Regarding Pay To Play

That is very cool how football is pretty evenly distributed across all HHI.

Pay to play is a huge problem that may not be able to be solved. It is American youth sports, not just a soccer problem. Our youth sports setup is a multi-billion dollar industry and so unique from other nations unfortunately.

Look at travel baseball, AAU basketball, and the costs to play almost every single sport. I am not even talking about the rich people sports like equestrian-related sports.

At the end of the day, we need to find a way to keep a ball at every kid's feet if they want it as well as getting proper coaching if possible, and it should not be cost-prohibitive. It really sucks when money gets in the way, especially when you consider that the US spends by far the most on sports.

There's less pay to play now than ever before bc of the MLS academy system. I actually think we are going to see results very soon, if not already.

I think our senior side is the one that needs by far the most significant overhaul.

Fine, let me modify that.

For the better players, there are more non play to play opportunities than ever before.

I didn't realize you cared whether there were more pay to play options for mediocre players.

There are good, detailed articles about how the MLS academy system and its regional affiliates have wider reach every year and how they get kids like Lagos Kunga, who are the exact opposite of rich white suburban kids, serious opportunities in a brief period of time.

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At the end of the day, we need to find a way to keep a ball at every kid's feet if they want it as well as getting proper coaching if possible,

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I say USSF sets up a Boys & Girls Club of sorts across america, filled with proper coaches who've had to take classes with emphasis on skill & technique that's mandated system wide. A place where disadvantaged kids can get a meal, and receive tutors if needed for school. In exchange the only sport available to them is soccer...the only requirement for entrance is showing up for weekly practices.

I see the Armada academies (all ages, all levels) practice sometimes and I have no idea what they do or don't pay to be on the squad. But I can say I feel pretty good about how the players are playing, even the really young ones. When I was growing up, kids those ages displaying that level of skill and awareness just DID NOT exist. So it's at least going somewhat in the right direction.

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I wonder why we just can't get public schools to do this? Soccer should be one of the few sports emphasized in elementary school. Every coach needs to get the new license or get out. NCAA could fill the void of the 14-18 year old.

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lets also talk about the LHSAA and NFHS having a joke of a two month long season in our worst weather...