Anonymous wrote:The backpack is actually pretty functional. Get the backpack.

I'd actually agree with this. The backpacks are basically designed for soccer, with a space for the ball, smaller pockets for valuables, etc. It's actually usually quite a nice backpack and rather functional.

Each individual item might be reasonable but the costs of the gear and fees and travel and add on here and camp there and strength and agility here and etc. Etc etc. Make soccer crazy costly. I don't care if you skip the bag or the warm ups or the tourney swag or whatever. If that helps your kid participate then do it. No one cares and if they do, opportunity for a lesson in how to survive judgemental fools.

Anonymous wrote:Wow, first world problem. OP, beyond the game kits, everything else is optional. I’ve parented 2 soccer kids, one through D1, and there’s not one instance where any kid or parent noticed whether my kids had matching team backpacks or extraneous gear. Sometimes they had it and sometimes not. The parent who judges you and even worse, your little kid, on whether she/he has all of the gear is not even worth a second thought.

Exactly, don't worry about the specific bag but acting like the idea of a bag as a money grab is laughable.

Go to a second hand store, grab one on sale. If possible just match the team brand and color.

It just isn't that friggin hard.

Wow, first world problem. OP, beyond the game kits, everything else is optional. I’ve parented 2 soccer kids, one through D1, and there’s not one instance where any kid or parent noticed whether my kids had matching team backpacks or extraneous gear. Sometimes they had it and sometimes not. The parent who judges you and even worse, your little kid, on whether she/he has all of the gear is not even worth a second thought.

Anonymous wrote:Whatever. Some families can easily buy jerseys and bags and anything else and some have loads of expenses to deal with and are constrained. Sorry you object to reality.

You buy a bag once or twice, possibly just once if you stay at the same club. You can use it until it wears out, which in most cases is a long time. Please just stop. It isn't a money grab. Hell after playing soccer it can still be used. Of all the dumb ass things to have to buy for soccer a bag is just not one of them.

Whatever. Some families can easily buy jerseys and bags and anything else and some have loads of expenses to deal with and are constrained. Sorry you object to reality.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who knew a soccer bag was so controversial.

It is not. when the club says open your wallet..they like the families to just say how far? Any opinions that contradict that are unwelcome.

But just relax. There is no scolding that goes on. Just get what you need and get your kid out on the field and have fun. If you want the bacpack, great. If not, great. Carry on.

When a club requires an "alternate practice jersey" to go along with the regular practice jersey that is reaching into wallets. A bag? Yeah, no, but stay bitter about it.

Anonymous wrote:Who knew a soccer bag was so controversial.

It is not. when the club says open your wallet..they like the families to just say how far? Any opinions that contradict that are unwelcome.

But just relax. There is no scolding that goes on. Just get what you need and get your kid out on the field and have fun. If you want the bacpack, great. If not, great. Carry on.

Who knew a soccer bag was so controversial.

Anonymous wrote:People like OP drive me nuts. OP, the costs are clearly laid out on the PPA website. And while you are willing to pay $165 a month for your kid to play, you are losing your mind over a $50 backpack that is designed to hold the ball and other equipment. You join a team, you do what the team requires. That's part of the deal.

What's super fun about being OP's kid is that when everyone else has the team backpack and jacket, OP's kid gets to feel super left out in her purple sparkle backpack she used all last year at school that doesn't fit a ball.

Don't listen to this, OP. Your child won't feel "left out" at all. Plenty of kids on travel teams using other, non-team backpacks. I know quite a few who had them already (no logo) from a previous team or just purchased for clinics, so they didn't buy new ones this year. It is not a big deal, but it is nice to have a soccer backpack for all the gear and she'll get years of use out of it. I personally like the soccer backpacks but some kids don't because they tend to be a bit heavier. I know a couple of kids who got the team backpacks but prefer to use other ones for practices.

The backpack is actually pretty functional. Get the backpack.