Money Grab $$: A Parent's Guide to American Youth Soccer

By Timmy Knowstoomuch

What has happened to and in American youth soccer over the past fifty years? I will take you on a stroll down memory lane, sharing some of my fondest memories and others I would like to forget; but cannot.

Soccer in America has become “All about the money.” Some have forgotten it really is, and needs to always be “All about the players” and to develop their lifelong love of and passion for the sport. Parents are willing to pay “whatever the market will bear” as the club and/or coaches charge ever increasing to astronomical fees with the hope to have their child will succeed in obtaining the holy grail of a college soccer scholarship and not let their child fall behind their peers. The problem is that many parents have no idea what is actually going on in America’s youth soccer today, what they may soon face, or how to best navigate any of it.

The hashtag I use to describe this is #youcantmakethissoccerstuffup.

Money Grab $$—A Parents’ Guide to American Youth Soccer is an insider’s view of the actual soccer player developmental life cycle beginning with recreational FUN then to the drama, pain points, best practice actions and costs of competitive soccer. From just starting in the sport through your player’s deveIopmental life cycle, we will share what it takes to enjoy, survive, and possibly even make a professional soccer team and then stay at that level. Having been involved for so long, I have heard this same parents’ cry for help and understanding repeatedly, especially in the past few years. Parents who always want to do the best for their player but don’t have a clue, or for those who thought they had the clue, only to find out otherwise, need guidance and insight into what is going on. It will be invaluable and settling to understand in advance the decisions parents may face so that they may make the correct ones given the information available or to obtain what is needed to make and intelligent, data-driven decision, what to look for in a coach and, when to run.

It will also identify many of the current and potential methods for a variety of folks to take parent’s hard-earned money out of their wallets providing little to nothing in return, also known as “Money Grab.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gatekeeper Press
• Release date: Aug 16, 2022
• ISBN: 9781662915062

Book preview

Soccer 101 For Parents

RECREATIONAL SOCCER: LET THE FUN BEGIN!

Today, almost every professional player around the world started out at the grassroots level. A few players may never have played organized soccer early in their lives but made it anyway because of who they were. They are the exceptions, not the rule.

In the US, recreational soccer is the start of it all. This entry-level version of the sport is still affordable, in most cases, and many cities, counties, and/or clubs in your area provide a solid, fun experience for your player to be introduced to the sport.

Recreational soccer really is FUN!!

Besides the exciting events of the matches themselves, my fondest four-year-old and up recreational memories are the tunnel and snacks that came at the conclusion of each match. On the final whistle from the referee, the parents from both teams would rise, quickly go onto to the center of the field, face each other, and join hands over their heads, forming a tunnel. After each of the players and coaches from both teams shook hands for a match well played, the players would race through the tunnel with both teams’ parents whooping it up, whistling, and cheering loudly. The players would run three or four times through and then go to the team mom or dad, who had brought the snacks and drinks to be consumed after each match.

On those few dark days, where the responsible parent forgot to bring the snacks and drinks, or their player got sick and could not come to the field, they or someone else would have to go to the concession stand and fork out like $45+ to make those smiles come to life with colorful stains around their lips and on their jerseys, instead of paying the $15 you would have paid if you hadn’t forgotten or shopped ahead. Takeaway: don’t forget the snacks and drinks, or make sure another parent has your back and can save the day at a reasonable price.

Soccer’s benefits have been well documented over the years. Again, first and foremost, it is FUN!!

Having your player participate in soccer creates the opportunity for them to learn to communicate, to cooperate with each other by not being selfish, and to share the joy that comes from playing this sport. Passing the ball back and forth firsthand to each other correctly is vital to playing the match and, ultimately, life. They make friends through the team. They learn respect, sharing, humility, taking turns and integrity. They celebrate together and may, at times, be sad together. This sport gets many shy children out of their shells. With some children, we find we want to put them back in their shell once they are out! But, too late.

It is true that there are many developmental benefits for your player when they play soccer.

Key benefits are:

• Promotes Fitness

• Promotes Good Health

• Encourages Teamwork

• Higher Test Scores

• Emotional Stress Relief

• Reduces Screen Time

• Time Management Skills

• Promotes Social Development

Other reasons to have your player play soccer are the following:

• Very easy to learn. Kick the ball into the other team’s goal. Not your own.

• Very easy to play. All you need is a ball. If you want to score into goal, two cans will do.

• Very inexpensive to play. Not a big investment to buy the equipment required for organized play—a ball, shin guards, and cleats.

• Great exercise: You walk, jog, sprint, jump, change direction. It will tire them out, and they will sleep well.

• Learn respect for one another and the game and to play fair

• Learn the sport is about the team, not just the individual

• All players can play and learn how to compete

• Multiple positions to learn and play

• Relatively safe with low risk, especially at younger ages, now that hitting the ball with the head has been delayed until twelve or thirteen years old, depending on the state and league

Key Life Lessons:

• Enjoy what you are doing: HAVE FUN!!

• Believe in yourself. Have self-confidence and self-esteem. Keep your head high.

• Never give up. Do your best; that’s all you can do, every time.

• Believe in your teammates

• Respect your teammates and your opponents

• Play by the Laws of the Game

• It is only a game. For now.

There are four main components to soccer that will help your player develop as a child as they play:

• Technical Skills: The ability for the individual to control, coordinate, and command their body to manipulate the ball to do what needs to be done in every situation.

This component involves developing your first touch when receiving, passing, turning, shooting, also known as finishing, transitioning, mastery of ball manipulation, and shielding the ball.

• Tactical Skills: The ability for the individuals to communicate and interplay with each other as a team to achieve a common purpose, like attacking to score goals, and defending to prevent goals from being scored.

This component involves your formation, set pieces or plays, organizing the offense and defense, angle play and positioning, restarts, establishing the desired tempo, initiating the attack, and sweeper-keeper tactics.

• Physical Skills: The ability to develop and demonstrate the physical abilities needed to execute the required technical and tactical skills like speed, strength, aggressiveness, and stamina at the beginning of the match all the way until the final whistle blows.

This component involves being fit, working to get fit, then training to always stay fit, nutrition, proper warm-up, effective cool-down, injury prevention, flexibility, balance and coordination, speed and agility, and strength training.

• Psychological/Social Skills: The ability to develop confidence and mental toughness, to interact socially and communicate with other teammates, and operate as a team to create and maintain a positive, supportive team