There’s a buzz across American youth soccer right now—and not always for the right reasons.
It’s the sound of parents stressing over rising costs. It’s the hum of clubs juggling multiple platforms, leagues, and sanctioning bodies. It’s the rumble of coaches navigating logistical chaos while trying to keep player development at the forefront. And it’s the persistent pull of the “new shiny league,” luring families and clubs with promises of exposure, elite status, and national travel—often without sustainable infrastructure or long-term benefit.
As leaders within state associations, we are at a crossroads. Our mission hasn’t changed—we exist to serve the game, protect its players, and provide opportunities for growth and community. But our environment has. What used to be a relatively straightforward development and competition pathway has become a dizzying maze of acronyms, exclusivity, and arms races in travel, gear, and tournament fees.
In this new reality, how do we build a better state association?
The answer is both simple and complex: by returning to our core values, embracing innovation without abandoning common sense, and, above all, standing firm in the belief that youth soccer should serve all families—not just the ones who can afford to chase the brass ring.
The Rise of the “Platform Era” and the False Promises That Follow
Over the past decade, we’ve seen the emergence of numerous national and regional platforms, each claiming to offer the next step forward in competition and exposure. For some clubs and elite players, these leagues have served a purpose. But increasingly, we see them siphoning talent, fragmenting communities, and encouraging an unsustainable culture of over-travel, over-spending, and over-promising.
Young players—some as young as 11 or 12—are flying across the country for league games. Parents are burning through vacation days and savings accounts to attend showcases. And clubs are left managing multiple league schedules, each with its own rules, registration systems, and player movement restrictions.
All of this, and yet, the question lingers: Are we actually making youth soccer better? Or just more expensive?
State Associations: The Sleeping Giants
Here’s the good news: state associations are uniquely positioned to lead the sport through this chaos.
We are not a startup. We are not a private venture capital entity seeking profit. We are not a league with a short-term business model. We are mission-driven, community-rooted, and accountable to the people we serve. That means our incentives are aligned with long-term development, equity, and sustainability—not short-term revenue or optics.
We already have the infrastructure: fields, clubs, referees, coaching education, player safety protocols, and decades of institutional knowledge. We also have the trust—though admittedly, that trust has been tested over the years. Now is the time to rebuild it.
But to do that, we need to be bold in rethinking how we deliver soccer. That means:
- Creating better in-state competition structures that reduce the need for cross-country travel
- Supporting regional collaborations between states like Idaho and Washington to elevate play without inflating costs
- Investing in technology and communications so we can match the user experience families are now accustomed to
- Building incentives for clubs and coaches to stay within the state system and help us improve it, rather than flee it
- Reasserting the value of local soccer as a legitimate and often better developmental path
Chasing the Brass Ring (That May Not Be There)
Parents are constantly told that national exposure, brand-name platforms, and nonstop travel are necessary for their child’s success. That’s simply not true.
Yes, some players will need and benefit from higher levels of competition and showcase opportunities. But for the vast majority of young athletes, the path to development and joy in the game does not require a monthly airline ticket.
In fact, early overexposure to travel, pressure, and burnout is one of the biggest threats to retention and long-term player health. We cannot keep ignoring this.
It’s time we collectively say: We don’t need to put 11-year-olds on planes to prove their worth.
When did local excellence stop being enough? Why can’t a state final feel like a big deal? Why are we normalizing 30-hour weekends for league games?
This is the quiet frustration brewing among parents, club leaders, and coaches. They’re tired of the rat race. They’re tired of paying more to get less. And they’re wondering: isn’t there a better way?
A Place for Platforms—But Not for Everyone
Let me pause here and be clear: this is not an anti-platform rant. I’ve been to a number of them, and they are fantastic spectacles.
In fact, I believe platform leagues do have a place in the broader soccer ecosystem. They serve an important role for a certain segment of players—those who are truly competing at a national or pre-professional level, who need exposure to top-tier scouting environments, and whose development curve requires that level of challenge.
But it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. And far too often, it’s sold like one.
For every 3 or 4 players on a team who truly should be in that high-performance environment, there are often another 12 or 15 that you need to bring along just to field a team. Those kids aren’t bad players—they’re just not at the same stage of development. Yet they’re absorbing the same travel schedule, the same costs, and the same expectations, often to their own detriment.
We’ve created a system where participation in elite-level platforms has become a club status symbol—rather than a player-by-player decision rooted in readiness and need.
State associations have a responsibility to provide meaningful alternatives—competitive, high-quality leagues with local relevance and player-centric design. Because platform leagues can’t and shouldn’t be the default. They should be the exception—and a well-considered one at that.
A Call to Clubs: Let’s Rebuild Together
We understand why clubs look for alternatives. When communication is poor, systems are outdated, and leadership feels disconnected, the shiny new thing can look pretty good.
But here’s the truth: You don’t need to leave the state system to have a voice in changing it.
In fact, the more engaged our clubs are, the stronger our solutions become. We want your feedback on formats, fees, calendars, and policies. We want to pilot new ideas with you. We want to innovate with our stakeholders, not apart from them. Our Technical Advisory Committee has been fantastic this year and has led to so many great ideas and new rules and policies.
We also believe clubs deserve stability. That means simplifying structures, offering flexibility where possible, and recognizing that no two clubs are the same. Our role is not to impose—it’s to support, uplift, and lead collaboratively.
A Note to Parents: Your Voice Matters
Parents are not just customers; they are stewards of their child’s experience in sport. And many are beginning to question the system they’ve been sold.
You don’t need a $9,000-a-year travel plan to help your child fall in love with soccer. You don’t need a private platform badge to validate your family’s commitment. What your child needs is developmentally appropriate coaching, local competition, friendships, fun, and the ability to grow without burnout.
State associations are listening. We hear your concerns. And we’re ready to respond—not with marketing, but with action.
The Path Forward: Building a Better State Association
So how do we build something better?
1. We invest in people. Coaches, referees, administrators—they are the backbone of the sport. We must improve training, increase support, and raise the profile of these roles.
2. We modernize systems. From registration to scheduling, the experience needs to be seamless, intuitive, and mobile-friendly. The soccer experience should be as easy as ordering takeout or booking a flight.
3. We reimagine competition. Better bracketing, better travel planning, more regionalization, and innovative scheduling can reduce costs and keep the best talent playing locally longer.
4. We elevate communication. Transparency builds trust. We must over-communicate, engage proactively, and explain why we do what we do.
5. We protect the game’s integrity. From SafeSport compliance to equity efforts, state associations must lead with conviction. The game must be safe, inclusive, and accessible to all.
6. We stay humble but firm. There will always be other options. But we don’t need to emulate every shiny object. We need to build a system that works—ethically, sustainably, and inclusively.
This Isn’t About Turf Wars. It’s About the Soul of the Game.
We’re not interested in fighting other leagues just for the sake of it. Competition can be healthy, and innovation doesn’t belong to any one organization. But when fragmentation leads to confusion, exploitation, and skyrocketing costs, we have to draw the line.
State associations were created to serve the game, not profit from it. And we still believe in that mission.
So, let’s stop chasing illusions and start building something real—together. For the families. For the players. For the love of the game.
Because this isn’t just soccer. It’s community. It’s joy. It’s identity. And it’s worth getting right.
Check us out at oregonyouthsoccer.org or email me at simon@oregonyouthsoccer.org