can’t write about Alexandria Soccer

[Anonymous]

I’m not the biggest ASA fan in the world. Kids played there, had a decent, but not great experience. Now my kids play elsewhere and I’d say every club has some things they do well and some they do poorly and no club is (anywhere near) perfect. I’m curious about all the crazy allegations. Maybe someone making allegations should clarify what they think is going on? I’ve lived here for decades and am in the thick of soccer mom-don and have never heard about anything illegal/unethical/unsavory. Are certain people maybe overpaid or underwhelming? Maybe... But that seems to be the extent of the problem. If that’s wrong, please fill us in.

[Anonymous]

There are no facts, just a bored troll trying to drum up controversy, and I neither live near Alexandria nor have any skin in that game.

[Anonymous]

Seems like Alexandria is a great place to play pre-u14/15. If you are an elite player, you will need to leave if your aim is to play in college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the biggest ASA fan in the world. Kids played there, had a decent, but not great experience. Now my kids play elsewhere and I’d say every club has some things they do well and some they do poorly and no club is (anywhere near) perfect. I’m curious about all the crazy allegations. Maybe someone making allegations should clarify what they think is going on? I’ve lived here for decades and am in the thick of soccer mom-don and have never heard about anything illegal/unethical/unsavory. Are certain people maybe overpaid or underwhelming? Maybe... But that seems to be the extent of the problem. If that’s wrong, please fill us in.

There’s an email making the rounds alleging that the board has violated IRS nonprofit status of the club by giving the Executive Director a role in decision making about the ED’s compensation (crazy high when compared to others in the area) and other activities the club sanctions, like tournaments. All based on publicly reported $$ numbers. If the IRS looks into it and finds out it’s true, the whole board and organization is in very hot water.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the biggest ASA fan in the world. Kids played there, had a decent, but not great experience. Now my kids play elsewhere and I’d say every club has some things they do well and some they do poorly and no club is (anywhere near) perfect. I’m curious about all the crazy allegations. Maybe someone making allegations should clarify what they think is going on? I’ve lived here for decades and am in the thick of soccer mom-don and have never heard about anything illegal/unethical/unsavory. Are certain people maybe overpaid or underwhelming? Maybe... But that seems to be the extent of the problem. If that’s wrong, please fill us in.

There’s an email making the rounds alleging that the board has violated IRS nonprofit status of the club by giving the Executive Director a role in decision making about the ED’s compensation (crazy high when compared to others in the area) and other activities the club sanctions, like tournaments. All based on publicly reported $$ numbers. If the IRS looks into it and finds out it’s true, the whole board and organization is in very hot water.

Oh dear

[Anonymous]

Looking through tax records of the competitive clubs in our area, most of the Technical/DA/ECNL directors are making between 70-160k. That is at the top clubs that compete at the highest levels in youth soccer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m not the biggest ASA fan in the world. Kids played there, had a decent, but not great experience. Now my kids play elsewhere and I’d say every club has some things they do well and some they do poorly and no club is (anywhere near) perfect. I’m curious about all the crazy allegations. Maybe someone making allegations should clarify what they think is going on? I’ve lived here for decades and am in the thick of soccer mom-don and have never heard about anything illegal/unethical/unsavory. Are certain people maybe overpaid or underwhelming? Maybe... But that seems to be the extent of the problem. If that’s wrong, please fill us in.

There’s an email making the rounds alleging that the board has violated IRS nonprofit status of the club by giving the Executive Director a role in decision making about the ED’s compensation (crazy high when compared to others in the area) and other activities the club sanctions, like tournaments. All based on publicly reported $$ numbers. If the IRS looks into it and finds out it’s true, the whole board and organization is in very hot water.

This is cute but every organization in the dmv is skirting the law when it comes to youth soccer. Half the clubs misclassify coaches as 1099s, boards that don't have real elections, TDs and EDs with run of the company card... the list could go on. The IRS is not interested in coming in and auditing any of this without a whistleblower. And guess who are the only people looking at the books at most of these organizations?

[Anonymous]

I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

Lol. Are you saying that soccer talent inversely related to family income?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

If you are good, people will find you. And 40% of the kids in our club are on aid. Is it even close to ideal or fair? No. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

If you are good, people will find you. And 40% of the kids in our club are on aid. Is it even close to ideal or fair? No. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No.

It would seem to reason that if clubs and their complicit or checked out boards weren’t ridiculously overcharging for their ‘nonprofit’ services, fewer kids would need aid and many more would probably participate. But hey, turn a blind eye to this because it’s USA soccer. Clubs don’t care about the kids, they care about the clubs (which is the permanent staff’s wallets rather than the 1099 coaches).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking through tax records of the competitive clubs in our area, most of the Technical/DA/ECNL directors are making between 70-160k. That is at the top clubs that compete at the highest levels in youth soccer.

Where do you find this online? Asking for a friend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

If you are good, people will find you. And 40% of the kids in our club are on aid. Is it even close to ideal or fair? No. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No.

40% of the travel players in your club are on Financial Aid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking through tax records of the competitive clubs in our area, most of the Technical/DA/ECNL directors are making between 70-160k. That is at the top clubs that compete at the highest levels in youth soccer.

Where do you find this online? Asking for a friend.

https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/

Search for the club name and read the 990s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean it is USA soccer, pay to play. The best kids don't get a chance in our system.

If you are good, people will find you. And 40% of the kids in our club are on aid. Is it even close to ideal or fair? No. Is it difficult? Yes. Is it impossible? No.

It would seem to reason that if clubs and their complicit or checked out boards weren’t ridiculously overcharging for their ‘nonprofit’ services, fewer kids would need aid and many more would probably participate. But hey, turn a blind eye to this because it’s USA soccer. Clubs don’t care about the kids, they care about the clubs (which is the permanent staff’s wallets rather than the 1099 coaches).

Right. I think you are turning a blind eye to reality. It’s useless arguing with people who think money simply grows on trees. Who would fund this alternative system? Why doesn’t it already exist? Do you think It would be better to charge less but offer no aid? These are the same arguments people have had for decades about college tuitions. A lot of people have thought about this before you. What do you propose other than people working for free?