Eat, train, sleep, it’s that simple…

[Unregistered]

Newsflash -- no one cares about any college soccer teams at any level. 90% of the posters here couldn't tell you who was just in the women's D1 final four, and the general public certainly doesn't care. Unfortunately, you are unable to comprehend anything about collegiate participation that isn't related to ROI. That's not why 10 year olds play. Or 12, or 15, or 20 year olds. As the Loras as alleged terrible-sounding environments, some might think it is a real plus that they have reserve teams and that a kid might actually get to play in some games when otherwise they would just be sitting on a bench. And yes, several schools in the IIAC have reserve teams, as do a number of other top 50-75 D3s.

Why not just bend over and kiss your arse goodbye? Tally Ho, and away we go!

[Unregistered]

Newsflash -- no one cares about any college soccer teams at any level. 90% of the posters here couldn't tell you who was just in the women's D1 final four, and the general public certainly doesn't care. Unfortunately, you are unable to comprehend anything about collegiate participation that isn't related to ROI. That's not why 10 year olds play. Or 12, or 15, or 20 year olds. As the Loras as alleged terrible-sounding environments, some might think it is a real plus that they have reserve teams and that a kid might actually get to play in some games when otherwise they would just be sitting on a bench. And yes, several schools in the IIAC have reserve teams, as do a number of other top 50-75 D3s.

Saw this in a new thread and thought that it applied here. There seems to growing momentum behind the idea that club soccer has gone well beyond the noble mission alluded to above where everyone is just doing it for personal satisfaction.

Thousands of privately run soccer clubs saturate the USA, the best of which play almost all year round (particularly in California) in highly competitive leagues and tournaments. Clubs compete among themselves for the best players, the most motivated parents and of course, for the most prestigious titles and tournaments. The value exchange is simple, the clubs that win the most will attract the most motivated players and most demanding parents, who are willing to pay handsomely to have their kids play for the "best". Their motivation again is simple, if their kids are on the best team there is far more chance they will be spotted by a College or National Team Coach. It's a feeding frenzy of mutual interest. A frenzy that from the age of 10 ensures parents of any player that can kick a ball straight starts a mission to ensure their child plays on the best teams, gets coached by the best coaches and is seen by the most colleges and scouts possible.

[Unregistered]

Saw this in a new thread and thought that it applied here. There seems to growing momentum behind the idea that club soccer has gone well beyond the noble mission alluded to above where everyone is just doing it for personal satisfaction.

Merry Xmas BTDT. And thanks for the new thread.

[Unregistered]

After reading the full article from that new thread it sure seems that your message that club soccer is just a folksy thing that well meaning parents innocently get their children involved with for the sake of memories and recreation might just be a little less mainstream than you like to think.

[Unregistered]

After reading the full article from that new thread it sure seems that your message that club soccer is just a folksy thing that well meaning parents innocently get their children involved with for the sake of memories and recreation might just be a little less mainstream than you like to think.

That wasn't (and hasn't been) the message. Unfortunately you are incapable of engaging in a fine-grained analysis.

Let's take scholarships, for example. They aren't chased, to the extent that they are in fact chased, just for the money. There is the trophy/symbolism aspect. It's a kind of recognition. It suggest that a kid as "made it" to some desired level of achievement. We all know that parental narcissism is at the core of youth sports. You know that, right?

As far as the "payout" out goes, there are lots of ways to look at that. And for most of us athletic scholarship dollars is far from the only measuring stick about whether "we got out money's worth."

And, as usual, the article you want to now cite as gospel highlights only one angle of youth soccer. Kids want to play on the best teams they can and access the most competitive challenges to test how far they can go, and not just to see if they can get a full ride somewhere.

Happy Friday, BTNT.

[Unregistered]

and the obsession continues

[Unregistered]

and the obsession continues

at least they took the day off yesterday

[Unregistered]

and the obsession continues

What's the "obsession"? BTNT posted. He likes to call for "discussion"; he actually got discussion. The fact that there was some disagreement or different perspective doesn't mean that discussion isn't happening.

If BTNT would simply like to post and call for supporting comments, the idea of starting a dedicated BTNT sticky has repeatedly been floated--with no response to date. Of course, he doesn't want to have full reign over his own sticky, since he wants to steer the agendas, views, and actions of others as much as he can--futile though those efforts have become.

Happy holidays, BTNT. The day off was appreciated.

[Unregistered]

That wasn't (and hasn't been) the message. Unfortunately you are incapable of engaging in a fine-grained analysis.

Let's take scholarships, for example. They aren't chased, to the extent that they are in fact chased, just for the money. There is the trophy/symbolism aspect. It's a kind of recognition. It suggest that a kid as "made it" to some desired level of achievement. We all know that parental narcissism is at the core of youth sports. You know that, right?

As far as the "payout" out goes, there are lots of ways to look at that. And for most of us athletic scholarship dollars is far from the only measuring stick about whether "we got out money's worth."

And, as usual, the article you want to now cite as gospel highlights only one angle of youth soccer. Kids want to play on the best teams they can and access the most competitive challenges to test how far they can go, and not just to see if they can get a full ride somewhere.

Happy Friday, BTNT.

If you want a discussion as you say you might just state your case instead of lashing back at who you presume posted the comment.

Your main point seems to be you disagree that the hunt for scholarships fuel club soccer and yet there seems to be an awful lot of empirical evidence out on the internet like that article that are saying your particular view is in the minority. Can you point to any similar third party sources that agree with you that club soccer isn't being driven by the chase for scholarships? In the absence of such support and given that there is SO much out there about the commercialization of club soccer it certainly would seem that you are the one who is out of touch here.

[Unregistered]

I often wonder why anyone would spend so much time trying to argue that club soccer IS NOT selling the dream of college scholarships. I would tend to agree that most of us didn't start out chasing a scholarship right out of the starting gate, but certainly by the time most of our kids got to middle school the costs and expectations had ramped up to point where we were almost forced to confront the whole "why are we doing this" issue and anyone that didn't want ante up to see their kid's next card basically just faded away. Most people tend to discourage their kids from activities that they aren't willing to support or they don't see them being successful in so it is highly unlikely parents aren't fixing in on a goal like chasing a scholarship if they are staying in it for the long haul.

[Unregistered]

If you want a discussion as you say you might just state your case instead of lashing back at who you presume posted the comment.

Your main point seems to be you disagree that the hunt for scholarships fuel club soccer and yet there seems to be an awful lot of empirical evidence out on the internet like that article that are saying your particular view is in the minority. Can you point to any similar third party sources that agree with you that club soccer isn't being driven by the chase for scholarships? In the absence of such support and given that there is SO much out there about the commercialization of club soccer it certainly would seem that you are the one who is out of touch here.

I don't spend the hours scouring the internet for articles to support my posts like you do, BTNT. I'm sure I could find some.

In reply, though, let's start with at least 60-70% play club soccer primarily to ensure that they will be decent to good high school players. And 90% or more play without any delusions or particular aspirations about playing D1 or getting athletic scholarship money. The article you cited focused on the very top-tier of club soccer. And therein lies the real ridiculousness of your argument. The players playing at those levels would be playing regardless. If anyone SHOULD be playing competitively it is those kids.

Here is another huge flaw in your echolalic siren sound...as another poster has noted, there are built-in safeguards for those paying attention. Club soccer is a year to year commitment. If you see your kid isn't starting or progressing at the level they are playing at, there are ample options to stop or to choose a less competitive (and/or less costly) option.

I continue to marvel that people like you can spend tons and tons of money on soccer, education, private trainers, private tutors, etc, and not see yourself as part of the problem. It is always everyone else who is screwing up in your mind. You appear to be constitutionally incapable of starting any discussion by looking in the mirror, and that is one of the reasons so many find your daily diarrhea so distasteful...and blatantly phony and self-serving.

[Unregistered]

I often wonder why anyone would spend so much time trying to argue that club soccer IS NOT selling the dream of college scholarships. I would tend to agree that most of us didn't start out chasing a scholarship right out of the starting gate, but certainly by the time most of our kids got to middle school the costs and expectations had ramped up to point where we were almost forced to confront the whole "why are we doing this" issue and anyone that didn't want ante up to see their kid's next card basically just faded away. Most people tend to discourage their kids from activities that they aren't willing to support or they don't see them being successful in so it is highly unlikely parents aren't fixing in on a goal like chasing a scholarship if they are staying in it for the long haul.

Your last sentence gives you away and reveals how bankrupt your argument is. Highly unlikely that parents aren't chasing the scholarship dream? The problem is that you have equated that outcome with what "success" means. Do you really think that all parents who see their kids have very successful high school and/or D3 careers believe they have wasted their support and money??? Do you truly believe that? Do you truly believe that all parents of D3 players are secretly pining away for some D1 glory that you have told us isn't that glorious at all???

And one the most key questions of all always goes unanswered by you. If you are satisfied with what YOU are doing, why are you so distressed about what everyone else does??? We certainly know your concern isn't altruistic.

[Unregistered]

gold

After reading the full article from that new thread it sure seems that your message that club soccer is just a folksy thing that well meaning parents innocently get their children involved with for the sake of memories and recreation might just be a little less mainstream than you like to think.

Paying for the 'mainstream' notion may be the motivation of the non folksy people. But the outcome for 10 year olds whose parents are coughing up $5k plus per year for their kids to get onto elite teams is rather mundane. My experience with a top local club is the vast majority of the whiz kids can't even make the local varsity team let alone excel in college. I watch these kids come and go and the vast majority don't even play beyond 15. I actually feel bad for the parents that get suckered into this maelstrom of scheister-dom. PT Barnum FC - if you will. Two bit coaches from the UK will never turn down a check with a comma in it. Beats working in London for 25k pds per yer or living off the dole. But I know I know. YOUR kid is special cuz Liam McFartypants told you so.

[Unregistered]

If you want a discussion as you say you might just state your case instead of lashing back at who you presume posted the comment.

Your main point seems to be you disagree that the hunt for scholarships fuel club soccer and yet there seems to be an awful lot of empirical evidence out on the internet like that article that are saying your particular view is in the minority. Can you point to any similar third party sources that agree with you that club soccer isn't being driven by the chase for scholarships? In the absence of such support and given that there is SO much out there about the commercialization of club soccer it certainly would seem that you are the one who is out of touch here.

3.5M sets of parents chasing 3,000 scholarships. Commercialization of soccer? Where'd anyone get that notion?