Even though the US Soccer presidential election cycle was only really several months long, it felt like at least a year dragged by, pulling all of us by our ankles through a muddy briar patch of every grudge and point of contention that had been brewing in the American soccer world for years. One of the biggest topics under discussion was how to reform the youth system so that more kids from more backgrounds can get into the game and actually develop into quality players to bolster our top leagues and the national team. Often under fire was the system of “pay to play,” usually referring to the top-end clubs that get high profile wins and USSF and club scouts and therefore charge thousands of dollars a year for kids as young as 12 and 13 to play.
US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne on the future of the youth game
