10 SportsUnion | NOVEMBER 2, 2018
high school
Soccer
It’s usually every kids dream to play sports in high school and
get the scholarship to continue onto a college career. After all,
why else would you pay thousands of dollars for all these differ-
ent camps and travel teams.
By Matt Ondesko Managing Editor
But, if you are a soccer play-
er in the states you know the
issues the U.S. Soccer Federa-
tion is going through. The big
thing right now is the pay to
play model that the states has
in place. Sometimes it doesn’t
come down to how good you
are, but if you can afford the
outrageous amount of mon-
ey to get on a team.
Families are bleeding mon-
ey to try and get their chil-
dren everything that they
need to succeed at the next
level. Sometimes that means
paying up to $5,000 to get on
one of the best travel teams.
The questions still out there
is it worth it?
More and more college
coaches are getting away
from the American style of
playing - which is kick in long
and run after it. They want
more of a technical game.
This is why a lot of coaches,
see Canisius College, go the
European root for recruits.
Canisius almost has enough
Italians on the team to field
an entire 11. They play the
type of style that coaches are
dreaming about. They play
the quick passing game - and
don’t rely so much on the
physical strength like their
American counterparts.
Because of the European
movement, parents and play-
ers back home are getting
more and more frustrated
with the system. Less and
less college opportunities are
being given out to the Ameri-
can soccer players.
This is leaving everyone
frustrated and payers looking
for different options.
European
dreaming
Orchard Park High School
Chase Eagan could easily go
to college to play the game
he loves. But, it’s not what
he is doing. The young man
is instead sick of the system
here in the states. He plays
the type of game that is more
suited for Europe than for an
American university.
It’s a bold move for a young
man to move across the
world to apply his trade that
he loves so much. But, Eagan,
was given the opportunity to
do it - so he is going to make
a run.
“I will not be taking my tal-
ents to college. I have nev-
er been impressed with the
American football system,
starting at the youth level
leading up to the MLS. The
American system has many
flaws such as pay to play, be-
ing a game for the rich, and
playing in college. To play
premier level football, it re-
quires thousands of dollars
starting at a young age. With
such high prices, it is only
a game for the rich. Having
the opportunity to play with
refugees from Iraq, Congo,
and many other countries for
the past 4 years, has shown
me how their talent is be-