Is Club soccer the biggest SCAM in youth sports?

And I guess wallowing in Silver or Flight 2/3 year after year could start to suck the life out of you.

Although I think Club soccer is still a great option even in that situation.
 
Wat Before my oldest made the move from AYSO to club soccer, she was into everything. Wanted to try every sport there was available to her. Honestly, she was very good at everything. Just a fantastic athlete. We did not push for the club route in any sport. We waited for her to ask for it. We also made sure she understood the commitment it would take, and that it would likely mean less time for any other sport. She wanted to compete at the highest level she could in soccer, and THAT is the reason we made the move into the world of club soccer. It was not about College, or promises of anything that club could bring her. Simply about the level of competition. If she stops playing after aging out, so be it. It was all worth it. There is no SCAM at all. The SCAM is created by the individuals and families that enter with delusions about what club soccer "should" get them. Your kid either has it or they don't. Realism can be hard to come to grips with.
 
NoGoal said:
Yup, your first rodeo! You must have a 2009 kid.
Click to expand...
Yes, I have a 2009 and 2003. I resisted club with the 03 until recently. There's no way that I can go back to rec. I started my 09 in rec for one season and I got flash backs on how often is she going to get a new coach that is going to teach her how to do a throw in or encourage to play kickball. I immediately put her into club so she doesn't develop the bad habits of my 03. My 09 will be much better than my 03.
 
SoccerFan4Life said:
Yes, I have a 2009 and 2003. I resisted club with the 03 until recently. There's no way that I can go back to rec. I started my 09 in rec for one season and I got flash backs on how often is she going to get a new coach that is going to teach her how to do a throw in or encourage to play kickball. I immediately put her into club so she doesn't develop the bad habits of my 03. My 09 will be much better than my 03.
Click to expand...
Optimistic.

There's 03s going Premier doing throw- ins that still send it down the line. Man wide- open right in front of him.
 
Whether club is a scam depends on what the coach promises and what s/he delivers. The scam is that you won't know s/he's lying/lazy/incompetent until after you're locked in with your $2,500+ for the season.

The coaches know what noises to make to sound like they're going to do the right things, but try-outs are a poor gauge of what a coach can and will do over the course of a season. You won't know until it's too late.

In their first year of club, one of my kids got a coach with 5+ years as a head coach at this club and a well-known school and a team of olders that had several tournament wins.

When it came to our team (and our kid), the coach phoned it in, and it showed. After a year of club, the team still doesn't play much differently that they did coming in from AYSO, and the kids trying out from some of the rec teams aren't playing any worse. Then, in the middle of state cup, a block of board members basically hijacked the club, changed practice schedules so that 1/3 of our team couldn't make practices...

So the coach was lazy (or ignorant, or incompetent), and the club changed so it sucked, and the team kinda sucked (although at least the teammates enjoyed each other's company).

There are parents with delusions of grandeur, for sure, and for them, all roads lead to disappointment. But even for those of us that are looking to a club for better coaching and more competitive play, it takes real leg work to avoid getting ripped off. It was only after a season or two of watching coaches at games, tournaments and practices over several months before we learned which coaches did the work, and which ones we should avoid. (Unfortunately, most of the coaches in our neck of the woods for our age group are in the "avoid" category.)

Plus, some clubs set high minimums for team rosters just to boost dues. That's kinda scammy.
 
Footbollah said:
Whether club is a scam depends on what the coach promises and what s/he delivers. The scam is that you won't know s/he's lying/lazy/incompetent until after you're locked in with your $2,500+ for the season.

The coaches know what noises to make to sound like they're going to do the right things, but try-outs are a poor gauge of what a coach can and will do over the course of a season. You won't know until it's too late.
Click to expand...
Arsenal FC Vision

To provide a world class soccer program that develops world class soccer players.

http://www.arsenalfc.us/about-us/

Does this sound like a SCAM to you?

How can you produce World Class players with a pay- to- play system?
 
Arsenal FC Mission

–To staff Arsenal FC with the best and most GREEDY soccer coaches in the Southern California area.

–To gain relentless support and participation from our parents.

–To develop and improve our facilities and equipment.

–To improve our marketing, messaging and communication.

–To be financially self sufficient.

http://www.arsenalfc.us/about-us/
 
timbuck said:
Club volleyball is right up there. $4k for an 11 year old to play is a bit silly.
Kids can't bump, set or hit with any consistency, but you have coaches teaching intricate rotations to kids who may never be able to jump high enough to get their hand over the net.
Click to expand...

Whatever south OC club you went to is ripping you off. Maybe not, since it sounds like you didn't sign up. I've found its similar to soccer in pricing. There is a decent discrepancy in clubs. There is definitely a business model that involves higher prices. Sometimes this is required to pay the rent on a brand new facility, for example MMTSC, Ladera SC, or "Laguna's" facility in Santa Margarita. Sometimes its to leave funds available to offer incentives to other people.

Anyone who thinks these sports clubs are making a killing is probably wrong. Is $200K/year a lot of money for running a large soccer club? I guess that depends on your point of view.
 
jsmaxwell said:
Whatever south OC club you went to is ripping you off. Maybe not, since it sounds like you didn't sign up. I've found its similar to soccer in pricing. There is a decent discrepancy in clubs. There is definitely a business model that involves higher prices. Sometimes this is required to pay the rent on a brand new facility, for example MMTSC, Ladera SC, or "Laguna's" facility in Santa Margarita. Sometimes its to leave funds available to offer incentives to other people.

Anyone who thinks these sports clubs are making a killing is probably wrong. Is $200K/year a lot of money for running a large soccer club? I guess that depends on your point of view.
Click to expand...

Yah, we are holding off on club volleyball. My 04 kid played in a volley high league last year and played in a rec league (put on by A4 this year). Low cost. Good instruction. Low pressure. But she's asking for something more competitive now.
Volleyball seems to have it right with regard to try outs though. She can't join a club team now if she wanted to (I think?). Teams are formed in October. And she can't slap together 7 friends to play in a tournament either.
 
timbuck said:
Yah, we are holding off on club volleyball. My 04 kid played in a volley high league last year and played in a rec league (put on by A4 this year). Low cost. Good instruction. Low pressure. But she's asking for something more competitive now.
Volleyball seems to have it right with regard to try outs though. She can't join a club team now if she wanted to (I think?). Teams are formed in October. And she can't slap together 7 friends to play in a tournament either.
Click to expand...

Correct about the tryouts & team formation. Its in the fall during a specific week and that is it. The information is at scvavolleyball.org

Beach goes on pretty much continuously. www.cbva.org You only need 1 friend to play in a beach tournament.

Then again, why pay? With three friends, you can play at the beach for free.

If your school has it, your daughter will be eligible for the school team soon.
 
Nextbigthing said:
DOC 's making over 200k a year! They sell you on development not wins. Some clubs having 5-6 teams at an age group. DA 2, ECNL reserve and god knows what other team names will be next for marketing a third or fourth team. Blues, Surf, Legends, Slammers, Pats, Beach, Eagles, LA Galaxy, West Coast, Albion, SDSC. do any of these clubs actually care about the individual player or will it always be money first, then club, then coach, then player
Click to expand...


Club soccer is what your player and you make of it.
 
As I read a lot of the posts venting about Club, Academy and DA II, it makes me think if I am doing right by my DD. My DD has been playing soccer since she was 4yrs old and transitioned to Club when she was 10yrs old and she is 16yrs old now. Regardless of where she plays, I just love watching her whether it is on a mediocre team (high school) or a really solid team. I just want her to play and enjoy the sport that she loves. I have always asked every year, “do you still love the sport” and the response has always been “yes.” She does want to play in college but only for one particular school and if she doesn’t make the team, she says there is always intramural soccer. She just loves the games.

With all that said, all the chatter about playing on Flight 1, Academy/ DAII or what is the best club. For my DD, the only thing she really considers important for her is the coach, not the promises of the club/coach/team say they will provide. She has to have that connection with the coach to play well and if she doesn’t her game is $#!?. But don’t get me wrong, she does want to play on a solid team. Bottom line is that it shouldn’t matter what club or team your kid is on, what matters is that they actually play and keeping the bench warm on a great club/team, isn’t playing; especially with the money I pay for club, I want my DD on the pitch.

What good is it for a college coach to come see your kid’s “great” team play and your kid is on the bench. Figure out what your kid's objective is playing club and get your monies worth, choose a club/team that your kid will “actually play” for and don’t get caught up in all the hype of the best club or Academy/DA II team or coach promises. It is only a scam if you allow it to be.
 
SuperNatural said:
An inspirational post-

Don't know what it means but it sounds good.
Click to expand...

Simple. You get out of club soccer what your child puts into it. Clubs are going to do what is in their best interest and as a parent our job is to make it into whatever is in the best interest of our child. If you follow the hot trend, or the well marketed club and believe the hype it could seem like a scam. I got a great ROI on the money that I spent so I don't think that it is a scam. However, I know that my player's journey is not everyone's journey. As a parent, it is up to everyone out there in the club world to make it a great experience for their player. So as I said:

"Club soccer is what your player and you make of it."
 
timbuck said:
Yah, we are holding off on club volleyball. My 04 kid played in a volley high league last year and played in a rec league (put on by A4 this year). Low cost. Good instruction. Low pressure. But she's asking for something more competitive now.
Volleyball seems to have it right with regard to try outs though. She can't join a club team now if she wanted to (I think?). Teams are formed in October. And she can't slap together 7 friends to play in a tournament either.
Click to expand...
LMFAO! Club Soccer is a hell of a lot cheaper than Club Volleyball. I can imagine a volleyball forum would have a thread like this one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top