04/04/2026
This is the whole reason our President started this club. Originally coaching at the park & rec level, Ellie saw several talented players who needed a higher level of competition to develop but couldn't afford the thousands of dollars it costs to join a club.
She also saw how even at the rec level, it was all about winning. The best players would dribble through everyone, racking the score up to 9-10+ goals a game. The coaches wouldn't pull them even after they were up by 5/6 goals. The other players stood there and watched because the coaches didn't encourage teamwork as long as they were winning.
The coaches yelled at 8-year-olds for making mistakes. EIGHT YEAR OLDS.
When Premier fielded teams in the club leagues, the "win at all costs" mentality and the greed became even more prevalent. Several clubs would pull players down from STATE leagues (in WI this is above the A league) to play in a C league while they had five players on their normal roster sitting on the bench, just to win games.
They would field teams of 7 players (the minimum needed to join the league) and tell the families they had enough players, just to take their money (this is at the HS level, where they play 11v11). There are clubs that won't put their teams in the proper league for their development just because it's not the "prestigious" league.
We're with Landon on this issue. We're looking to change the culture of Youth Soccer in America.
