Is Club soccer the biggest SCAM in youth sports?

sandshark said:
Youth soccer is a complete sham built for the long run scam.
I'm not saying 100% of everyone is following this business model, but the majority rules and proves to be pure BS. The business model is built so that the clubs and coaches can always put all the "failures" back on the children or parents from games, training, year end results, development, team selection, playing time and more. They literally have a system of almost zero accountability to protect the club reputation and its employees at all cost.
Their mission is to build the number$ at all cost, they sale a product based on a persons pure love and passion for their children, most all of the (salesman) coaches are 1/2 ass hacks in the game, life and the business world. They love to use special terms to build their own inflated self absorbed personas and then roll that over into the parents egos using their children as the sales tool.
I constantly see parents of above average intelligence buying into a coach with a below average intelligence line of BS, most of the time the parents are blinded because they are being sold using the their love for their child as the sales tool!
Another slap in the face is when children and families buy into the coaches and clubs "loyalty program" the coaches and clubs promote with only words and very few actions. How many times have you witnessed a family that goes and checks out the other products (clubs) that are all of a sudden faced with a coach that turns on that family using their child as a whooping post to set an example to others to never to shop outside the current team or club! They literally use children as a way to scare other children and families. It is crazy, I have seen scum bag, bully coaches verbally and mentally abuse young children to prove their point of being all mighty and in control!
This is way to common and overlooked buy DOC's because again it is about the money and almost never about little kids. I have witnessed all the above and experienced some first hand. Again, youth soccer is not all bad but it is the majority at the higher level of play and the larger clubs! just my .2
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Sounds like congress. As with most things, you have to look out for your children because nobody else is going to do it.
 
And further more on the subject of the DOC pay..I DO NOT see an issue with that if he or she has surrounded themselves with idiots willing to allow that amount of pay. Go check into some local SD clubs DOC pay.
 
sandshark said:
Youth soccer is a complete sham built for the long run scam.
I'm not saying 100% of everyone is following this business model, but the majority rules and proves to be pure BS. The business model is built so that the clubs and coaches can always put all the "failures" back on the children or parents from games, training, year end results, development, team selection, playing time and more. They literally have a system of almost zero accountability to protect the club reputation and its employees at all cost.
Their mission is to build the number$ at all cost, they sale a product based on a persons pure love and passion for their children, most all of the (salesman) coaches are 1/2 ass hacks in the game, life and the business world. They love to use special terms to build their own inflated self absorbed personas and then roll that over into the parents egos using their children as the sales tool.
I constantly see parents of above average intelligence buying into a coach with a below average intelligence line of BS, most of the time the parents are blinded because they are being sold using the their love for their child as the sales tool!
Another slap in the face is when children and families buy into the coaches and clubs "loyalty program" the coaches and clubs promote with only words and very few actions. How many times have you witnessed a family that goes and checks out the other products (clubs) that are all of a sudden faced with a coach that turns on that family using their child as a whooping post to set an example to others to never to shop outside the current team or club! They literally use children as a way to scare other children and families. It is crazy, I have seen scum bag, bully coaches verbally and mentally abuse young children to prove their point of being all mighty and in control!
This is way to common and overlooked buy DOC's because again it is about the money and almost never about little kids. I have witnessed all the above and experienced some first hand. Again, youth soccer is not all bad but it is the majority at the higher level of play and the larger clubs! just my .2
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Don't forget the club/coach that sends his players to the opposing team after a game to ask for phone numbers. Let 9 year old girls sell Girl Scout cookies. Not soccer dreams.
 
nononono said:
Absolutely ridiculous premise...to complain about a DOC's pay.
" You get what you pay for "
They provide the experience/environment, you provide the $$$$ and player.
I'll bet you don't complain when enjoying the services of McDonalds, Jack in The Box, Carl's Jr, Arby's, Church's, Chick-Fil-A, DelTaco and many other Franchises that provide a need for your hunger....Do you know what the Owners of each of those franchises make ( If they are successful ) ?
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So, I am confused now, are you saying that club soccer is like overpriced and unhealthy fast food?
 
watfly said:
It's certainly buyer beware with Club soccer.
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chargerfan said:
They promise little Chloe a college scholarship and maybe national team, and the optics of having a coach with an accent make it seem extra exclusive. And imagine the Instagram pictures of her with all her medals! Won't the other parents be so jealous? Chloe is the best of all the 3rd graders!
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Even for those of us that do not have our eyes on college scholarships, ODP or championship cups, and are just looking for a half decent coach to let their love of the game rub off on the kids a little, it's not easy to weed out the bogus coaches, if you even have a choice to begin with. On the westside, if you can find a club that isn't dysfunctional (SMU was OK, until a few months ago, when the G2006 parents hijacked the club to serve that team; Breakers is OK, but it's small, has a worn out field space, and fees are high despite not having assistants), FCLA (overly-involved parents can be a problem, and they always seem to keep one hand on your checkbook), Autobahn (not-quite-benign neglect) and FC England (maybe, if one of their 3 teams per gender matches your kid's age)), you still might not find a decent coach within that club. The few coaches I've liked are not coaching my kids' age group.

I just can't bring myself to relocate just to find a decent coach for my kids age group yet.
 
Footbollah said:
Even for those of us that do not have our eyes on college scholarships, ODP or championship cups, and are just looking for a half decent coach to let their love of the game rub off on the kids a little, it's not easy to weed out the bogus coaches, if you even have a choice to begin with. On the westside, if you can find a club that isn't dysfunctional (SMU was OK, until a few months ago, when the G2006 parents hijacked the club to serve that team; Breakers is OK, but it's small, has a worn out field space, and fees are high despite not having assistants), FCLA (overly-involved parents can be a problem, and they always seem to keep one hand on your checkbook), Autobahn (not-quite-benign neglect) and FC England (maybe, if one of their 3 teams per gender matches your kid's age)), you still might not find a decent coach within that club. The few coaches I've liked are not coaching my kids' age group.

I just can't bring myself to relocate just to find a decent coach for my kids age group yet.
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Footbollah, find a club that's not dysfunctional and it will be within a few months of commitment! :confused:
 
Soccer coaches obviously don't do it for the money. It's low pay. Like teachers, some are good and some are bad, but don't complain about their compensation.
 
Footbollah said:
Even for those of us that do not have our eyes on college scholarships, ODP or championship cups, and are just looking for a half decent coach to let their love of the game rub off on the kids a little, it's not easy to weed out the bogus coaches, if you even have a choice to begin with. On the westside, if you can find a club that isn't dysfunctional (SMU was OK, until a few months ago, when the G2006 parents hijacked the club to serve that team; Breakers is OK, but it's small, has a worn out field space, and fees are high despite not having assistants), FCLA (overly-involved parents can be a problem, and they always seem to keep one hand on your checkbook), Autobahn (not-quite-benign neglect) and FC England (maybe, if one of their 3 teams per gender matches your kid's age)), you still might not find a decent coach within that club. The few coaches I've liked are not coaching my kids' age group.

I just can't bring myself to relocate just to find a decent coach for my kids age group yet.
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I have to say this is the hardest thing about the club soccer experience with DS I've found. Despite the little voice that tells me sometimes to look for where the grass is greener and possibly offers less drama, more wins, or higher competition, I have to keep repeating to myself the mantra "we are so lucky to have such great coaches, for however long it may last", particularly given how young he is.
 
An interesting article on CNN about the LA Galaxy recruitment. The Galaxy has been actively trying to recruit a marquee striker and goalkeeper since the spring, but apparently they are looking at the also-rans from the English clubs. The article says one of the reasons the Galaxy are doing this (as opposed to looking at the US clubs) is because the US club system is college oriented and too few players want to give up the college education.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/18/football/la-galaxy-david-beckham-transfer-scouting/index.html
 
Grace T. said:
An interesting article on CNN about the LA Galaxy recruitment. The Galaxy has been actively trying to recruit a marquee striker and goalkeeper since the spring, but apparently they are looking at the also-rans from the English clubs. The article says one of the reasons the Galaxy are doing this (as opposed to looking at the US clubs) is because the US club system is college oriented and too few players want to give up the college education.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/18/football/la-galaxy-david-beckham-transfer-scouting/index.html
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Yeah makes you wonder why Galaxy is spending 4 $million a year on their academy system have 7+ home grown players on 1st team yet get blown out 6-2 by small market real salt lake in there latest MLS game.

They should look in the mirror and put more time into developing quality players and not just poaching from others.

The Texans Houston just beat the the Galaxy in the U17/18 da final because there better at developing and team work despite the fact they have a fraction of resources or higher profile players compared to the Galaxy.
 
sandshark said:
Another slap in the face is when children and families buy into the coaches and clubs "loyalty program" the coaches and clubs promote with only words and very few actions. How many times have you witnessed a family that goes and checks out the other products (clubs) that are all of a sudden faced with a coach that turns on that family using their child as a whooping post to set an example to others to never to shop outside the current team or club! They literally use children as a way to scare other children and families.
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I've watched one club based in Carlsbad cut whole families because one superstar changed clubs. The funny thing is, that the reaction on our team was "Well, it's not cool, but they couldn't have been surprised." Really? A kid got cut midseason from a team they loved because their older sister changed clubs? Ridiculous.
 
jpeter said:
The Texans Houston just beat the the Galaxy in the U17/18 da final because there better at developing and team work despite the fact they have a fraction of resources or higher profile players compared to the Galaxy.
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I'm far from an LAG homer, but just want to point out that in that final the U17/18 Galaxy roster had 10+ U16-U14s.
 
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JackZ said:
I'm far from an LAG homer, but just want to point out that in that final the U17/18 Galaxy roster had 10+ U16-U14s.
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Yeah they might have the best 15yr in the DA #40 LeBron. He plays for Mexico YNT though & likely not domesticly in the MLS either so that investment doesn't get returned with solidarity comps or goes elsewhere. That's the pattern for the da, best players have to leave eventually to keep developing.

Half dozen playing up is good but what happen to the regulars? Bringing down the 98' big Striker who's been playing for the Galaxy 2 says what?
 
Lambchop said:
Ya, if the players show up, and you actually have a game with a fair ref. Lot's of luck with that.
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The hack a Shaq leagues, where player cards, foul calling are optional and offside is saved for other sunday football leagues. Fun to play jungle ball once in a while.
 
Lambchop said:
Ya, if the players show up, and you actually have a game with a fair ref. Lot's of luck with that.
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You can complain all you want to or you can recognize every soccer opportunity in front of your player for what it is..... An opportunity.

Good luck to you and your player.
 
watfly said:
It's certainly buyer beware with Club soccer. My son has played for one of the clubs and currently plays on another club on your list. While the current club is not perfect, it is light years better than the previous club. In one club the DOC verbally assaulted a parent of a tier 1 player because the player wanted to tryout for another club. You would also receive the wrath if your child wanted to guest for another club, despite the fact that the club regularly brought in guest players. In contrast, in my kid's current club the relatively well known DOC has no problem coaching a U8 C team.

It's easy to blame the clubs but parents have to shoulder some of blame. Among other things, the whole scholarship mentality, particularly for kids that aren't even in high school yet, makes parents easy prey for the clubs. These clubs post all their senior college commitments (whether by athletic scholarship or not) on their website and the parents eat it up like educational crack.

Everyone has to make the value decision for themselves as to which club suits them the best. Plenty of organized sports where the cost is substantially more expensive, although on a per hour basis Club soccer maybe the most expensive particularly if you get the old school coach that still believes in laps, lines and lectures.
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omg the bit on educational crack, made me laugh, so exact, parents are the bait here for the clubs.

Also being a fullt time coach and that being your career aint bad, jusy the intentions and unreal profit making is a bit worrisome...
 
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