See the path before you start the journey. Surviving Club Soccer. A Parent's Journey is a straightforward, insightful guide to what the club soccer subculture is really like for players and their families, from kindergarten to college. It answers the most common questions, like: If my child joins or is recruited at an early age, what kind of commitment am I looking at over the next decade? How much time will my child be committing? What about the family? How much money will we spend and on what? Do kids really get cut? What do I look for when selecting a club and team? What and where are regionals? What are the chances of getting a college scholarship? How will club soccer benefit my child in the long run? This well-organized narrative of a twelve-year journey was written by a working mother of three whose youngest child played club soccer from kindergarten through Division 1 college. Concurrently, as co-founder of her own marketing agency, she negotiated and ran multi-million dollar campaigns for national brands that sponsored Major League Soccer, the Mexican National Team, state soccer associations, leagues, tournaments, and local clubs. With this experience, she developed a working knowledge of the entire process of amateur and professional soccer that honed her unique and personal perspective on how America's youth is fueling the business of soccer. This expertise is organized into core topics that will help all club soccer families set expectations: Discover what to expect for vacation time and holidays. Learn about the hidden costs you'll need to budget for. Understand where your child fits in with the Inverse Priority Theory. Gain a greater understanding of different coaching styles and how to pick one that works for your child. Realize that everyone is battling for position, and what some parents may do to tip those scales. Learn when and why kids burn-out and quit. Surviving Club Soccer. A Parent's Journey is a must-have guide for every family considering becoming a part of club soccer. Don't be blind-sided by unknowns. Be prepared and then decide if Club Soccer is right for your child and your family."