division I schools, but athletics-related expenses

www.ncaa.org

Yes it's true that at the D1 level, very few (I think it was like 70 out of 300) make a profit. As for high schools, there are a high number of programs that do make good money (it'd be interesting to see if this was the case in the covid years) in Norcal and Socal. Many come from the Trinity league and there are quite a few that pack the stands at the high school level.

I would agree that Texas football is king in the USA

 

[Yak]

Iwould

Yes it's true that at the D1 level, very few (I think it was like 70 out of 300) make a profit. As for high schools, there are a high number of programs that do make good money (it'd be interesting to see if this was the case in the covid years) in Norcal and Socal. Many come from the Trinity league and there are quite a few that pack the stands at the high school level.

I would agree that Texas football is king in the USA

Football is king in Texas but Texas isn't king in high school football. There are 4 SoCal teams in the top 10, more than any other state, including Mater Dei at #1.

 

[espola]

Yes it's true that at the D1 level, very few (I think it was like 70 out of 300) make a profit. As for high schools, there are a high number of programs that do make good money (it'd be interesting to see if this was the case in the covid years) in Norcal and Socal. Many come from the Trinity league and there are quite a few that pack the stands at the high school level.

I would agree that Texas football is king in the USA

More like 25 colleges have profitable football programs.

Do Colleges Make Money From Athletics? | BestColleges

Although college sports play a big role in bringing in money for universities, they rarely generate a positive net revenue.

www.bestcolleges.com

"Pack the stands" is meaningless without knowing stadium size and ticket prices, and whether they turn a profit depends on knowing the expenses.

 

[Carlsbad7]

College Football is advertising more than anything for most schools. I'm sure the PHD eggheads hate it but they also realize that it's something the kids like so it's a necessary evil.

Regarding soccer instead of continuing to force the field game on people. Colleges should focus on a collegiate level Futsal league utilizing the indoor basketball courts when they're not in use for basketball / volleyball / etc. Give people a more consumable taste of the action / suspense. Then once they're hooked the field game will make more sense.

 

[espola]

College Football is advertising more than anything for most schools. I'm sure the PHD eggheads hate it but they also realize that it's something the kids like so it's a necessary evil.

Regarding soccer instead of continuing to force the field game on people. Colleges should focus on a collegiate level Futsal league utilizing the indoor basketball courts when they're not in use for basketball / volleyball / etc. Give people a more consumable taste of the action / suspense. Then once they're hooked the field game will make more sense.

I'm sure those PhD eggheads think that colleges are founded to educate their students or something like that.

 

[timbuck]

Quick HS soccer comment. Our HS has a solid soccer program. Varsity is stacked with ECNL, GA, etc players. But we also have a pretty big roster.
At our game on Thursday, only about 14 of the 22 rostered players saw the field. Would those 8 other players be better off skipping HS and training with their club (assuming these 8 players want to play in college).

 

[Carlsbad7]

I'm sure those PhD eggheads think that colleges are founded to educate their students or something like that.

Education shouldn't be limited to books. The skills and tactics learned from working in a + on a team are just as important as what's taught in class.

Also they should serve beer in the stands.

 

[whatithink]

Quick HS soccer comment. Our HS has a solid soccer program. Varsity is stacked with ECNL, GA, etc players. But we also have a pretty big roster.
At our game on Thursday, only about 14 of the 22 rostered players saw the field. Would those 8 other players be better off skipping HS and training with their club (assuming these 8 players want to play in college).

If the team is that stacked, wouldn't they be better off practicing with all those (better than them) ECNL/GA players and trying to get a starting slot, versus practicing with a few club players in meaningless sessions.

For ref, my son's HS team is pretty stacked with letter league players and he's said that practices are more intense than club as everyone is always trying to be a starter and/or max. minutes. His club team would prob. beat his HS team, but he gets more out of the HS practices. Its the opposite to what the club coaches tell him/me - in his instance only, I'm sure others have very different experiences.

 

[Kicker 2.0]

If the team is that stacked, wouldn't they be better off practicing with all those (better than them) ECNL/GA players and trying to get a starting slot, versus practicing with a few club players in meaningless sessions.

That would depend on the quality of training offered at the HS versus Club sessions.

For reference, my DD and 2 of her friends essentially run the HS training sessions. No offense to my DD, but it’s pretty safe to assume the Club sessions are a bit more challenging.

Conversly, the Boys Varsity sessions are very well run and would say on par or better than current Club sessions.

 

[whatithink]

That would depend on the quality of training offered at the HS versus Club sessions.

For reference, my DD and 2 of her friends essentially run the HS training sessions. No offense to my DD, but it’s pretty safe to assume the Club sessions are a bit more challenging.

Agreed. Generally, from what I've seen, its a combo of a coach that knows what they are doing and kids that want to max what they get. In this instance, if the team is that loaded, I'd expect the second to be a given.

 

[espola]

Education shouldn't be limited to books. The skills and tactics learned from working in a + on a team are just as important as what's taught in class.

Also they should serve beer in the stands.

I agree with the teamwork (and beer!). However, there is something mildly corrupt about those situations where the football coach is the highest-paid employee of the college (and in most states, the highest paid public employee in the state).

College coaches dominate list of highest-paid public employees with seven-digit salaries

College sports are major revenue engines at American schools, and coaches are often well compensated to maintain winning programs.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Ellejustus]

I agree with the teamwork (and beer!). However, there is something mildly corrupt about those situations where the football coach is the highest-paid employee of the college (and in most states, the highest paid public employee in the state).

College coaches dominate list of highest-paid public employees with seven-digit salaries

College sports are major revenue engines at American schools, and coaches are often well compensated to maintain winning programs.

www.usatoday.com

Let's get back to the Goose and why HS gave away all the gold that soccer can bring.

 

[Kicker 2.0]

Let's get back to the Goose and why HS gave away all the gold that soccer can bring.

How many professional games do you watch on a weekly basis? Premier League, La Liga, MLS, NWSL, WSL (Women’s Super League)?

what “gold” is being given away if no one is watching?

That is the biggest travesty….so many complaining about the state of the game and “pay to play” but don’t watch the games on TV/Streaming, go to games, shop their sponsors or buy Merch to financially support the game. Yet want all the benefits.

 

[Jar!23]

Quick HS soccer comment. Our HS has a solid soccer program. Varsity is stacked with ECNL, GA, etc players. But we also have a pretty big roster.
At our game on Thursday, only about 14 of the 22 rostered players saw the field. Would those 8 other players be better off skipping HS and training with their club (assuming these 8 players want to play in college).

Is the big roster common? Does the coach tell players who won't play in advance not to dress or are they expected to still show and sit on the bench? Trying to learn about high school soccer since I have a middle schooler.

 

[GoldenGate]

There are multiple problem with baseball on all levels (major leagues, minor leagues, youth). Soccer should have passed MLB baseball by now but due to its own problems it will still likely take some time (unless baseball magically reforms itself at all levels).

Gridiron football too has had issues from declining participation to the concussion problems to the politics, but you are right, it's a very powerful sport. Basketball isn't going anywhere. Soccer, at least for the men, will be the no. 3 sport for a long time to come.

Strike Three: Baseball Is Dead

Baseball has declined in popularity, and that will have a long-lasting effect on the culture at large. Years from now, a young child will ask, "Grandpa, what was baseball?"

howtheyplay.com

You are clueless. Although people have been whining about MLB being a dying sport for decades, it generates the second highest revenue of any professional sports league in the world, more than the NBA, almost twice that of the Premier League and 10x that of MLS. Before Covid-19, MLB revenue had increased every single year for at least 20 years. Although MLB attendance has declined slightly in recent years, so too has attendance in every American professional league. In fact, MLS attendance decreasing per game even more than the MLB in the last pre-Covid year.

Until dumb soccer people get past the idea that "soccer is so great everyone must watch even crappy versions instead of other sports" b.s., they will never understand why it is crazy to believe that soccer will ever surpass MLB in the U.S. MLS soccer is barely watchable as a form of entertainment, and why on earth would anyone who isn't already a crazy soccer freak waste their time watching an MLS game anyway when they can watch much better quality soccer on TV being played overseas by players they know, care about and who are actually good? Even those who go to MLS games will pick a Premier League game on tv over MLS every single time. In other words, MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL fans only need to decide which sport they want to watch at any give time, while someone who is considering soccer must not only decide which sport to watch but also whether they want to watch a good version of it (e.g. Premier League or top teams in any other European League) or a shitty American one. That is an impossible hurdle.

 

[Ellejustus]

Q & A with ElleJustus and Kicker 2.0 ​

Let's bite together I think we both come from two opposite sides of the planet and see things obviously from our own lens and backgrounds. Let's both agree on that ((you think we can agree on that?)) and finish what we started three and half years ago. Let me answer your questions from my heart bro.

Kicker 2.0: How many professional games do you watch on a weekly basis?

EJ: Zero!

Kicker 2.0: Premier League, La Liga, MLS, NWSL, WSL (Women’s Super League)?

EJ: ZERO! I only watch World Cup soccer & High School Soccer. Maybe some day I'll a watch a woman's Li Liga game or two. I hope to visit Spain some day

Kicker 2.0: what “gold” is being given away if no one is watching?

EJ: The Gold I'm taking about is made from the inside of one's heart and not the "gold" your thinking about. That's money and i dont give a shit about money today.

Kicker 2.0: That is the biggest travesty….so many complaining about the state of the game and “pay to play”

EJ: No, the biggest travesty is people getting fired for........I don;t have money to pay to play bro either. The last 5 years has been very hard on our family financially. The game is a mess because only a few rich families can pay to play. $15K a year is insane!!! It is what it is. Nothing is free I guess. You pay for what you pay for. On a side note; I wish your school took care of the females better in soccer and I mean that. Props 100% to the girls who make it happen. I'm more pissed about that Kicker

Kicker 2.0: Plus they, "don’t watch the games on TV/Streaming, go to games, shop their sponsors or buy Merch to financially support the game.

EJ: No I don't!!! Bro, I have no extra money to buy Merch and help support the pay to play system, where most of the Pro players are treated horribly and way under paid. Sorry, it's the truth. Again, you have the money to spend on all this and I don't.

Kicker 2.0: Yet they want all the benefits

EJ: Benefits? My kid got locked out of the USGDA because she dared play HSS. I can go on and on about all the other BS but I won't do that anymore. I'm looking for men with a heart of gold and a brain that followers the truth

 

[Kicker 2.0]

Q & A with ElleJustus and Kicker 2.0 ​

Let's bite together I think we both come from two opposite sides of the planet and see things obviously from our own lens and backgrounds. Let's both agree on that ((you think we can agree on that?)) and finish what we started three and half years ago. Let me answer your questions from my heart bro.

Kicker 2.0: How many professional games do you watch on a weekly basis?

EJ: Zero!

Kicker 2.0: Premier League, La Liga, MLS, NWSL, WSL (Women’s Super League)?

EJ: ZERO! I only watch World Cup soccer & High School Soccer. Maybe some day I'll a watch a woman's Li Liga game or two. I hope to visit Spain some day

Kicker 2.0: what “gold” is being given away if no one is watching?

EJ: The Gold I'm taking about is made from the inside of one's heart and not the "gold" your thinking about. That's money and i dont give a shit about money today.

Kicker 2.0: That is the biggest travesty….so many complaining about the state of the game and “pay to play”

EJ: No, the biggest travesty is people getting fired for........I don;t have money to pay to play bro either. The last 5 years has been very hard on our family financially. The game is a mess because only a few rich families can pay to play. $15K a year is insane!!! It is what it is. Nothing is free I guess. You pay for what you pay for. On a side note; I wish your school took care of the females better in soccer and I mean that. Props 100% to the girls who make it happen. I'm more pissed about that Kicker

Kicker 2.0: Plus they, "don’t watch the games on TV/Streaming, go to games, shop their sponsors or buy Merch to financially support the game.

EJ: No I don't!!! Bro, I have no extra money to buy Merch and help support the pay to play system, where most of the Pro players are treated horribly and way under paid. Sorry, it's the truth. Again, you have the money to spend on all this and I don't.

Kicker 2.0: Yet they want all the benefits

EJ: Benefits? My kid got locked out of the USGDA because she dared play HSS. I can go on and on about all the other BS but I won't do that anymore. I'm looking for men with a heart of gold and a brain that followers the truth

You made your choices…..bought what the “snake oil” salesmen were selling and rubbed it in everyone’s faces till the hard reality set in.

back to the topic at hand

 

[Ellejustus]

You made your choices…..bought what the “snake oil” salesmen were selling and rubbed it in everyone’s faces till the hard reality set in.

back to the topic at hand

Wow, after all these years you still just call "him" a snake oil salesman? That's all he and the gang are to you? Seriously? Wow wow wow and some more wow. Some day you will find out in detail what kind of "oil" he used to rub all his lies with.

 

[GoldenGate]

College Football is advertising more than anything for most schools. I'm sure the PHD eggheads hate it but they also realize that it's something the kids like so it's a necessary evil.

Regarding soccer instead of continuing to force the field game on people. Colleges should focus on a collegiate level Futsal league utilizing the indoor basketball courts when they're not in use for basketball / volleyball / etc. Give people a more consumable taste of the action / suspense. Then once they're hooked the field game will make more sense.

I totally see 18 year old college freshman who never liked soccer playing an esoteric version of it that relies even more heavily on technical ability that they lack. I can't imagine anything that sounds like more fun than that. It is surely a much better way to utilize a basketball court than, uh, basketball.

 

[Simisoccerfan]

A dose of reality, no one is going to watch college futsal. Likely fun to play but the idea that this will draw fans and lead them to watch the field game is not even a pipe dream. Probably the best way to draw fans and increase revenue would be to sell beer at college soccer games. This is being done more and more at football games, basketball games and even I hear the the baseball and softball world series.

 

[Carlsbad7]

I totally see 18 year old college freshman who never liked soccer playing an esoteric version of it that relies even more heavily on technical ability that they lack. I can't imagine anything that sounds like more fun than that. It is surely a much better way to utilize a basketball court than, uh, basketball.

If Ultimate Frisbee has a place on TV Futsal can as well.