Our Costs to Play - for the 2025/26 Competition Year

We strive to provide the highest value competitive soccer in the area.  As a not-for-profit we focus all of our fees are applied for the betterment of the teams and the players.  No single individual or group owns the USA Soccer Club ... as such, we are dedicated to keeping our operational costs as low as possible while offering the highest quality total soccer experience on the lakeshore.

Our General Free Approach

In keeping with our family-focused, practical approach to club soccer, our fees are built with an a-la-carte framework.  Using this approach we do not lump all the club development opportunities under the player team fee.  Rather, we have our base team fee and then provide the other offerings as separate costs.  Other clubs may lump all the costs together at a significant fee.  We follow the rationale that not all of our players may be able to attend all the opportunities.  If we lumped the cost under one fee, families would be "leaving money on the table" if they were unable to participate.  Additionally, lumping the costs together reduces the transparency of what families are getting for their money with each opportunity.  Our approach keeps money in the pockets of our families.

 

Our annual team fees are built to provide each player with the following benefits.  Beyond those benefits, a fraction of the team fee supports club overhead costs including state team and player fees, league team and player fees, club insurance, field rental, equipment costs, coaching education and licensing, tournament fees (PA and MSPSP teams only), coaches stipend, technical instructor stipend, operations staff stipend, and miscellaneous necessary incidental business costs)

Team Fees Provides All USA Players With:

• Dedicated, nationally-licensed team coach, many with advanced licensing and certification (more are added each season)
• Membership in their respective competitive league (GVSA or MSPSP)
• at least two, one and a half hour practices per week for approximately 10 weeks per season
• at least 8 games (4 home and 4 away)
• USA In-Season Elevation Program (including goalkeeper training)
• USA Pre-Tryout Camp
• Access to winter indoor league play and training (some at additional cost)
• Access to all Club programs (some at additional cost)
  • Summer Elevation Training Program
  • Summer Elevation Club Camp
  • Winter Elevation Training Program
  • Team-specific tournaments

* (see fee item above)  USA Premier Academy (teams that are the top teams in the U11 and U12 age groups) team fees include:

• The general team fee values listed above
• Significantly reduced participation fees for the Junior State Cup Tournament or for a single tournament (varies by team) - $600 team-level value
• 25% reduction in fee for Summer Elevation ClubCamp
• 25% reduction in fee for Summer Elevation Training Program
• 25% reduction in fee for Winter Elevation Training Program

**   (see fee item above)  Premier (MSPSP and GLPL) Team fees include:

• The general team fee values listed above
• Significantly reduced participation fees for the State Cup Tournament or for a single tournament (varies by team) - $800 team-level value
• Access to game videos from out VEO systems
• 50% reduction in fee for Summer Elevation United Club-wide Camp
• 50% reduction in fee for Summer Elevation Training Program
• 50% reduction in fee for Winter Elevation Training Program

Differences Between Team Fees

Our team fees are age group and league specific.  As teams get older, the team fees tend to increase.  This is largely due to the costs imposed on the club by the state and league organizations and the need for increased coaching credentials and coach investment. There are several additional overhead costs that the club faces with the MSPSP teams and that the teams benefit from (e.g., higher league fees, increased costs for team coaches, additional training space fees, etc.).

Simply put, the increased level of competition dictates the commitment of more time, energy, and financial support from the club and some of that must be reflected in our team fees.  However, we do not deviate from our fundamental belief that finances should not limit a child's participation.  As such, our financial aid program is extended fully across all of our players, regardless of the league in which their team plays.

Universal Payment Plan Option:

The USA Board of Directors remains steadfast in its embracing of our legacy - a legacy of practical approaches, high value programming, and fiscal responsibility/accessibility.  So, with reality of increased player fees, the Board is also implementing the option for automatic payment plans for all levels of play.  It is hoped that by spreading the increased costs out over a longer time, families can adequately budget and lessen the impact of the financial investment in their children's soccer development.  Within the online registration process, at checkout, families may chose to pay the entire balance or initiate a payment plan.  With the payment plan an initial payment must be made and then the balance is spread across five bi-weekly payments.  Beyond this, of course, the club actively supports our open, simple, and private financial aid program for those that wish to pursue it.  In the end, we still do not want financial realities to get in the way of a USA Soccer experience.

Financial Support

We recognize the cost of playing club soccer is a serious consideration. USA feels strongly that finances must not limit opportunities to be part of our family of teams.  As such, we have a strong financial support program that includes payment plans and financial aid.  Pursuing a payment plan is our first line of aid.  We hope that simply spreading the cost out over a period of time will help our families manage the team fees while fully supporting the club operations.  Beyond that, we will pursue focused financial aid where the cost of team fees may be partially reduced or, in some cases, waived entirely.  Processing of financial support occurs after team commitment and full player registration.  Details of financial support will be shared during the player registration process.  Our process is simple and private.

Refunds

Upon commitment to a team, there will be no refunds.  Any refunds are at the discretion of the USA Board of Directors. Refunds will only be considered for individuals eliminated from team participation due to injury/illness or the unplanned dissolution of a team (refunds will only be given to those shown to have no active part in the dissolution). Any refund amounts are defined by the Board based on the individual circumstances (e.g., number of games played, impact to remainder of team, reason for refund, etc.).

Other Costs

USA tries to cover a majority of each players fundamental team costs through our team fees.  However, because we want to maximize access to additional training/development opportunities while minimizing the risk of families “leaving money on the table” (which happens with clubs that roll opportunities under one large fee), we take a more ‘a la carte’ approach.  Below are our current programs that have a cost.

All these offerings are optional except the Uniform Kit.  Every player must purchase the basic kit (3 tops, 1 shorts, 1 socks).  We maintain our kits for two years (i.e., families purchase them every other year).  That is another practical effort to maintain high value for our families.