5 replies to this topic

[Coachssi]

The title says it all really. Why is it so expensive for kids to play soccer in the states? In England soccer is open to all people of all ages without the expense.

[BamaDevO]

Well, it really depends on what type of team you are wanting your child to play for.
As for my daughter, she is playing throught the YMCA and the only cost for playing is the normal expences. (ball,cleats,shin guards, etc....)

However, some leagues you try to get into make you pay for expensive unis and such.

What expense are you talking about particularly?

[Bobbo0212]

The biggest thing that makes it I guess expensive is the Cost of Insurance, it cost these organizations a lot of money for insurance, plus after that they must provide the funds for field rental, equipment(ie. goals, nexts, flags), and Referees. At the end of the day they barely break even.

[themuzicman]

Where, pray tell, do they get training and organized games for free?

My kids play for free all the time in our front yard, or when we visit the park. But if you're going to have organized teams with uniforms and referrees and leagues, it's going to cost SOMEBODY some money.

Muz

[shtcricket]

its expensive like they say for the uniforms and refs and insurance and such... also your own equiptment expenses and the league isnt making any money off you if thats what you are afraid of.

i myself play for a travelling leage and pay alot more than the nominal fees for fields and such that youth leagues pay... my team has to pay a trainer to come out, the coach, rent hotel rooms at tournaments, and pay to enter tournaments as well... so when i look at the fees charged by the league to help cover their costs i laugh because its going to a good cause and is letting kids have fun in a safe environment doing something they enjoy.

[Yorkshireman]

Well, youth soccer in England does incur the same expenses as we do here in the USA. What makes it free for (Most) of the players is the fact that sponsors pick up the costs involved for unifoms and field maintenance etc. Every new season sees a sponsorship drive among local merchants to cover these expenses. There are also far fewer youth soccer clubs in the Britain than there are here. In addition, the US has youth leagues for football, hockey, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, cheerleading, band etc. There are simply not enough merchants to cover the expenses of all these organized youth activities in the USA.
However, most intramural soccer programs are very reasonbly priced for participants and many of them will waive any fees involved for a family which is financially stressed.