It's not just affording it. My son is a decent, but not great, player. DH and I both work and could afford to pay for him to play travel. But we are both litigating attorneys and have no way to drag DS to daily practices, never mind weekend games in Haymarket. If he was a soccer superstar, we'd find some way, but for a kid who is just a fairly good player, no way.


And that is why Rec exists. There are lots of reasons why kids can't do travel.

Yup, he's doing rec and DH is assistant coaching. Hopefully they will both have fun again this year, they did last year.

Anonymous wrote:I think it's telling that these posts almost always end up talking about super star - which let's face it, nearly all of our travel team kids won't even be playing in college.

Travel team travel team travel team It's about trying to vicariously dream/feel hero glory through your children and about status/pecking order as if you and they are doing something special (reliving the pecking orders of jock culture adulation that passes down from generation to generation).

Half of them won't even make the high school varsity.

But it's fun. Sometimes.

I think it's telling that these posts almost always end up talking about super star - which let's face it, nearly all of our travel team kids won't even be playing in college.

Travel team travel team travel team It's about trying to vicariously dream/feel hero glory through your children and about status/pecking order as if you and they are doing something special (reliving the pecking orders of jock culture adulation that passes down from generation to generation).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think we are a very long way from home-grown American FIFA players.

Pulisic was trained by his father and father's friend. He left for Europe at a young age.

Playing for Loudoun or Arlington or the likes is not going to make a World Class $200 million player. The training and coaching is inadequate.

To say he was trained over seas and imply there is no American piece is simply untrue. He did not leave for Europe at a young age. He did have training/vacation trips to Europe from 10-14 for training. However, the club he played for was PA Classic and he joined US soccer u17 residency program as a 14yo.

His father was his primary trainer and father's very good friend at PA. He first started playing in England when his mother was at Oxford. Both his parents were D1 soccer players at George Mason.

Those weren't exactly "vacation" trips. He had 3 training stints at La Masia. The real Barca Academy. Connections got him in to train with the real academy

His path was closely guarded and monitored by his dad, Klein from Classics and Bob Lilley. They didn't want to "ruin" him or have him ruined by US coaches playing too many tournaments/games. There's a reason he went to Dortmund and not MLS--there was nothing left for him in the US by 16/17.

I know all these local club DAs think their kid is Pulisic, but he's one in a billion with very unique circumstances. I wouldn't trust the schmucks coaching the DAs in this area with a talented kid. They'd ruin him/her.

Anonymous wrote:I think we are a very long way from home-grown American FIFA players.

Pulisic was trained by his father and father's friend. He left for Europe at a young age.

Playing for Loudoun or Arlington or the likes is not going to make a World Class $200 million player. The training and coaching is inadequate.

To say he was trained over seas and imply there is no American piece is simply untrue. He did not leave for Europe at a young age. He did have training/vacation trips to Europe from 10-14 for training. However, the club he played for was PA Classic and he joined US soccer u17 residency program as a 14yo.

^ I get what you are saying. Can you guess the Liverpool FC player in my post?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sure, it is the same.

I am thinking about the talented kids that come to North America from other countries like Nigeria, Syria, or Argentina and never have a chance.

I am friends with a professional footballer from Africa and he would love to organize a team of the players not in the system against the US national team.

Every coach loves to say that. They all think they can come here and do better. Generally speaking, they can't.

Well, he played for Liverpool FC for over ten years, and an African World Cup team, so I believe him.

I've seen people who played in the Premier League who don't know how to explain offside, much less coach a soccer team.

Playing ability doesn't necessarily equate to coaching ability or the understanding to reorganize an entire country's soccer culture. See Klinsmann, Jurgen. Compare him to Mourinho, Jose. Or Klopp, Jurgen (go Liverpool -- I'm wearing their shirt right now).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ sure, it is the same.

I am thinking about the talented kids that come to North America from other countries like Nigeria, Syria, or Argentina and never have a chance.

I am friends with a professional footballer from Africa and he would love to organize a team of the players not in the system against the US national team.

Every coach loves to say that. They all think they can come here and do better. Generally speaking, they can't.

Well, he played for Liverpool FC for over ten years, and an African World Cup team, so I believe him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend goes on and on about how she has to take her three kids to travel soccer.
We have travel soccer tonight. There are six travel soccer games this weekend. How are we going to get all our kids to their travel soccer fields? Had to wash the travel soccer uniforms. Travel soccer. travelsoccertravelsoccertravelsoccertravel

You sound like the kind of person who might refer to their dogs or cats as your "kids". "Oh lol what my dog did today". Or perhaps you're the person who talks about your new diet that nobody cares about. Either way I'm sure you are passionate about something that nobody else gives a shit about either but they listen to you anyway.

You missed the point. Travel! Travel! Not soccer. Travel soccer.

"Oh, sorry, we'd love to stay longer but we have to let the dog out"

"Oh, I have to get home early to make sure my dog gets their medicine"

"Oh, I cant come in today because my dog ate some mulch and is sick, people are so disrespectful of dogs"

"Sorry, we have a 'playdate' for our 'kids' at the dog park that Saturday"

"I cant believe the restaurant told us to leave Poochie outside!"

You still don't get it. She is shamelessly bragging. Other parents say soccer.

And you don't get it, annoying is annoying. Their bragging is likely just as annoying as whatever you might drone on about yourself. You might sound just as stupid yourself and yet people are simply being polite to you too.

Yes. You are doing your particular brand of annoying right now.

Awwww,

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend goes on and on about how she has to take her three kids to travel soccer.
We have travel soccer tonight. There are six travel soccer games this weekend. How are we going to get all our kids to their travel soccer fields? Had to wash the travel soccer uniforms. Travel soccer. travelsoccertravelsoccertravelsoccertravel

You sound like the kind of person who might refer to their dogs or cats as your "kids". "Oh lol what my dog did today". Or perhaps you're the person who talks about your new diet that nobody cares about. Either way I'm sure you are passionate about something that nobody else gives a shit about either but they listen to you anyway.

You missed the point. Travel! Travel! Not soccer. Travel soccer.

"Oh, sorry, we'd love to stay longer but we have to let the dog out"

"Oh, I have to get home early to make sure my dog gets their medicine"

"Oh, I cant come in today because my dog ate some mulch and is sick, people are so disrespectful of dogs"

"Sorry, we have a 'playdate' for our 'kids' at the dog park that Saturday"

"I cant believe the restaurant told us to leave Poochie outside!"

You still don't get it. She is shamelessly bragging. Other parents say soccer.

And you don't get it, annoying is annoying. Their bragging is likely just as annoying as whatever you might drone on about yourself. You might sound just as stupid yourself and yet people are simply being polite to you too.

Yes. You are doing your particular brand of annoying right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend goes on and on about how she has to take her three kids to travel soccer.
We have travel soccer tonight. There are six travel soccer games this weekend. How are we going to get all our kids to their travel soccer fields? Had to wash the travel soccer uniforms. Travel soccer. travelsoccertravelsoccertravelsoccertravel

You sound like the kind of person who might refer to their dogs or cats as your "kids". "Oh lol what my dog did today". Or perhaps you're the person who talks about your new diet that nobody cares about. Either way I'm sure you are passionate about something that nobody else gives a shit about either but they listen to you anyway.

You missed the point. Travel! Travel! Not soccer. Travel soccer.

This drives me batty. I played 'select' soccer back in the day. It used to not be anyone with a checkbook sport. It was that way in most youth 'select/travel' sports. Talent was required, not just money. I am the last one to go on and on about 'travel' because in this day and age, it's really just Rec soccer for more $$$. The people going on about it's good because 'there is a travel team for everyone now' miss the g-damn point. If everyone just played rec, except for the top 1% they wouldn't have to waste thousands of dollars every year and countless hours driving all over creation because the Rec programs would still have talent.

This simply isn't true. Rec soccer is NOT the same as a travel program today. I think the rise of travel soccer for everyone who has money has led to the demise of rec soccer, but in no way are they the same. There should be a place for a kid who is motivated to get better and wants to play more often than once a week who isn't the next Lio Messi, but in many cases, rec soccer ain't it. What's wrong with paying for an environment that has professional coaches, training 2-3x per week, nice fields, organized league play and tournaments, etc. even if your kid isn't in the top 1%? If you don't want to pay, then stay in rec. Our travel club has B teams through high school full of good kids who are good athletes who like the challenge of a travel program but know they're not going to play D1 - what's wrong with that? They wouldn't get what they want/need from a rec program.

Amen. Basically what all these "back in the day" complainers are upset about is that the amount of travel soccer today, that is inclusive for a price, somehow devalues their experience. They claim that they are not living through their kids but what they are doing is comparing themselves and their achievements against their kids or their kids teammates or friends. Its not "look at me because my kid is great" instead it is "look at me because when I played it was more 'meaningful' than your kids experience"

On the douche o'meter I'll place "ex college star" high above the overweight proud parent any day of the week.

FWIW I am a "Back in the day" poster but definitely not a complainer. We don't even have a kid who plays soccer! Was just throwing out my observations. I only clicked on this link because my husband loves soccer. That's it.

Ahh, got it, so you know nothing of current youth soccer. Have never seen a youth team play, never attended a practice, seen a youth tournament but you have observations about the game to compare to your husbands day?

Why would I have to know anything about soccer? What I do know - and my husband agrees - is that there are tons more kids playing travel soccer now then there were back in the 80's (we know many who play now). I made no observations about the game or the skill level of any players. My husband actually thinks todays players are much better than during his time (yes, he has watched players and tournaments - he still loves the game). Not sure what point you're trying to make.

Because one D1 players wife agreed with the following statement:
"This drives me batty. I played 'select' soccer back in the day. It used to not be anyone with a checkbook sport. It was that way in most youth 'select/travel' sports. Talent was required, not just money. I am the last one to go on and on about 'travel' because in this day and age, it's really just Rec soccer for more $$$. The people going on about it's good because 'there is a travel team for everyone now' miss the g-damn point. If everyone just played rec, except for the top 1% they wouldn't have to waste thousands of dollars every year and countless hours driving all over creation because the Rec programs would still have talent."

The wife went on to say:
"I'm sure PP doesn't go on and on - that's reserved for the travel parents, I'm sure.

But I agree with her sentiment. My husband played travel soccer in the early 80's. Was in the Olympic Development Program (I think that's what it was called), and played on a D1 team in college. He was good - really really good. He could have pursued soccer as a career but chose to go into research instead.

I would love to know what % of travel players now go on to play competitively in college or go even farther than that, vs. what % moved forward in the 70's/80's. Would make for an interesting comparison."

It appears as if two wives of former players are posting. If the one comment wasn't by you then so be it, but the point still holds that if YOU are going to comment YOUR "observations" about youth soccer YOU might actually want to have "observed" current youth soccer. In general it is always useful to know something about the topic for which they are stating their observations of the topic.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend goes on and on about how she has to take her three kids to travel soccer.
We have travel soccer tonight. There are six travel soccer games this weekend. How are we going to get all our kids to their travel soccer fields? Had to wash the travel soccer uniforms. Travel soccer. travelsoccertravelsoccertravelsoccertravel

You sound like the kind of person who might refer to their dogs or cats as your "kids". "Oh lol what my dog did today". Or perhaps you're the person who talks about your new diet that nobody cares about. Either way I'm sure you are passionate about something that nobody else gives a shit about either but they listen to you anyway.

You missed the point. Travel! Travel! Not soccer. Travel soccer.

This drives me batty. I played 'select' soccer back in the day. It used to not be anyone with a checkbook sport. It was that way in most youth 'select/travel' sports. Talent was required, not just money. I am the last one to go on and on about 'travel' because in this day and age, it's really just Rec soccer for more $$$. The people going on about it's good because 'there is a travel team for everyone now' miss the g-damn point. If everyone just played rec, except for the top 1% they wouldn't have to waste thousands of dollars every year and countless hours driving all over creation because the Rec programs would still have talent.

This simply isn't true. Rec soccer is NOT the same as a travel program today. I think the rise of travel soccer for everyone who has money has led to the demise of rec soccer, but in no way are they the same. There should be a place for a kid who is motivated to get better and wants to play more often than once a week who isn't the next Lio Messi, but in many cases, rec soccer ain't it. What's wrong with paying for an environment that has professional coaches, training 2-3x per week, nice fields, organized league play and tournaments, etc. even if your kid isn't in the top 1%? If you don't want to pay, then stay in rec. Our travel club has B teams through high school full of good kids who are good athletes who like the challenge of a travel program but know they're not going to play D1 - what's wrong with that? They wouldn't get what they want/need from a rec program.

Amen. Basically what all these "back in the day" complainers are upset about is that the amount of travel soccer today, that is inclusive for a price, somehow devalues their experience. They claim that they are not living through their kids but what they are doing is comparing themselves and their achievements against their kids or their kids teammates or friends. Its not "look at me because my kid is great" instead it is "look at me because when I played it was more 'meaningful' than your kids experience"

On the douche o'meter I'll place "ex college star" high above the overweight proud parent any day of the week.

FWIW I am a "Back in the day" poster but definitely not a complainer. We don't even have a kid who plays soccer! Was just throwing out my observations. I only clicked on this link because my husband loves soccer. That's it.

Ahh, got it, so you know nothing of current youth soccer. Have never seen a youth team play, never attended a practice, seen a youth tournament but you have observations about the game to compare to your husbands day?

Why would I have to know anything about soccer? What I do know - and my husband agrees - is that there are tons more kids playing travel soccer now then there were back in the 80's (we know many who play now). I made no observations about the game or the skill level of any players. My husband actually thinks todays players are much better than during his time (yes, he has watched players and tournaments - he still loves the game). Not sure what point you're trying to make.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My friend goes on and on about how she has to take her three kids to travel soccer.
We have travel soccer tonight. There are six travel soccer games this weekend. How are we going to get all our kids to their travel soccer fields? Had to wash the travel soccer uniforms. Travel soccer. travelsoccertravelsoccertravelsoccertravel

You sound like the kind of person who might refer to their dogs or cats as your "kids". "Oh lol what my dog did today". Or perhaps you're the person who talks about your new diet that nobody cares about. Either way I'm sure you are passionate about something that nobody else gives a shit about either but they listen to you anyway.

You missed the point. Travel! Travel! Not soccer. Travel soccer.

This drives me batty. I played 'select' soccer back in the day. It used to not be anyone with a checkbook sport. It was that way in most youth 'select/travel' sports. Talent was required, not just money. I am the last one to go on and on about 'travel' because in this day and age, it's really just Rec soccer for more $$$. The people going on about it's good because 'there is a travel team for everyone now' miss the g-damn point. If everyone just played rec, except for the top 1% they wouldn't have to waste thousands of dollars every year and countless hours driving all over creation because the Rec programs would still have talent.

This simply isn't true. Rec soccer is NOT the same as a travel program today. I think the rise of travel soccer for everyone who has money has led to the demise of rec soccer, but in no way are they the same. There should be a place for a kid who is motivated to get better and wants to play more often than once a week who isn't the next Lio Messi, but in many cases, rec soccer ain't it. What's wrong with paying for an environment that has professional coaches, training 2-3x per week, nice fields, organized league play and tournaments, etc. even if your kid isn't in the top 1%? If you don't want to pay, then stay in rec. Our travel club has B teams through high school full of good kids who are good athletes who like the challenge of a travel program but know they're not going to play D1 - what's wrong with that? They wouldn't get what they want/need from a rec program.

Amen. Basically what all these "back in the day" complainers are upset about is that the amount of travel soccer today, that is inclusive for a price, somehow devalues their experience. They claim that they are not living through their kids but what they are doing is comparing themselves and their achievements against their kids or their kids teammates or friends. Its not "look at me because my kid is great" instead it is "look at me because when I played it was more 'meaningful' than your kids experience"

On the douche o'meter I'll place "ex college star" high above the overweight proud parent any day of the week.

FWIW I am a "Back in the day" poster but definitely not a complainer. We don't even have a kid who plays soccer! Was just throwing out my observations. I only clicked on this link because my husband loves soccer. That's it.

Ahh, got it, so you know nothing of current youth soccer. Have never seen a youth team play, never attended a practice, seen a youth tournament but you have observations about the game to compare to your husbands day?

Why would I have to know anything about soccer? What I do know - and my husband agrees - is that there are tons more kids playing travel soccer now then there were back in the 80's (we know many who play now). I made no observations about the game or the skill level of any players. My husband actually thinks todays players are much better than during his time (yes, he has watched players and tournaments - he still loves the game). Not sure what point you're trying to make.

Anonymous wrote:^ sure, it is the same.

I am thinking about the talented kids that come to North America from other countries like Nigeria, Syria, or Argentina and never have a chance.

I am friends with a professional footballer from Africa and he would love to organize a team of the players not in the system against the US national team.

Every coach loves to say that. They all think they can come here and do better. Generally speaking, they can't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^^ And they certainly weren't during your era either, so tell me again how your days were superior.

I agree 100%. I am not saying they were superior. I am just saying the level of play in men's soccer has not increased over 40 years (1970s-2017) like you would expect it to in any sport.

From late 70s-2017, you would think we would have more to show than one single male player trained the majority of his youth overseas.

This is why the amount of $ we spend on the sport comes into question routinely. We certainly aren't churning out future big $ contracts.

You are assessing it wrong. It isn't a static finish line. We are improving at a rapid pace but so are other nations. Training programs and techniques have improved around the world. We are hampered by a few things in the U.S.

1. Lack of a true soccer culture. I believe this is the area where right now, with the number of kids playing today and Soccer on TV everywhere the one thing that will rapidly improve. Soccer literacy will grow by leaps and bounds.

2. Our physical size as a nation. This we will never overcome. The only way we can overcome it is actually with the culture improving and having even more kids playing reducing the "need" for long travel just for a game. Imagine the DMV having a pool of players where DA quality soccer can be played at 10 area clubs.

3. Our best coaches get kids to late. We need a better coaching at the youngest ages not when they are 14. When our culture and soccer literacy improve then parent coaches are a quality alternative.

These things(player development) follow money and celebrity. If kids see players they want to be like and there is money, you will develop top players. FIFA(the video game) and lately the easy access to European soccer(international things like the cupa america) on TV are changing things. It is interesting that in the 18-22 year old age group, soccer is just behind the NFL in terms of viewing. That said the MLS is a minor league, club soccer killing high school soccer is bad for the sport, you have to have money(and time) to do travel soccer and the lack of Hispanic players(soccer culture) in the US system is eye opening. There are about 56 million Hispanic in the US. That is close to the population of France i.e. The US should be able to field a competitive World Cup team in that population a lone. It's just not a major sport in the US. Try talking about soccer with the parents on the sidelines.