What do you think of the kids on Scholarship?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

Not complaining - just explaining how it works.

[Anonymous]

More than scholarships being an issue. The kid who pays full price but still doesn't make the full commitment to the team. They miss practices or even games. If the team rule is show 45 minutes prior to the game. They show up 10 minutes before the start. if the game is too far they don't make it. If your team doesn't make the finals of a tournament. They say their unavailable for a constellation game, But available for finals. And the parent can't understand why their kid is put on the B team not the A team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

Not complaining - just explaining how it works.

The term "scholarship" is misleading in club soccer. It's not like there is some pot of money behind the scenes somewhere that covers all costs. Maybe for some items - at best the club fees - but at the team level, it means you paying for another players hotel room, meals, bus rides, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

Not complaining - just explaining how it works.

The term "scholarship" is misleading in club soccer. It's not like there is some pot of money behind the scenes somewhere that covers all costs. Maybe for some items - at best the club fees - but at the team level, it means you paying for another players hotel room, meals, bus rides, etc. [/quote’

Is this made clear to everyone when they sign up? Is anyone forced to sign up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

Not complaining - just explaining how it works.

The term "scholarship" is misleading in club soccer. It's not like there is some pot of money behind the scenes somewhere that covers all costs. Maybe for some items - at best the club fees - but at the team level, it means you paying for another players hotel room, meals, bus rides, etc.

Simply false. Scholarship players pay for their own hotel, meals, transportation, etc. The only thing covered are the club fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s appalling that a club, coach, or team manager releases information on who got a scholarship. And if a parent knows about it, he/she should not disclose this information either.

This information has to be safeguarded. It’s private information.

Parents should not care who pays vs who is on scholarship.

I'm not sure you understand how this all works. There are club fees, then team fees, then your individual expenses. Clubs provide scholarships for the club fees - the oft-discussed 3K a year or so. Then there are team fees - Team X is going to these tournaments, which cost Y, coach's travel will cost Z, and so on. Those are the responsibility of the 18 or so players on the roster. And then there is individual costs - hotel rooms, plane tickets, uniforms, etc.

If a player is on scholarship for Club fees (3K), he/she will not be able to afford the team and individual costs. And it is up to those 18 or so families to pay it . So yes, everyone knows, because it is a practical matter for the team to deal with. Some folks kick in directly with cash, others pay for meals and such, and other complain about the kids on scholarship. It is usually folks for whom a travel sport is a luxury and who are making sacrifices to allow their kid to play, but are not getting any assistance.

I really don’t understand. If you think this is extremely unfair, why do you continue to complain and pay for your DC to be in the team? Why don’t you quit? I’m sure there are many other activities that you can pay for that doesn’t include scholarships and other fees that would help the less fortunate. What would you do if Elizabeth Warren gets elected to be our next president?

My point is, complaining doesn’t do a damn thing. You have to do something about it rather than just sit on your PC or iPad and post your complaints.

Not complaining - just explaining how it works.

The term "scholarship" is misleading in club soccer. It's not like there is some pot of money behind the scenes somewhere that covers all costs. Maybe for some items - at best the club fees - but at the team level, it means you paying for another players hotel room, meals, bus rides, etc.

Simply false. Scholarship players pay for their own hotel, meals, transportation, etc. The only thing covered are the club fees.

It may be false FOR YOU, but in one prominent local club, this is exactly how it works.

[Anonymous]

A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

So, you don't see the social benefit of helping a kid out?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

So, you don't see the social benefit of helping a kid out?

Well I didn’t say that at all. I wasn’t making any comment on social benefit. I think there are good arguments both ways on that. Fundamentally, travel club sports are a luxury good, and I don’t think anyone is owed a subsidy to be able to afford a luxury.

To the behavior question, the scholarship kids that had parents engaged - they were fine on behavior. The scholarship kids that had little or no parent involvement were a challenge as far as behavior was concerned - both on and off the field. Red cards and fights on the field, problems at hotels and on trips off the field. Pretty much uncontrollable.

Again, our experience at our club.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

So, you don't see the social benefit of helping a kid out?

Well I didn’t say that at all. I wasn’t making any comment on social benefit. I think there are good arguments both ways on that. Fundamentally, travel club sports are a luxury good, and I don’t think anyone is owed a subsidy to be able to afford a luxury.

To the behavior question, the scholarship kids that had parents engaged - they were fine on behavior. The scholarship kids that had little or no parent involvement were a challenge as far as behavior was concerned - both on and off the field. Red cards and fights on the field, problems at hotels and on trips off the field. Pretty much uncontrollable.

Again, our experience at our club.

Most soccer clubs are community organizations. They are non-profits. Their purpose is not to be a luxury or exclusive. There are real world costs associated with running a soccer club but a soccer club is not a Country Club. If you want exclusivity based solely on what your wallet can afford then I suggest you get out of sports. If a club is able to help out with families regarding expenses that might be prohibitive I really don't see how that should bother you. Again, they are a community organization first and foremost. And if a scholarship can keep some potential troubled teens engaged in something positive then that is a win/win.

I love how in many of the threads regarding our national teams and why our men's team is so bad always point to a couple of common arguments.
1. We lack a true national soccer culture
2. We lack street soccer
3. We are pay to play.

Well this thread is full of why we suck not only as a soccer nation but also suck as empathetic human beings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

So, you don't see the social benefit of helping a kid out?

Well I didn’t say that at all. I wasn’t making any comment on social benefit. I think there are good arguments both ways on that. Fundamentally, travel club sports are a luxury good, and I don’t think anyone is owed a subsidy to be able to afford a luxury.

To the behavior question, the scholarship kids that had parents engaged - they were fine on behavior. The scholarship kids that had little or no parent involvement were a challenge as far as behavior was concerned - both on and off the field. Red cards and fights on the field, problems at hotels and on trips off the field. Pretty much uncontrollable.

Again, our experience at our club.

Most soccer clubs are community organizations. They are non-profits. Their purpose is not to be a luxury or exclusive. There are real world costs associated with running a soccer club but a soccer club is not a Country Club. If you want exclusivity based solely on what your wallet can afford then I suggest you get out of sports. If a club is able to help out with families regarding expenses that might be prohibitive I really don't see how that should bother you. Again, they are a community organization first and foremost. And if a scholarship can keep some potential troubled teens engaged in something positive then that is a win/win.

I love how in many of the threads regarding our national teams and why our men's team is so bad always point to a couple of common arguments.
1. We lack a true national soccer culture
2. We lack street soccer
3. We are pay to play.

Well this thread is full of why we suck not only as a soccer nation but also suck as empathetic human beings.

Every time I'm about to give up on this board, I read a post like this.

Very well said, and thank you.

Youth soccer clubs are nonprofits. Their purpose is supposed to be for the benefit of the community as a whole. It is the clubs who don't offer scholarships that really have some explaining to do.

And for all of you who complain about "scholarship kids" taking your kid's spot, because even though they are a better player their parents aren't as rich as you and so somehow that makes it unfair, there's always rec.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple points, there are sponsors that earmark their contributions to scholarship kids, so no money out of your pocket, who would have an issue with that? Also, no doubt scholarship parents tend to have more issues with punctuality and communication for sure, but mostly harmless. But this thread asked about the scholarship kids themselves, and they in my experienced have been great, certainly better for the most part than some of the hyper never-disciplined yuppie kids.

"Scholarship kids" are not all built the same. There are definitely some who are pretty much wards of the team - literally no transportation, food, or anything else associated with their existence when with the team happens without a parent, manager, or coach arranging it and someone paying for it. I'm not saying that is every scholarship kid, but from my experience it's a good 1/3 of them.

So, you don't see the social benefit of helping a kid out?

Well I didn’t say that at all. I wasn’t making any comment on social benefit. I think there are good arguments both ways on that. Fundamentally, travel club sports are a luxury good, and I don’t think anyone is owed a subsidy to be able to afford a luxury.

To the behavior question, the scholarship kids that had parents engaged - they were fine on behavior. The scholarship kids that had little or no parent involvement were a challenge as far as behavior was concerned - both on and off the field. Red cards and fights on the field, problems at hotels and on trips off the field. Pretty much uncontrollable.

Again, our experience at our club.

Most soccer clubs are community organizations. They are non-profits. Their purpose is not to be a luxury or exclusive. There are real world costs associated with running a soccer club but a soccer club is not a Country Club. If you want exclusivity based solely on what your wallet can afford then I suggest you get out of sports. If a club is able to help out with families regarding expenses that might be prohibitive I really don't see how that should bother you. Again, they are a community organization first and foremost. And if a scholarship can keep some potential troubled teens engaged in something positive then that is a win/win.

I love how in many of the threads regarding our national teams and why our men's team is so bad always point to a couple of common arguments.
1. We lack a true national soccer culture
2. We lack street soccer
3. We are pay to play.

Well this thread is full of why we suck not only as a soccer nation but also suck as empathetic human beings.

Every time I'm about to give up on this board, I read a post like this.

Very well said, and thank you.

Youth soccer clubs are nonprofits. Their purpose is supposed to be for the benefit of the community as a whole. It is the clubs who don't offer scholarships that really have some explaining to do.

And for all of you who complain about "scholarship kids" taking your kid's spot, because even though they are a better player their parents aren't as rich as you and so somehow that makes it unfair, there's always rec.

Travel soccer at the higher levels cost easily 10K a year by the time you include the family travel that goes with it, meals, etc. It is a luxury good. There are always rec leagues and HS for anyone that does not want or cannot afford to pay for that. The nonprofits do offer scholarships that from what I have seen are pretty generous. But no non profit can afford to take on the entire costs of 10K/year per player to fund scholarship players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Travel soccer at the higher levels cost easily 10K a year by the time you include the family travel that goes with it, meals, etc. It is a luxury good. There are always rec leagues and HS for anyone that does not want or cannot afford to pay for that. The nonprofits do offer scholarships that from what I have seen are pretty generous. But no non profit can afford to take on the entire costs of 10K/year per player to fund scholarship players.

Where my kids attend private school, and we're full paying family at 45K/yr, they school offers 100% Financial Aid to talented kids in music, athletic, arts, science, etc whose families can not afford the tuition. Am I bothered by this? Absolutely not. Talented kids should be rewarded for their hard work and financial assistance should be used to help them whenever possible.

Private schools are also non-profit entities.