I’m going to quote a favorite author here and say “whoa, “Your brains are bouncing like bbs on a six-lane highway.”
Consider this, those of you who’ve been bitten by the “Academy” bug… it’s NOT Academy soccer that’s the end goal is it? If you’re putting your Johnny soccer player in the program, is it because he wants to play professional soccer and/or get a college scholarship? If it’s the latter, you don’t need the Academy. Plenty of those who have gone before received scholarships without Academy play assistance. Remember, those scholarship players were also academically well-positioned, That’s the point of going to college. That’s why soccer doesn’t yet have the disproportion of dumb jock idiots other professional sports have spawned. Besides, Colleges no longer offer total sports scholarships because they are after all, institutions of learning, not “sports academies.” Something I hope you don’t lose sight of.
Then consider the MLS lure the Academy proponents are dangling. What exactly does that league offer? With the exception of foreign “stars”—Beckham and Adu come to mind and Adu did play some Academy soccer, hey–isn’t he playing for PORTUGAL NOW???—not much. From a spectator standpoint, MLS might as well be dubbed Mediocre League Soccer. Salaries offered by MLS are reportedly ridiculously low compared to other US professional sports and MLS owns your contract, not the individual team. So it seems no matter where you get traded during your average career, there’s not much chance for better money within that league, unless you’re a superstar.
Again, IF pro soccer is what your Johnny is aiming for as a career, it’s arguable that Europe is the place to play better professional soccer and get far better money. If he’s not going to play professional soccer, why the heck are you paying for Academy play… the prestige? Remember it all goes away if all he does is end up in MLS as is currently is.
So fans of the Academy, what’s the end result? The DOCs will get paid more, they’ll have the prestige, yet soccer Johnny’s family will just be paying outrageous prices and doing crazy travel for the same outcome regardless of promises. These kids are high-schoolers for heaven’s sake! You still may have to pay for college. Get real here.
And yes, Academy soccer will transform club soccer into a sport for those who can better afford it, but will only give spectators a of future MLS games with cookie-cutter talent who came from one source… I, for one, will not be paying to watch those games.
Get past this Academy hype. If your 16-18 yr.old soccer Johnny was that good, he’d already have been asked to play in Bradenton. The future of Academy soccer (a marginally good idea) lies with the young ‘uns, not with the 16 to 18 yr-old kids being told to join now. I hope that the classic, challenge and premier leagues aren’t permanently decimated by this latest rage. If you’re a soccer parent you should pledge to all interested kids to make the sport available no matter what their status or income level. That’s what has made soccer the “better sport” thus far.
Get your kid’s foot on a ball and meet at the pitch. Play soccer! Just make sure everyone’s invited... .
