Hope Solo - Youth Soccer is for Rich White Kids

[Anonymous]

Not saying she doesn't have a point, but her estimate for the price tag was ridiculous. She estimated $15,000 per year per kid. Our team is very racially diverse, however, not so much economically diverse.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/28/hope-solo-youth-soccer-united-states-cost/741378002/

I don't know what the solution would be, I'm already paying ~$11,000 a year for 3 kids (elementary and middle school), and am not feeling generous to pay even more to subsidize others since I'm close to the threshold of needing a subsidy.

Corporate sponsorship/subsidies seem to be part of the answer, but that doesn't address the fundamental issue for the economically disadvantaged families who do not have time to take their kids to practices or games.

[Anonymous]

I don't really get this because it was always for rich, white kids. At least when I grew up in the 60s and 70s, only schools in rich, white towns had a boys' soccer team. And FWIW they sure didn't have girls' soccer teams.

[Anonymous]

Our rec league heavily subsidizes kids on FARMs. They can play for $50/season or less depending on income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our rec league heavily subsidizes kids on FARMs. They can play for $50/season or less depending on income.

Rec level soccer is a great start, but it isn't going to produce many top players, it is the more costly travel type soccer at younger ages where the talent needs to be developed - but that is proving to be prohibitively expensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Not saying she doesn't have a point, but her estimate for the price tag was ridiculous. She estimated $15,000 per year per kid. Our team is very racially diverse, however, not so much economically diverse.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/28/hope-solo-youth-soccer-united-states-cost/741378002/

I don't know what the solution would be, I'm already paying ~$11,000 a year for 3 kids (elementary and middle school), and am not feeling generous to pay even more to subsidize others since I'm close to the threshold of needing a subsidy.

Corporate sponsorship/subsidies seem to be part of the answer, but that doesn't address the fundamental issue for the economically disadvantaged families who do not have time to take their kids to practices or games.

Last year I easily paid $8,000+ for Washington Spirit DA. $5000 fee + $500 signing fee + $3000 travel (NYC weekend games + North Carolina Showcase + overnight New Jersey weekend games + San Diego showcase) plus gas for practices plus cleats and extra uniform pieces. This year with the Florida showcase added, am sure we will top $10,000. I hear ECNL is as much or more. Add in private training (which we do not do), and travel to national team camps, for some girls, at the top of the sport, it can get to $15,000. Hope Solo is not exaggerating. It just represents the level of play she thinks she would have been in.

[Anonymous]

We were with an academy and with fees, private coaching, travel (including overseas) we were probably at $15,000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our rec league heavily subsidizes kids on FARMs. They can play for $50/season or less depending on income.

Rec level soccer is a great start, but it isn't going to produce many top players, it is the more costly travel type soccer at younger ages where the talent needs to be developed - but that is proving to be prohibitively expensive.

not really different then literally any other elective kid activity-piano, dance, chess.

[Anonymous]

Isn't this true of EVERY sport once you get to a certain level? Yes, some sports have more "scholarships" for leagues, camps, etc. (basketball) but the fundamental costs are always high once you get to the level where you need paid coaches, travel, etc.

[Anonymous]

An Arlington parent told us they can spend up to 20k a year once costs have added up o.O

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this true of EVERY sport once you get to a certain level? Yes, some sports have more "scholarships" for leagues, camps, etc. (basketball) but the fundamental costs are always high once you get to the level where you need paid coaches, travel, etc.

No, I'm no expert but I think there are lots more grass roots kids in basketball, baseball and football. Maybe hockey.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this true of EVERY sport once you get to a certain level? Yes, some sports have more "scholarships" for leagues, camps, etc. (basketball) but the fundamental costs are always high once you get to the level where you need paid coaches, travel, etc.

No, I'm no expert but I think there are lots more grass roots kids in basketball, baseball and football. Maybe hockey.

And you are wrong. There is no such thing as "grass roots kids" in any of these sports, past about age 10- 12.

[Anonymous]

She's correct. Soccer in the US is pay to play, it doesn't have the same culture as in less developed countries. $15,000 doesn't surprise me, and it sucks every moment of free time as well, and not all of these girls even make it to D1 play, much less pro.

[Anonymous]

In other countries the youth clubs get solidarity payments. Here there is no direct incentive for the youth clubs to develop pro players.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She's correct. Soccer in the US is pay to play, it doesn't have the same culture as in less developed countries. $15,000 doesn't surprise me, and it sucks every moment of free time as well, and not all of these girls even make it to D1 play, much less pro.

But again, this is true of every sport at a high level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Isn't this true of EVERY sport once you get to a certain level? Yes, some sports have more "scholarships" for leagues, camps, etc. (basketball) but the fundamental costs are always high once you get to the level where you need paid coaches, travel, etc.

No, I'm no expert but I think there are lots more grass roots kids in basketball, baseball and football. Maybe hockey.

And you are wrong. There is no such thing as "grass roots kids" in any of these sports, past about age 10- 12.

Really? Street kids who make it to pro basketball? Dominican kids who make it to MLB? Is that all history?