Welcome to FYSC’s monthly newsletter! Here we’ll share news about the club, and provide supporting materials to help parents navigate the often confusing and complex youth sports landscape.
We’re passionate about our 3 pillars of learning:
Educating Players | Educating Parents | Educating Coaches
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Fremont YSC Programs Open for Registration
- Competitive Tryouts, Evaluations for Talent Identification and Team Selection: https://registration.teamsnap.com/form/24752
- Summer Camps 2025: https://registration.teamsnap.com/form/24522
Registrations are OPEN for both our Competitive and Summer Camp programs.
Fremont YSC Competitive program is for players wanting to learn and develop in an athlete centered environment, where curriculum structure and session design is aligned to the needs of the individual player, and an appropriate pathway to follow the phases of learning and characteristics of the individual during these specific phases.
Fremont YSC Alumni Playing at College
We are proud to have so many players that have gone on to play with colleges of all levels, and while this is great, we are even more proud to hear of the amount of players who are continuing to play recreational as they head into their adult years.
This month we highlight Fremont Alumni Ricardo Medina Jr., and Adan Farah, playing together at Evergreen Valley College.
While surrounded by players who have come from MLS Next, ECNL, and other alphabet leagues; these boys are doing exceling. There is a scramble right now to be in an alphabet league, but development happens in the right environments, with proper development structures. The soccer business is thriving with the alphabet pile on, but development thrives when players are committed to a well structured process driven framework.
Really proud of these boys achievements, and the many other Fremont YSC players representing their colleges.
Tryouts, and the Marketing Frenzy Around Alphabet Leagues
FC Portland Director Of Coaching, and UEFA & USSF A licensed soccer coach, Jason Carney.
Tryout season is around the corner. Clubs are changing their names, joining MLS NEXT Tier 2, ECNL, GA, ECRL, and GA Tier 2, DPL (It’s not going to end; there will be more), and the BS begins. Clubs are selling a pathway to the Pros and college through these leagues. The odds of a youth soccer player (from grassroots through pro academies) making it to a professional league (MLS, NWSL, or abroad) is likely well below 1%, often estimated at around 0.05-0.1%. About 5-7% of high school soccer players go on to play in college (NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA). It’s heartbreaking because parents are often pressured into believing their kid won’t have a shot if they don’t pay for top-tier clubs with these leagues or private trainers and expensive tournaments.
The reality? Most of these clubs aren’t about development; they’re about profit. They sell the dream, but when kids burn out, get injured, or don’t “make it,” the system moves on to the next paying family. It’s a cycle that preys on the vulnerable, and unfortunately, it’s baked into the structure of youth sports in the U.S. Parents – Do your research.
Executive Director, and M.A. in Coaching and Athletic Development, Rory O’Connor
MLS Next, ECNL, EA, GA, DPL, E64… is anyone else tired of this endless alphabet soup? It feels like every few months, clubs are jumping over each other to claim the latest “national platform.” Youth soccer in America has devolved into a giant marketing contest. What’s driving this madness beyond the obvious—money?
At the heart of the issue is a glaring void in ownership. Yes, the U.S. is a vast country with logistical challenges, but the lack of a single governing body truly committed to player development has left us in a marketing free-for-all. Clubs now focus more on brand appeal than the actual development of players. Instead of building deep roots within their communities, clubs are chasing the next shiny thing to impress parents, creating a vicious cycle of rebranding and/or reinvention. Local rec soccer is now as full of superlatives as our much-loved LinkedIn platform! “It is USA FC’s great honor to announce that we will be playing in League X next year. How many of you have seen the headline – Your kids will now have an incredible experience—driving four hours each way to a league game—while competing against “the very best” (a handful of strong clubs and some talented players, minus those street players who can’t afford the ever-climbing fees). To make this possible, we’ll be raising fees by $500. But don’t worry—we’re confident this investment will seem worthwhile because, after all, it’s your kid’s golden opportunity to be noticed by a top college, right?
First and foremost, youth soccer should prioritize the love of the game. Development comes a close second, but players will not reach their potential if they are not in love with the game. The development must be tailored to the unique identity of the American player.
Parents are paying far too much for a system that often misleads them. We must stop marketing false dreams and start building a system fostering genuine development and passion for the game. With a World Cup coming to our backyard, the time is now to act. Let’s use this moment to honor the women who’ve blazed the trail for our nation and build something worthy of their legacy.