What is unfortunate, to me, is the need for regular long distance travel in sports such as soccer and basketball. I would think that there should be plenty of high level players locally so that travel of more than 50-100 miles for a game would be unnecessary on a regular basis. I have a HS-age kid playing the highest level of ice hockey available here in the DMV, and that does involve league games in PA, NJ, NY, and CT. I'm not 100% certain that its requiired to get the best level of competition, but it may be. Its certainly not necessary for 9 year old basketball players to be flying around the country on a weekly basis to play (I really ran into a team like this at a hotel near Philadelphia last season). There are plenty of high level players here. I think the same is true for soccer, certainly below high school age kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a sport that is only marginally popular in this country, it’s shocking how much these parents invested in it.

Exactly. Parents who didn’t play sports at a high level pushing their kids towards the dream of D-1 soccer stardom...played in stadiums with an avg attendance of 60 people.

You have never been to a soccer game at UMD, UVA, or any other place, have you?

Yeah, been to plenty. 60 is an exaggeration, but its a few hundred most places. A lot of schools, like UVA, get students out to soccer games by giving them points that help them get tickets for basketball.

Anonymous wrote:My parents in the 70s and 80s worried about how video games and microwave ovens and women in the workplace were making kids worse off. Change is the only constant

+1000. Yup, “Change is the only constant.”

Businness and companies have to constantly adapt or be ahead of the ever changing environment. Companies that don’t change (ie Blockbusters), die. The same holds true for people. What was accepted yesteryear is not accepted now and what is accepted now was not accepted yesteryear. As parents, we are responsible for preparing our respective kids to this ever changing social, academic, sports and/or education environment.

Case in point: Common Core. I did not learn this in school 30 years ago. But I had to learn it so I can review my DD’s homework. I hate it, it’s dumb but I had no choice other than to learn it.

My parents in the 70s and 80s worried about how video games and microwave ovens and women in the workplace were making kids worse off. Change is the only constant

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For a sport that is only marginally popular in this country, it’s shocking how much these parents invested in it.

Exactly. Parents who didn’t play sports at a high level pushing their kids towards the dream of D-1 soccer stardom...played in stadiums with an avg attendance of 60 people.

You have never been to a soccer game at UMD, UVA, or any other place, have you?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^And study after study shows that they are not ahead, not academically, mentally or athletically. They are behind previous generations.

So what do you suggest? Home schooling and pick up soccer instead?

To keep up with their DC’s classmates and teammate, some parents have no choice other than to sign their DC for SAT Prep Courses, Tutors, soccer camps and trainers. And based upon this forum, the only path of college soccer is ECNL/DA. If parents can afford it, it’s a price they are willing to pay to give their DC a better chance in life, career, etc. On the other hand, some parents rather get themselves luxury cars, jewelry and expensive lifestyles instead.

I love it when I see posts of how things were 20+ years ago. I’m sure parents 20+ years ago also compared to how things were 20+ years before that (1978).

No one has to play elite soccer. If your kid can’t compete without an unhealthy schedule for supplemental training and clinics, then perhaps they should play down a level. Not because it makes them somehow lesser, but because they will be healthier overall for it.

Anonymous wrote:^And study after study shows that they are not ahead, not academically, mentally or athletically. They are behind previous generations.

So what do you suggest? Home schooling and pick up soccer instead?

To keep up with their DC’s classmates and teammate, some parents have no choice other than to sign their DC for SAT Prep Courses, Tutors, soccer camps and trainers. And based upon this forum, the only path of college soccer is ECNL/DA. If parents can afford it, it’s a price they are willing to pay to give their DC a better chance in life, career, etc. On the other hand, some parents rather get themselves luxury cars, jewelry and expensive lifestyles instead.

I love it when I see posts of how things were 20+ years ago. I’m sure parents 20+ years ago also compared to how things were 20+ years before that (1978).

^And study after study shows that they are not ahead, not academically, mentally or athletically. They are behind previous generations.

It’s not unique to soccer. You’ll find the same in gymnastics, basketball, baseball, and other sports. And it’s not unique to sports. Same kid training industrial complex exists in academics, test prep, birthday parties. Good luck changing that. As long as there is money to be made and parents with money who want their kids to get ahead, the market will be there.

Anonymous wrote:The issue is that it did not used to be this way. I played sports as an kid and have friends from that period who also played sports and went on to play college with several playing professionally. No one was traveling like kids do today and none of them were forking out thousands to play. There weren't personal trainers.

I am happy for the trainers and coaches who manage to create careers out of the sport or at least make some supplemental income but the structure of the travel system keeps out many of the folks that can help the sport. When Hope Solo and Alex Morgan are telling you the system is broken, you should listen.

My main complaint centers around the DA/ECNL leagues.

The youth system is broken. However, Alex Morgan and Hope Solo know nothing about it.

The parents have created this demand. You know, the parents that are always trying to find a leg up for the kid. We, the parents ruined it by creating and indulging in an out of control market.

The issue is that it did not used to be this way. I played sports as an kid and have friends from that period who also played sports and went on to play college with several playing professionally. No one was traveling like kids do today and none of them were forking out thousands to play. There weren't personal trainers.

I am happy for the trainers and coaches who manage to create careers out of the sport or at least make some supplemental income but the structure of the travel system keeps out many of the folks that can help the sport. When Hope Solo and Alex Morgan are telling you the system is broken, you should listen.

My main complaint centers around the DA/ECNL leagues.

There’s different levels of travel too. You don’t have to fly to games or go to different states. However it can still be a lot for some families and it does lead to some players falling through cracks. We’ve had affluent parents who help out with more than just their share to make it work for disadvantaged kids. I help with rides for whoever needs them bc the reality is certain families have both parents working or the parents just aren’t very involved. It takes a village sometimes. Don’t know why people are going to extremes just to feel like they’re winning an anonymous argument.

Anonymous wrote:For a sport that is only marginally popular in this country, it’s shocking how much these parents invested in it.

Exactly. Parents who didn’t play sports at a high level pushing their kids towards the dream of D-1 soccer stardom...played in stadiums with an avg attendance of 60 people.

For a sport that is only marginally popular in this country, it’s shocking how much these parents invested in it.

Anonymous wrote:You dipsh#ts. The issue is the increased travel and cost. I stated before that my cousin from a family of five kids played travel as did two of his sibblings. The difference between now and 20 years ago is that you didn't have to buy a plane ticket to make a league game and pay a club $4,000 for fees. My cousin played for a top 5 college team. I have other friends who played major sports who did not have the burden of travel and cost that exist today.

You morons who are saying that we should accept it ate true morons. There is no need for any elite team in the DMV to have to travel to SC or MA for a league game. Time to take soccer back from these egocentric jacka $$es.

You and what army of parents are going to do it? And how are you going to do it?

Seriously. Give us a good plan and we will follow you.