Does a market exist for a "travel-lite" club? (I'll describe my idea in this post)

[Anonymous]

Over the years, I've seen many kids with good soccer skills drop out of travel soccer because they lack time, or because the parents lack the financial resources. Rec soccer remains an option for these kids, but some of them don't pursue rec soccer because they don't find it challenging. So, soccer stops being a part of their lives.

This leads me to my idea for a new soccer "product". Actually, I think Arlington's ADP program already captures this idea, but it has a max age of 11, so that leaves the kids who are 12+ out in the cold. Here is the idea:

1. Aim for a price of $1000 per year
2. One two-hour practice per week, coached by a pro
3. One scrimmage per week. To save money, there is no coach (just a parent or team manager to supervise).
4. Competes in a lower level of the NCSL (but some teams might be able to aim higher)

Does a market exist for this "product"?

Perhaps this isn't possible in dense, urban suburbs like Arlington due to constraints on field space, but further out it seems like it might be feasible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Over the years, I've seen many kids with good soccer skills drop out of travel soccer because they lack time, or because the parents lack the financial resources. Rec soccer remains an option for these kids, but some of them don't pursue rec soccer because they don't find it challenging. So, soccer stops being a part of their lives.

This leads me to my idea for a new soccer "product". Actually, I think Arlington's ADP program already captures this idea, but it has a max age of 11, so that leaves the kids who are 12+ out in the cold. Here is the idea:

1. Aim for a price of $1000 per year
2. One two-hour practice per week, coached by a pro
3. One scrimmage per week. To save money, there is no coach (just a parent or team manager to supervise).
4. Competes in a lower level of the NCSL (but some teams might be able to aim higher)

Does a market exist for this "product"?

Perhaps this isn't possible in dense, urban suburbs like Arlington due to constraints on field space, but further out it seems like it might be feasible.

Why would this be any more challenging than rec? That part isn't clear.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over the years, I've seen many kids with good soccer skills drop out of travel soccer because they lack time, or because the parents lack the financial resources. Rec soccer remains an option for these kids, but some of them don't pursue rec soccer because they don't find it challenging. So, soccer stops being a part of their lives.

This leads me to my idea for a new soccer "product". Actually, I think Arlington's ADP program already captures this idea, but it has a max age of 11, so that leaves the kids who are 12+ out in the cold. Here is the idea:

1. Aim for a price of $1000 per year
2. One two-hour practice per week, coached by a pro
3. One scrimmage per week. To save money, there is no coach (just a parent or team manager to supervise).
4. Competes in a lower level of the NCSL (but some teams might be able to aim higher)

Does a market exist for this "product"?

Perhaps this isn't possible in dense, urban suburbs like Arlington due to constraints on field space, but further out it seems like it might be feasible.

Why would this be any more challenging than rec? That part isn't clear.

NP: I'm assuming OP is saying that some kids frown on rec and want the status of travel soccer at rec prices (or maybe a little more).

[Anonymous]

There are some teams in the DMV that charge that amount to be on a lower level NCSL team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Over the years, I've seen many kids with good soccer skills drop out of travel soccer because they lack time, or because the parents lack the financial resources. Rec soccer remains an option for these kids, but some of them don't pursue rec soccer because they don't find it challenging. So, soccer stops being a part of their lives.

This leads me to my idea for a new soccer "product". Actually, I think Arlington's ADP program already captures this idea, but it has a max age of 11, so that leaves the kids who are 12+ out in the cold. Here is the idea:

1. Aim for a price of $1000 per year
2. One two-hour practice per week, coached by a pro
3. One scrimmage per week. To save money, there is no coach (just a parent or team manager to supervise).
4. Competes in a lower level of the NCSL (but some teams might be able to aim higher)

Does a market exist for this "product"?

Perhaps this isn't possible in dense, urban suburbs like Arlington due to constraints on field space, but further out it seems like it might be feasible.

Why would this be any more challenging than rec? That part isn't clear.

OP here. IMO this "product" wouldn't be attractive to a typical rec-level player and parent. The fact that the team competes in the NCSL and not in the rec league, and the much higher price point, would act as a filter. Decent players would pass through this filter, while rec-level players wouldn't. I've encountered this type of player -- players who have the necessary skills, but not the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are some teams in the DMV that charge that amount to be on a lower level NCSL team.

Which teams?

[Anonymous]

I don't care about price. I want something that allows for a multi sport athlete to progress. Specialization at a young age is not ideal, yet there is no "lite" option with professional coaches, and other talented kids that just don't want to give up other sports yet. So yes if something better than rec, but less than dedicate 4-5 days of your week to soccer exists and is executed well, I'm sure there is a market.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some teams in the DMV that charge that amount to be on a lower level NCSL team.

Which teams?

FPYC

[Anonymous]

I don’t know about the professional coaches + less than $1k.

In Md, SAM Select and MSI Classic seem to be sort of the model you are looking for… more competitive than rec and the players are more dedicated, but the games are close by and it’s less pressure. We have experience with both.

Two practices a week, one game per week in moco, and a couple of tournaments each season. Many kids play other sports or have other big interests and this allows them to play competitively, train consistently, and still have a life. Both kids a practice or a fame here and there and it’s 100% NBD.

Volunteer coach team is about $1k a year plus kit. Paid coach and bigger club is more like $2k per year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
OP here. IMO this "product" wouldn't be attractive to a typical rec-level player and parent. The fact that the team competes in the NCSL and not in the rec league, and the much higher price point, would act as a filter. Decent players would pass through this filter, while rec-level players wouldn't. I've encountered this type of player -- players who have the necessary skills, but not the time.

Is there much evidence that putting a "price point" (i.e., wealth) filter on rec soccer is going to attract better players?

[Anonymous]

BRYC has something like this - the BRYC "bridge" teams. They are separate from BRYC Elite and play in NCSL. They usually are parent coached/run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care about price. I want something that allows for a multi sport athlete to progress. Specialization at a young age is not ideal, yet there is no "lite" option with professional coaches, and other talented kids that just don't want to give up other sports yet. So yes if something better than rec, but less than dedicate 4-5 days of your week to soccer exists and is executed well, I'm sure there is a market.

If you don't care about price, then the fourth team of a big club would fit the bill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care about price. I want something that allows for a multi sport athlete to progress. Specialization at a young age is not ideal, yet there is no "lite" option with professional coaches, and other talented kids that just don't want to give up other sports yet. So yes if something better than rec, but less than dedicate 4-5 days of your week to soccer exists and is executed well, I'm sure there is a market.

If you don't care about price, then the fourth team of a big club would fit the bill.

No it doesn't. You go to a small club or a lower team so they get the bottom of the barrel coaches and practice mostly with lower ability players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know about the professional coaches + less than $1k.

In Md, SAM Select and MSI Classic seem to be sort of the model you are looking for… more competitive than rec and the players are more dedicated, but the games are close by and it’s less pressure. We have experience with both.

Two practices a week, one game per week in moco, and a couple of tournaments each season. Many kids play other sports or have other big interests and this allows them to play competitively, train consistently, and still have a life. Both kids a practice or a fame here and there and it’s 100% NBD.

Volunteer coach team is about $1k a year plus kit. Paid coach and bigger club is more like $2k per year.

How do they "still have a life" over dedicated soccer travel players when they are playing multiple sports?
Do the other sports not require training and games?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't care about price. I want something that allows for a multi sport athlete to progress. Specialization at a young age is not ideal, yet there is no "lite" option with professional coaches, and other talented kids that just don't want to give up other sports yet. So yes if something better than rec, but less than dedicate 4-5 days of your week to soccer exists and is executed well, I'm sure there is a market.

If you don't care about price, then the fourth team of a big club would fit the bill.

No it doesn't. You go to a small club or a lower team so they get the bottom of the barrel coaches and practice mostly with lower ability players.

I disagree that small clubs use "bottom of the barrel coaches". That is contrary to what I've observed.