Anonymous wrote:Who cares? 95 percent of the parents do not give a d..n about scholarships, they just want their kids to have fun and exercise. Stop being smug about your deep understanding of the fact that very few kids will become professional. Parents know that and they do not care...

Agree. My son is a good player and likes to compete. He wants to play at a higher level with other players with the same drive. He has no desire to play pro and an athletic scholarship isn't in the cards. My wife and I still play and that is probably the end game. To instill a life time love of the game. It's what we do and what we enjoy as a family.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? 95 percent of the parents do not give a d..n about scholarships, they just want their kids to have fun and exercise. Stop being smug about your deep understanding of the fact that very few kids will become professional. Parents know that and they do not care...

I completely dispute this. Ask that PP how much fun his/her son had on a nine-hour day to Philly for 1 game. Sounds like not at all. For many parents of kids in travel programs, all sports, it's about getting on the best team, regardless of travel demands/cost demands, with the idea that college scholarship money is out there. I've heard that over and over again from well meaning parents over the years, again, across all sports. No way it's just 5 percent.

Its 5 percent. And btw that 9 hour drive to wherever we are always having a good time. We stop by different stores and experience good family bonding I guess staying home every weekend is your choice? Maybe video games as a recreation?

This was PP. Sounds like he had fun...

We left DC at 9:30 for a drive up to Philly for a game. We arrived a bit after 12:00 but then had another 20-30 minutes to get out to the field in the suburbs through some traffic. Arrived about 12:30 (we were supposed to be there at 1:00) and the game didn't start until 2:00. Finished and off the field (warm down, chat, goofing off) by about 4:00. Returned home to DC about 7:00 after some drive thru.

As I parked the car I turned to my son and said "was that fun"? He just scoffed and got out (eventhough we won 3-0).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? 95 percent of the parents do not give a d..n about scholarships, they just want their kids to have fun and exercise. Stop being smug about your deep understanding of the fact that very few kids will become professional. Parents know that and they do not care...

I completely dispute this. Ask that PP how much fun his/her son had on a nine-hour day to Philly for 1 game. Sounds like not at all. For many parents of kids in travel programs, all sports, it's about getting on the best team, regardless of travel demands/cost demands, with the idea that college scholarship money is out there. I've heard that over and over again from well meaning parents over the years, again, across all sports. No way it's just 5 percent.

Its 5 percent. And btw that 9 hour drive to wherever we are always having a good time. We stop by different stores and experience good family bonding I guess staying home every weekend is your choice? Maybe video games as a recreation?

Anonymous wrote:Who cares? 95 percent of the parents do not give a d..n about scholarships, they just want their kids to have fun and exercise. Stop being smug about your deep understanding of the fact that very few kids will become professional. Parents know that and they do not care...

I completely dispute this. Ask that PP how much fun his/her son had on a nine-hour day to Philly for 1 game. Sounds like not at all. For many parents of kids in travel programs, all sports, it's about getting on the best team, regardless of travel demands/cost demands, with the idea that college scholarship money is out there. I've heard that over and over again from well meaning parents over the years, again, across all sports. No way it's just 5 percent.

I've seen this video and am trying to think about what's wrong with this. And I don't see it.

You could say that it's become too expensive for your kids to play in this environment. This is like saying I'd like to eat that big fat steak at Morton's but I don't want to pay those prices.

I think the folks that think this is nuts want the experience, they just don't want to pay the price or invest the hours and travel. There is choice here. Just play rec or local travel. Get your steak at Outback.

If it's really out of wack, the market will correct it. There is no end in sight though, near as I can tell. But it's really the only correction that parents can apply. Vote with your money.

Who cares? 95 percent of the parents do not give a d..n about scholarships, they just want their kids to have fun and exercise. Stop being smug about your deep understanding of the fact that very few kids will become professional. Parents know that and they do not care...

Great video

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP but following this with interest and glad my kids have aged out of this craziness. I totally agree that the DMV, and a lot of places, have made soccer a pay for play phenomenon. It's a huge problem. And I agree with the others who said kids should not be asked to specialize in one sport before HS, and probably even then. It isn't good for their bodies.

Travel sports in general has gotten completely out of control.

HBO Real Sports did a huge segment on this and how ridiculous it has become, not just soccer.

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ATwFkYpVys

Also, https://www.amazon.com/Most-Expensive-Game-Town-Families-ebook/dp/B005JT1U7E

Anonymous wrote:NP but following this with interest and glad my kids have aged out of this craziness. I totally agree that the DMV, and a lot of places, have made soccer a pay for play phenomenon. It's a huge problem. And I agree with the others who said kids should not be asked to specialize in one sport before HS, and probably even then. It isn't good for their bodies.

Travel sports in general has gotten completely out of control.

HBO Real Sports did a huge segment on this and how ridiculous it has become, not just soccer.

NP but following this with interest and glad my kids have aged out of this craziness. I totally agree that the DMV, and a lot of places, have made soccer a pay for play phenomenon. It's a huge problem. And I agree with the others who said kids should not be asked to specialize in one sport before HS, and probably even then. It isn't good for their bodies.

Travel sports in general has gotten completely out of control.

Clubs have aid and scholarships?

Are you arguing it should be free? Are you going to lineup a few million in sponsorships? Coaches are going to work for free?

I’m from south of Fairfax County. Might be different down here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What strikes me about these discussions is that everyone is very invested in 'elite' soccer, but the fact alone that there appear to be so many people with kids on this path suggests it's not actually all that elite.

Bingo. And parents get to wear (and buy) the gear that says “... Elite” (another enormous racket) to show off how good their kid is.

Meanwhile, as costs go up and up it is more about who can afford to play. Yet the Hispanic kids fiddling around at Greenbriar SP on a weekend who don’t fly to the Midwest for elite suburbia vs elite suburbia league game would probably smoke both those teams.

Yes. Wearing apparel to support your kids team is a racket. This whole thing is a racket. There are no college or professional opportunities for these kids. Kids aren’t learning life lessons or growing as people. This whole thing is a racket. They should just go play in greenbrier Park.

Assuming none of those “Hispanic kids in greenbrier park” are playing travel/competitive soccer anywhere is pretty reprehensible too.

My kids want to plsy in college one day. I’ll do what I can to help. Maybe you should take inventory of your life and move them into a rec program. You seem very angry about the travel involved and having to be around supportive parents.

I know some Hispanic kids play travel soccer. I also know there are many who can not afford to given what these teams expect parents to shell out and how and where they hold practices. So-called “Elite” youth soccer in the DMV has absolutely become a pay for play operation. Anyone who tries to deny that just doesn’t want to admit they are part of the narrative.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What strikes me about these discussions is that everyone is very invested in 'elite' soccer, but the fact alone that there appear to be so many people with kids on this path suggests it's not actually all that elite.

Bingo. And parents get to wear (and buy) the gear that says “... Elite” (another enormous racket) to show off how good their kid is.

Meanwhile, as costs go up and up it is more about who can afford to play. Yet the Hispanic kids fiddling around at Greenbriar SP on a weekend who don’t fly to the Midwest for elite suburbia vs elite suburbia league game would probably smoke both those teams.

Yes. Wearing apparel to support your kids team is a racket. This whole thing is a racket. There are no college or professional opportunities for these kids. Kids aren’t learning life lessons or growing as people. This whole thing is a racket. They should just go play in greenbrier Park.

Assuming none of those “Hispanic kids in greenbrier park” are playing travel/competitive soccer anywhere is pretty reprehensible too.

My kids want to plsy in college one day. I’ll do what I can to help. Maybe you should take inventory of your life and move them into a rec program. You seem very angry about the travel involved and having to be around supportive parents.

Anonymous wrote:What strikes me about these discussions is that everyone is very invested in 'elite' soccer, but the fact alone that there appear to be so many people with kids on this path suggests it's not actually all that elite.

Bingo. And parents get to wear (and buy) the gear that says “... Elite” (another enormous racket) to show off how good their kid is.

Meanwhile, as costs go up and up it is more about who can afford to play. Yet the Hispanic kids fiddling around at Greenbriar SP on a weekend who don’t fly to the Midwest for elite suburbia vs elite suburbia league game would probably smoke both those teams.

What strikes me about these discussions is that everyone is very invested in 'elite' soccer, but the fact alone that there appear to be so many people with kids on this path suggests it's not actually all that elite.