"Heise and Tisdale point out that while Development Academy clubs affiliated with some Major League Soccer teams are fully funded, players — or more precisely, their parents — must pay to play for others, such as S.C. United.
“If it is completely free, like in MLS cities, and they are truly taking the best players in the state, I have no problem with it,” said Heise, who also coaches club soccer. “But some kids pay up to $4,000 a year to play academy soccer and are giving up four years of high school soccer.
“You have politics at work, and issues with kids who cannot pay to play. Are we truly identifying the best 18 players?”
There are several arguments here that I don't understand. Perhaps one of the coaches quoted could explain.....
I've heard many arguments over the last year about the value of HS soccer. Why is that value diminished if Academy were free? Some people pay for their kids to play Academy and a 10 month season is depriving them of an opportunity? People who don't pay for Academy.....its reasonable to miss HS?
Is the value of playing HS soccer or not really linked to the cost of Academy soccer?
Secondly.....politics at play? Why is that even relevant? I hear people talk all the time about the politics of club soccer. The politics of HS soccer. The politics of an all state team or the politics of a CLash of the Carolina team. The politics of ODP. The politics of making a region team.
Politics are an unfortunate fact of life. Sometimes they are the boogums in the shadows of our imagination. Sometimes they unfortunately exist and reward less deserving kids at the expense of more deserving kids.
But politics is an absolute non-issue in this debate. It is no more, or less a factor than in other formats of elite sport.
Last edited by Big Daddy; 07/15/12 05:58 PM.
