You might get the pyramid. In fact the boys side is more pyramidy now than it was even 5 years ago. It’s just not going to be what most people like (if it happens). On the boys side:This is predictable but sad news in general. Years ago when my oldest started playing soccer, I have hopes that a single pyramid of youth soccer competition will be developed, just like everywhere else in the world. There was hope that US Soccer will see this is a problem to be solved. AYSO is an organization that already have good national network. Also US has public schools with fields (advantage that almost no other nations have). I guess in the end I have to admit this is never going to happen in US. Youth sports will continue to operate like any other businesses.
I think we should be thankful that AYSO still exist. This may eventually go away as well.
-no pro/rel
-a handful of mega national clubs including with vc funding and the academies control over thing.
-Locally 25 clubs divide up the barrios and prevent entry of any new comers.
- No real competition so fees continue to rise
-for the older mls academies at the top, mls1, mls2, ea. everything else goes away because of you can’t do letter league you can’t make a go of it. Ecnl folds.
-For the Youngers more options but the mega clubs are dominant and local clubs finish disappearing.
-ayso (which is struggling now as it is) just disappears. The Youngers have a rec option but it’s controlled by the mega clubs which keep pushing travel as young as it can go.
-participation numbers continue to decline because kids and parents feel if you can’t be on top of the pyramid why bother.
I said this back in the coast days…if you want to maximize participation, it looks like a pear not a pyramid.
