re: US Youth Participation in Soccer Declines

Soccer and travel baseball are by far the most expensive kids sports for parents

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It’s not. It’s just a stupid take. Sorry I hurt your fee fees by calling it such

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Trust me, you didn’t.

Again, kids today don’t care about winning or losing for a reason. And I’ll say it again. The “everyone has to feel good so we don’t offend them” mindset is a problem and will continue to be as long as we let it.

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Kids still care about winning. Atleast the competitive ones do. Its not fun getting your arse kicked in a sports match

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Losing sucks. No doubt about it.

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Soccer and travel baseball are by far the most expensive kids sports for parents

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Not football? I figure that can cost a ton.

I coach club soccer in AZ. IDK about Louisiana but my players pay $785 for the entire season, including home/away/practice/pregame kits and bag. Tournaments cost about $20-$30/mo. Average around here is about $1500-$2000 per year, and season goes from 8/1-4/30.

Coach Robicheaux? Or you just want to repeat what he says?

I wouldn’t say kids leave rec baseball for trophies. Only the top major teams win trophies consistently in USSSA. Otherwise when u win you get moved up (if things haven’t changed in last 5 years).

I don’t have an easy answer but just read this board to see how it isn’t an easy fix. Most here would agree that good soccer players around the world are playing in good academies or clubs with good coaching from a very early age. Of course, by numbers alone most of those still won’t make it. However, the percentage is almost non existent if trying to do it any other way.

Sure there should be a place for a kid that just wants to do it for “something to do.” But you can’t expect the kids that are “wired differently” to want to play at that same level. Just like a bookworm puts in a lot more time reading than the others. To each his own.

Football clubs should have free academies set up in low income areas 3-4 days a week. Give kids something to do after school.

I never really understood the U.S. The U.S. has probably the most resources out of any country. A huge population but an average soccer team. 2.3 million players is an absolute joke. You don't even need youth leagues like other countries. You have the perfect platform, High Schools.

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f my kid isn't absolutely dominating whatever sport he chooses to play

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You have to groom them from the time they can walk that they have no option but to dominate every sport they play.

There are very few kids who can step onto a U12-U14 club team and even contribute from the bench. It takes a special athlete, and still they're a liability. Playing Rec does nothing to prepare you either. It's a tough sport when played at a high level. I think the player pool, as a percentage of kids a certain age, definitely decreases as they get older. Need a giant U8 group every year to start them down the path.

I will also add that it is more difficult to play at a higher level in the US once a player is finished with their high school soccer team. There is really no particular place to go outside of a few college teams or overseas.