the WNT is looking less like the nation they represent

http://www.thebentmusket.com/2015/3/30/8213245/usa-womens-national-soccer-team-diversity-pay-play-youth-financial

Best you can do is a year+ old article?

What do YOU think is the solution?

Dear Lefty,

Just like the the lack of racial/social economical/cultural representation in the national and professional level of soccer there are not many substantial articles who deeply get into the root of the problem. Many other articles/ journalists out there touch on it superficially. To answer your question I agree with other  associations such as U.S. Club Soccer are aware of the detrimental effects of high costs to player participation. USCS runs the id2 talent identification program, which is free to all players and allows them a chance to be observed by national staff. Every youth soccer organization, whether USYS, AYSO, or USCS should have some level of free talent identification and a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities.

U.S. Soccer could help subsidize more programs in low-income areas, providing not just equipment but coach and referee training. Clubs could set growth goals over the next five to ten years that their teams should try to better reflect their communities. USSF could demand that affiliated organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer require members to significantly lower their tournament fees.

Meanwhile, grassroot groups are trying to address the issue. Andreassen has praised the work of former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, whose Urban Soccer Leadership Academy is organizing teams at low cost for young players, largely Latino and black, from low-income families. Dunn, Scurry and several members of the current national team have worked for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is “providing a quality soccer program at no charge to kids ages six to 12 in low-income communities,” explains president and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon. The foundation’s Soccer for Success program, Foster-Simeon says, has grown from serving 8,000 kids five years ago to 32,000 this year, with a three-year goal of tripling that number. The foundation doesn’t cover pay-to-play or higher-level training, though, and while scholarships can help in those areas, they aren’t enough.

Surf Cup is going on now. What's the ethnic mix of SoCal teams?

amazed wrote:Dear Lefty,

Just like the the lack of racial/social economical/cultural representation in the national and professional level of soccer there are not many substantial articles who deeply get into the root of the problem. Many other articles/ journalists out there touch on it superficially. To answer your question I agree with other  associations such as U.S. Club Soccer are aware of the detrimental effects of high costs to player participation. USCS runs the id2 talent identification program, which is free to all players and allows them a chance to be observed by national staff. Every youth soccer organization, whether USYS, AYSO, or USCS should have some level of free talent identification and a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities.

U.S. Soccer could help subsidize more programs in low-income areas, providing not just equipment but coach and referee training. Clubs could set growth goals over the next five to ten years that their teams should try to better reflect their communities. USSF could demand that affiliated organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer require members to significantly lower their tournament fees.

Meanwhile, grassroot groups are trying to address the issue. Andreassen has praised the work of former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, whose Urban Soccer Leadership Academy is organizing teams at low cost for young players, largely Latino and black, from low-income families. Dunn, Scurry and several members of the current national team have worked for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is “providing a quality soccer program at no charge to kids ages six to 12 in low-income communities,” explains president and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon. The foundation’s Soccer for Success program, Foster-Simeon says, has grown from serving 8,000 kids five years ago to 32,000 this year, with a three-year goal of tripling that number. The foundation doesn’t cover pay-to-play or higher-level training, though, and while scholarships can help in those areas, they aren’t enough.

Hmm free, yeah once you get their your DD cost of living for the week and training uniform is covered, but it usually cost $400 for a round trip ticket. That is if no parent goes with the child. It was $700 plus dollars to attend id2 camp in North Carolina.

Maybe they should implement affirmative action

Does the USA Men's Basketball team reflect the country it represents? How about the Women's Basketball team or Men's Ice Hockey Team? Swim Teams? There are hundreds of reasons why certain demographics are represented in various sports. I think we have enough things to complain about without manufacturing new ones.

It's not their skin color that determines their ability.

#SoccerPlayersSkinColorDoesntMatter

#TheirParentsIncomeLevelMatters

AtThePitch wrote:It's not their skin color that determines their ability.

#SoccerPlayersSkinColorDoesntMatter

#TheirParentsIncomeLevelMatters

This is exactly right....not a political statement as much as reality. Look at baseball and softball, similar pay to play models...similar results.

amazed wrote:Dear Lefty,

Just like the the lack of racial/social economical/cultural representation in the national and professional level of soccer there are not many substantial articles who deeply get into the root of the problem. Many other articles/ journalists out there touch on it superficially. To answer your question I agree with other  associations such as U.S. Club Soccer are aware of the detrimental effects of high costs to player participation. USCS runs the id2 talent identification program, which is free to all players and allows them a chance to be observed by national staff. Every youth soccer organization, whether USYS, AYSO, or USCS should have some level of free talent identification and a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities.

U.S. Soccer could help subsidize more programs in low-income areas, providing not just equipment but coach and referee training. Clubs could set growth goals over the next five to ten years that their teams should try to better reflect their communities. USSF could demand that affiliated organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer require members to significantly lower their tournament fees.

Meanwhile, grassroot groups are trying to address the issue. Andreassen has praised the work of former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, whose Urban Soccer Leadership Academy is organizing teams at low cost for young players, largely Latino and black, from low-income families. Dunn, Scurry and several members of the current national team have worked for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is “providing a quality soccer program at no charge to kids ages six to 12 in low-income communities,” explains president and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon. The foundation’s Soccer for Success program, Foster-Simeon says, has grown from serving 8,000 kids five years ago to 32,000 this year, with a three-year goal of tripling that number. The foundation doesn’t cover pay-to-play or higher-level training, though, and while scholarships can help in those areas, they aren’t enough.

Yes lets fix this....while we're at it lets fix the lack of diversity in US Basketball, track and Football. To often you don't see near enough representation from hispanic, asian or white folks in these sports. We need to add rules to diversify these sports as well.

justchootit wrote:

amazed wrote:Dear Lefty,

Just like the the lack of racial/social economical/cultural representation in the national and professional level of soccer there are not many substantial articles who deeply get into the root of the problem. Many other articles/ journalists out there touch on it superficially. To answer your question I agree with other  associations such as U.S. Club Soccer are aware of the detrimental effects of high costs to player participation. USCS runs the id2 talent identification program, which is free to all players and allows them a chance to be observed by national staff. Every youth soccer organization, whether USYS, AYSO, or USCS should have some level of free talent identification and a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities.

U.S. Soccer could help subsidize more programs in low-income areas, providing not just equipment but coach and referee training. Clubs could set growth goals over the next five to ten years that their teams should try to better reflect their communities. USSF could demand that affiliated organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer require members to significantly lower their tournament fees.

Meanwhile, grassroot groups are trying to address the issue. Andreassen has praised the work of former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, whose Urban Soccer Leadership Academy is organizing teams at low cost for young players, largely Latino and black, from low-income families. Dunn, Scurry and several members of the current national team have worked for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is “providing a quality soccer program at no charge to kids ages six to 12 in low-income communities,” explains president and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon. The foundation’s Soccer for Success program, Foster-Simeon says, has grown from serving 8,000 kids five years ago to 32,000 this year, with a three-year goal of tripling that number. The foundation doesn’t cover pay-to-play or higher-level training, though, and while scholarships can help in those areas, they aren’t enough.

Yes lets fix this....while we're at it lets fix the lack of diversity in US Basketball, track and Football. To often you don't see near enough representation from hispanic, asian or white folks in these sports. We need to add rules to diversify these sports as well.

exactly  That's just the first step.    I think soccer needs to diversify even more.    There are not enough slow fat people on the national team either .   This is just not fair!   I mean the nation is made up of slow fat people , and they are not being represented at all .   This injustice must come to and end!!!!

Seven wrote:

justchootit wrote:

amazed wrote:Dear Lefty,

Just like the the lack of racial/social economical/cultural representation in the national and professional level of soccer there are not many substantial articles who deeply get into the root of the problem. Many other articles/ journalists out there touch on it superficially. To answer your question I agree with other  associations such as U.S. Club Soccer are aware of the detrimental effects of high costs to player participation. USCS runs the id2 talent identification program, which is free to all players and allows them a chance to be observed by national staff. Every youth soccer organization, whether USYS, AYSO, or USCS should have some level of free talent identification and a commitment to lowering barriers to entry for underserved communities.

U.S. Soccer could help subsidize more programs in low-income areas, providing not just equipment but coach and referee training. Clubs could set growth goals over the next five to ten years that their teams should try to better reflect their communities. USSF could demand that affiliated organizations like U.S. Youth Soccer require members to significantly lower their tournament fees.

Meanwhile, grassroot groups are trying to address the issue. Andreassen has praised the work of former San Antonio mayor Ed Garza, whose Urban Soccer Leadership Academy is organizing teams at low cost for young players, largely Latino and black, from low-income families. Dunn, Scurry and several members of the current national team have worked for the U.S. Soccer Foundation, a nonprofit organization that is “providing a quality soccer program at no charge to kids ages six to 12 in low-income communities,” explains president and CEO Ed Foster-Simeon. The foundation’s Soccer for Success program, Foster-Simeon says, has grown from serving 8,000 kids five years ago to 32,000 this year, with a three-year goal of tripling that number. The foundation doesn’t cover pay-to-play or higher-level training, though, and while scholarships can help in those areas, they aren’t enough.

Yes lets fix this....while we're at it lets fix the lack of diversity in US Basketball, track and Football. To often you don't see near enough representation from hispanic, asian or white folks in these sports. We need to add rules to diversify these sports as well.

exactly  That's just the first step.    I think soccer needs to diversify even more.    There are not enough slow fat people on the national team either .   This is just not fair!   I mean the nation is made up of slow fat people , and they are not being represented at all .   This injustice must come to and end!!!!

They are being represented....those are the kids that go to speed and agility training 4 times a week.

Only solution to the alleged problem seems to be making it free. i.e other peoples money.

If this is all about socioeconomics, how do you explain the US Women's Olympic Gymnastic team at 60% minority? Last I checked, club soccer may be a Lexus, but gymnastics is an Aston Martin...

I'm amazed.

Hi Folks,

I just couldn't stay out of this. I think it's a problem that will hopefully solve itself over time. The reality is that Pay to Play means if you can't afford to pay you can't really play (well you can but not with a coach that wants to get paid for their time at a facility that isn't the Y or a park).

What that really means is that US Soccer and various levels of Government aren't willing to invest in excellent facilities and great coaches for Soccer. At least here in Texas they are willing to make that investment in Football and to a much smaller extent in Basketball. Why my money goes into other peoples kids playing Football I will never know but that's Democracy.

Some day it will either not go into Football or it will go into other Sports the rest of us want to participate in. Mean time we will rely on our money and try to create scholarships for talented kids who's parents don't have as much of it as we do.

Let's all support Women's Professional Sports as much as we can so we can create a pool of money to grow talent like they do in Europe for the men's game.

Lefty wrote:I'm amazed.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/olympics/olympians-parents-feel-debt-achieving-gold/story?id=16940902

I'm going to adopt like that Blind Side movie.

newbiefornow wrote:Hi Folks,

I just couldn't stay out of this. I think it's a problem that will hopefully solve itself over time. The reality is that Pay to Play means if you can't afford to pay you can't really play (well you can but not with a coach that wants to get paid for their time at a facility that isn't the Y or a park).

What that really means is that US Soccer and various levels of Government aren't willing to invest in excellent facilities and great coaches for Soccer. At least here in Texas they are willing to make that investment in Football and to a much smaller extent in Basketball. Why my money goes into other peoples kids playing Football I will never know but that's Democracy.

Some day it will either not go into Football or it will go into other Sports the rest of us want to participate in. Mean time we will rely on our money and try to create scholarships for talented kids who's parents don't have as much of it as we do.


Let's all support Women's Professional Sports as much as we can so we can create a pool of money to grow talent like they do in Europe for the men's game.

There are lots of kids in club that receive financial help through scholarships. There are also the dreaded fundraising  opportunities  that parents can take advantage of. Dare I say if you want your kid to play club soccer......it can be done.   I would bet that there is a very small percentage  of kids that absolutely  can not play club soccer, if they and their parents are determined  enough  and willing to put in the work . And if little Suzy is a stud, the opportunities  will more readily  present themselves.
If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Seven wrote:

newbiefornow wrote:Hi Folks,

I just couldn't stay out of this. I think it's a problem that will hopefully solve itself over time. The reality is that Pay to Play means if you can't afford to pay you can't really play (well you can but not with a coach that wants to get paid for their time at a facility that isn't the Y or a park).

What that really means is that US Soccer and various levels of Government aren't willing to invest in excellent facilities and great coaches for Soccer. At least here in Texas they are willing to make that investment in Football and to a much smaller extent in Basketball. Why my money goes into other peoples kids playing Football I will never know but that's Democracy.

Some day it will either not go into Football or it will go into other Sports the rest of us want to participate in. Mean time we will rely on our money and try to create scholarships for talented kids who's parents don't have as much of it as we do.


Let's all support Women's Professional Sports as much as we can so we can create a pool of money to grow talent like they do in Europe for the men's game.

There are lots of kids in club that receive financial help through scholarships. There are also the dreaded fundraising  opportunities  that parents can take advantage of. Dare I say if you want your kid to play club soccer......it can be done.   I would bet that there is a very small percentage  of kids that absolutely  can not play club soccer, if they and their parents are determined  enough  and willing to put in the work . And if little Suzy is a stud, the opportunities  will more readily  present themselves.
If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Exactly!! I'd say half of the parents on my kids team pay some or all of their dues with fundraisers. But then again in the current welfare state of this country most of the people that can't pay aren't willing to put in the work to do fundraisers!

justchootit wrote:

Seven wrote:

newbiefornow wrote:Hi Folks,

I just couldn't stay out of this. I think it's a problem that will hopefully solve itself over time. The reality is that Pay to Play means if you can't afford to pay you can't really play (well you can but not with a coach that wants to get paid for their time at a facility that isn't the Y or a park).

What that really means is that US Soccer and various levels of Government aren't willing to invest in excellent facilities and great coaches for Soccer. At least here in Texas they are willing to make that investment in Football and to a much smaller extent in Basketball. Why my money goes into other peoples kids playing Football I will never know but that's Democracy.

Some day it will either not go into Football or it will go into other Sports the rest of us want to participate in. Mean time we will rely on our money and try to create scholarships for talented kids who's parents don't have as much of it as we do.


Let's all support Women's Professional Sports as much as we can so we can create a pool of money to grow talent like they do in Europe for the men's game.

There are lots of kids in club that receive financial help through scholarships. There are also the dreaded fundraising  opportunities  that parents can take advantage of. Dare I say if you want your kid to play club soccer......it can be done.   I would bet that there is a very small percentage  of kids that absolutely  can not play club soccer, if they and their parents are determined  enough  and willing to put in the work . And if little Suzy is a stud, the opportunities  will more readily  present themselves.
If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Exactly!! I'd say half of the parents on my kids team pay some or all of their dues with fundraisers. But then again in the current welfare state of this country most of the people that can't pay aren't willing to put in the work to do fundraisers!  

Dang tootin cowboy! I think the point has nothing to do with welfare or race as much as being exposed to the game. When money is involved at this young of an age, you tend to see a bunch of suburban kids...not a very deep pool, which is what the soccer gods are looking for....and guess what else... I tend to vote republican, live in the burbs, worked my way through college and served in the military and pay the soccer bill. How bout you. So take your political bs to another board. I might be on that board also though.

soccerjack wrote:

justchootit wrote:

Seven wrote:

newbiefornow wrote:Hi Folks,

I just couldn't stay out of this. I think it's a problem that will hopefully solve itself over time. The reality is that Pay to Play means if you can't afford to pay you can't really play (well you can but not with a coach that wants to get paid for their time at a facility that isn't the Y or a park).

What that really means is that US Soccer and various levels of Government aren't willing to invest in excellent facilities and great coaches for Soccer. At least here in Texas they are willing to make that investment in Football and to a much smaller extent in Basketball. Why my money goes into other peoples kids playing Football I will never know but that's Democracy.

Some day it will either not go into Football or it will go into other Sports the rest of us want to participate in. Mean time we will rely on our money and try to create scholarships for talented kids who's parents don't have as much of it as we do.


Let's all support Women's Professional Sports as much as we can so we can create a pool of money to grow talent like they do in Europe for the men's game.

There are lots of kids in club that receive financial help through scholarships. There are also the dreaded fundraising  opportunities  that parents can take advantage of. Dare I say if you want your kid to play club soccer......it can be done.   I would bet that there is a very small percentage  of kids that absolutely  can not play club soccer, if they and their parents are determined  enough  and willing to put in the work . And if little Suzy is a stud, the opportunities  will more readily  present themselves.
If you want it bad enough, you will find a way.

Exactly!! I'd say half of the parents on my kids team pay some or all of their dues with fundraisers. But then again in the current welfare state of this country most of the people that can't pay aren't willing to put in the work to do fundraisers!  

Dang tootin cowboy!  I think the point has nothing to do with welfare or race as much as being exposed to the game. When money is involved at this young of an age, you tend to see a bunch of suburban kids...not a very deep pool, which is what the soccer gods are looking for....and guess what else... I tend to vote republican, live in the burbs, worked my way through college and served in the military and pay the soccer bill.  How bout you.   So take your political bs to another board.  I might be on that board also though.

I'll take my bs to this board another board any GD board I want.