I wasn't picking on CESA, or knocking them for "Manifest Destiny". I chose CESA in my example because they are the largest and most successful club in the state.

To the rest of the world, soccer is a very inexpensive sport and third world countries are able to compete on the big stage. Here in the US, paid coaching and travel (primarily to get better competition) drive the cost up and skew the playing field. This isn't just the case with soccer.....all club coaches are getting compensated now.

Coach Chass, if we could provide free coaching and free training to the I-95 Corridor, would the level of play improve? You mention that many of these young student-athletes have commitments such as part-time jobs and watching the little ones so that the family can make ends meet....if we are talking basketball and the student-athlete is 6' 10", with point guard skills, could the AAU coach find a way to make it happen? Is it because in basketball in the US, the monetary reward at the end of the rainbow is potentially (or significantly) much greater?