Without looking at the mess. What do you think it is - no cheating From rec to Pro/College... This would be the leagues that are represented throught the nation (MRL/DA etc...) Secondly - what do you think it should be in a perfect world? make it interesting - add what you think it should cost at every level.
rec get good, dominate if serious and have euro passport go to europe no passport, try to get into an mls academy if not go into ncaa and hope for the best perfect world, allow kids to sign go to europe cut pay as you play, too many people getting rich of youth soccer cost should get less as you become one of the elites in your area instead its the other way around.
Sure. This is a much smaller slice of the pool than you seem to think. Also--if every good player goes off to Europe, that doesn't really help player development here. I might agree with the second half of this statement (although I'd suspect the number actually getting "getting rich" rather than "making a comfortable living" ain't that big), but as for the first part--who pays for the fields, refs, coaches, uniforms, etc? Well, yes, that's often true. But taking money out of pay-to-play and telling kids "hey, leave your friends and family and go to Europe" isn't really a "plan" IMHO.
My projected path and what it should cost for club fees only U4-U7 - Rec leagues - $25-50 per season U8-U11 - Local Club travel - ~$1,000 a year (no coach fees) U12-U15 - Best travel team possible - $3,000 a year (includes coach) U16-U18 - DA - free
Recreational is for the players that are looking to enjoy a casual experience playing football. This should be very inexpensive (with slightly rising prices as the age increases). Non Competitive Travel is for players looking for a more challenging experience in the footballing world but still as a part time hobby. The prices should be affordable for all families with light spikes in costs for far travel covered by parents. Competitive Travel is the second highest level of youth football in the country. Pricing should be affordable for most families with scholarships offered for select players in difficult financial situations. This involves competing around the region and potentially country based on results. Academy Football should be free and used as an identifier for potential professionals around the globe with an emphasis on producing homegrown National Team players. A partner of the company I work for, SCOUTED, is an American who grew up on the East Coast playing at the highest level (Academy) from its inception. He is currently playing professionally in Europe. Our company is in the process of finding players around the globe and affording them the opportunity to earn a professional contract based solely on their abilities.
1. USWNT/USMNT 2. DA / ECNL (Integrated Playoff Structure) $1500 -$3000 - MLS and Non-MLS Academy Clubs - NPL / MRL (Integrated Playoff Structure) - Regular League Play (Integrated Playoff Structure between USC & USY) 3. Regular League Play (US Youth & US Club) $800 - $1700 - Community Clubs/Best of the Rest - Top teams may qualify for State Cup and Beyond which is an integrated playoff structure between USC & USY - MRL Division 1 and Club Open eliminated - teams placed back into normal divisions with the ability to schedule more games outside league assiatance. 4. Open Play League (New body to oversee Intermediate clubs and Rec Play) $50 - $500 - Small clubs catering to the multi-sport athlete - Rec programs - Open play (sandlot soccer) programs - Would like to see $$ to support these programs for uniforms, bring in keeper training and coaches training. Provide indoor space and more.