What U.S. Youth Soccer Needs: Another “Elite” Program?!
OK, this is going to seem counter-intuitive, controversial in some circles, and perhaps impractical even if theoretically desirable. But we’ve heard from several experts about the irony of having so many “elite” leagues and clubs in this country, but no true elite program if we’re being honest (comparable to top European academies for example). I […]
Girls in MLS NEXT?!
It sounds like clickbait, but it is real. A small number of exceptional girls are earning spots on boys’ MLS NEXT teams, and their experiences reveal a lot about where American youth development is headed. Most parents think of MLS NEXT as a boys-only pathway that feeds MLS academies and, eventually, MLS NEXT Pro and […]
D1 Soccer Scholarships: Why the Odds Are Tougher Now
Dreaming of a D1 College Soccer Scholarship? There’s Bad News Here’s a hard truth many parents suspect: The overall environment has become more difficult for American teenagers – especially boys – to earn Division I soccer scholarships, mainly because competition has globalized and coaches now lean more on older transfers and internationals. Overall supply vs. […]
How to Reconcile Fun and Elite in Youth Soccer Player Development
We here at USSP have become very conscious of two conflicting messages in U.S. youth soccer and parent and coaching circles: “Just let them have fun” and “It takes thousands of hours to reach an elite level.” These can seem outright contradictory, but in reality, both are true. There’s a real challenge here for families—and […]
What a Meaningful Soccer Parent Voice Would Look Like
In my last blog, I outlined how the lack of an organized parent voice – association – participating in high-level organizing and league deliberations and policy determinations is a problem, and likely to get worse as private equity and other commercial interests are looking to get involved. Gaining real influence is not about being louder […]
Parents Are Paying the Bills. Why Don’t We Have a Real Voice in Youth Soccer?
Walk onto any turf field on a Saturday and you will see the same picture: kids pouring their hearts into the game and a ring of parents funding, scheduling, driving, and emotionally carrying the whole operation. Parents are central to the system, but rarely central to the decisions that shape it. At the same time, […]
Promotion Without Relegation?
US Club Soccer’s new integrated postseason between ECNL Regional League (ECNL RL) and National Premier Leagues (NPL) is a step in the right direction. It acknowledges that merit should matter, and it nods toward the kind of clear pathway families see in European systems. But without a consistent, formalized approach to both promotion and relegation, […]
The $4,000 World Cup Ticket:
When “Growing the Game” Becomes a Luxury Sport The FIFA 2026 World Cup was supposed to be our moment — finally, the world’s biggest game on home soil, inspiring a new generation of players and families. Instead, it’s shaping up to inspire something else entirely: sticker shock. Reports suggest that tickets could soar beyond *$4,000 […]
How Much Would You Pay to Watch Your Child Play?
Why One Hockey Company’s Streaming Rules Matter To Soccer Parents I don’t want to be an alarmist, but with a background in media I know a little about intellectual property and streaming video, and in that context if you haven’t heard about Black Bear Sports Group yet, you very well may. It could be good […]
MLS NEXT2 / Academy Division:
What Parents Like and What They Don’t This year, MLS NEXT launched a seismic expansion by adding an “Academy Division,” now commonly called MLS NEXT2, to run alongside its top-tier Homegrown Division. This move instantly doubled the number of participating clubs and players nationwide, bringing new faces and fresh opportunities to the league—but also sparking […]