Anonymous wrote:Do most playing high school skip club practices or do the HS let them skip HS practices- would think would overlap and have to give up one during HS season.

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Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.

High-level youth soccer is an investment. You are investing in your child's skill set. Like all investments, you hope for a return, which in this case is being able to play soccer at the next level. Your child can enjoy the game without this level of commitment. (School, pickup, rec etc.) This makes sense for most kids where playing at the next level is not a realistic option.

That said, if your kid enjoys playing travel and money isn't a concern....why not?

Nope, not true. I do not hope for the return of the next level. I want her to have fun at the highest level possible currently and it so happens to be the top girls league. I have no expectations of college ⚽ other the fact it's something she's poured a ton of hours into and had great success. This will certainly help when it's time to apply to any college.

It actually matters if they want to even play college club soccer. My kid was the only college freshmen to make the team—MLSNext player at a D1. Most kids on the club team dropped down from Varsity, or are international, etc. Competing at top level is how they were able to continue playing. It’s very competitive.

If kid is going to college anyway and you're still paying while being on the soccer team, it's extracurricular activity

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Are there actually people paying $10k/year in soccer because they think it will pay off financially somehow? I find it hard to believe people are that dumb.

Every kid playing at a playoff qualifying ECNL team is spending $10K. I am sure most parents think/hope it will pay off through a college scholarship. I am sure some parents are able to pay $10K for what amounts to a hobby for their kid. Probably a higher % in the DMV than other areas. The reality is that for most kids' competitive soccer ends their senior year of high school.

Oh, I am fully aware people are paying $10k a year. I'm one of them. I just haven't encountered any parents on our teams expecting a financial payback. Everyone knows it's an expensive hobby.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Are there actually people paying $10k/year in soccer because they think it will pay off financially somehow? I find it hard to believe people are that dumb.

Every kid playing at a playoff qualifying ECNL team is spending $10K. I am sure most parents think/hope it will pay off through a college scholarship. I am sure some parents are able to pay $10K for what amounts to a hobby for their kid. Probably a higher % in the DMV than other areas. The reality is that for most kids' competitive soccer ends their senior year of high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Are there actually people paying $10k/year in soccer because they think it will pay off financially somehow? I find it hard to believe people are that dumb.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.

High-level youth soccer is an investment. You are investing in your child's skill set. Like all investments, you hope for a return, which in this case is being able to play soccer at the next level. Your child can enjoy the game without this level of commitment. (School, pickup, rec etc.) This makes sense for most kids where playing at the next level is not a realistic option.

That said, if your kid enjoys playing travel and money isn't a concern....why not?

Nope, not true. I do not hope for the return of the next level. I want her to have fun at the highest level possible currently and it so happens to be the top girls league. I have no expectations of college ⚽ other the fact it's something she's poured a ton of hours into and had great success. This will certainly help when it's time to apply to any college.

It actually matters if they want to even play college club soccer. My kid was the only college freshmen to make the team—MLSNext player at a D1. Most kids on the club team dropped down from Varsity, or are international, etc. Competing at top level is how they were able to continue playing. It’s very competitive.

Anonymous wrote:Mine quit HS, not club, after 10th. Still does Club

Really low level of play and at our HS very very time consuming- every day of the week, games far away, leaving class early, arrive at school at 8 and not get home until after 10pm many nights.

Club - home at 3pm—-get HW all done by 8pm club practice. Predictable schedule. Time for other things. But- my kid does carry a big course load and straight A student/lots of APs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.

High-level youth soccer is an investment. You are investing in your child's skill set. Like all investments, you hope for a return, which in this case is being able to play soccer at the next level. Your child can enjoy the game without this level of commitment. (School, pickup, rec etc.) This makes sense for most kids where playing at the next level is not a realistic option.

That said, if your kid enjoys playing travel and money isn't a concern....why not?

Nope, not true. I do not hope for the return of the next level. I want her to have fun at the highest level possible currently and it so happens to be the top girls league. I have no expectations of college ⚽ other the fact it's something she's poured a ton of hours into and had great success. This will certainly help when it's time to apply to any college.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.

High-level youth soccer is an investment. You are investing in your child's skill set. Like all investments, you hope for a return, which in this case is being able to play soccer at the next level. Your child can enjoy the game without this level of commitment. (School, pickup, rec etc.) This makes sense for most kids where playing at the next level is not a realistic option.

That said, if your kid enjoys playing travel and money isn't a concern....why not?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reality is, all the kids playing HS only and 99%+ of kids playing Travel will all be in the same place with soccer in 5 years

Exactly. If there is no path to college or pro soccer, high level travel soccer is an extravagant expense for high school age players. $10K/year would do much better sitting in a 529. At most high schools it is possible to make the team without continuing to play travel. I imagine many figure this out freshman/sophomore year.

Call me crazy but soccer isn't some investment for my daughter. 529s are fine as well. She actually likes playing club soccer and is really damn good at it so we support her.