tommyjohn said:
I thought most higher level club teams do not allow or highly discourage their players from playing on the HS teams.
Depends. I know when we lived in Houston it was basically forbidden b/c too many neanderthals played on HS teams and the top talent players risked injury.
In Kansas, the U15+ club teams don't play in the fall b/c everyone plays in HS.
And I'd be curious to hear Mathguys86's numbers.
Just using some quick math, you're likely spending at least $4,000/year on club soccer from U10 to U18.
If you just invest $4k/yr consertatively (lets say 6% a year) from the age of 10 until entering College you'd have $41,000 saved for college.
If you son has more than $41,000 (with no risk of losing it for 4-years of college), you are correct, it paid off in the literal sense.
That being said, my son plays club soccer and I have absolutely no expectations that he will get a scholarship somewhere. He's a solid player, been mostly on the top teams on his club teams (and is one of two fish to make his HS JV team - which is a 7x state title winner) but we're doing this b/c he loves the game and I think it's a great experience for him.
Edit: not doubting you math guy or calling you out or anything, but there are so few college scholarships for men's soccer that doing club soccer for college is usually a loser " investment ". For girls however, if your daughter has any talent, there is a lot more available.