Hope Solo says youth soccer in the U.S. has become a 'rich, white kid sport'

Former U.S. goalkeeper Hope Solo said Tuesday soccer in the United States has become a "rich, white kid sport" and that the sport's high cost at the youth level is detrimental to the "state of the game." 

"My family would not have been able to afford to put me in soccer if I was a young kid today," Solo said at the Hashtag Sports conference in New York. 

"That obviously alienates so many communities, including Hispanic communities, the black communities, the rural communities and under-represented communities. Soccer, right now, has become a rich, white kid sport." 

The two-time Olympic gold medalist also pointed blame at the high cost in the youth system as to why the U.S. men's national soccer team failed to qualify for this summer's World Cup in Russia. 

"You have to look at why have our U.S. men not qualified for the World Cup? And it goes back to our youth system," Solo said. "And it's because we are alienating so much talent in the youth system, and it breaks my heart because these kids are passionate about the game and they are filled with great skill, yet they're being told if you don't have the money, you can't represent your country."..

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2018/06/28/hope-solo-youth-soccer-united-states-cost/741378002/

Breaking News: BOE Loses at State BOE with "Have Its Cake and Eat it Too" Legal Argument #msi #churchillhigh #artificial turf

MSI Soccer, Inc. filed an appeal with the Maryland State Board of Education concerning the Montgomery County Board of Education's decision to award the use of the Churchill High School football field to other clubs. 

At the same time, MSI filed a civil action in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

The Montgomery County Board of Education sought to have the appeal at the State Board dismissed.

In arguing for dismissal of the MSI action before the State BOE, the Montgomery County Board of Education's top outside lawyers argued the well known legal principle of "have it's cake and eat it too." (See opinion below.)  The Montgomery County Board of Education's argument was that MSI could not "have it's cake and eat it too" by pursuing an appeal in two different places at the same time. The Montgomery County Board of Education requested that the MSI appeal at the State Board be dismissed.

The Maryland State Board of Education didn't bite.

The Maryland State Board of Education did not dismiss MSI's appeal.  Instead, MSI prevailed in their request to have their appeal to the Maryland State Board of Education stayed until 60 days after the conclusion of their proceedings in civil court.

   MSI,Inc. v. Montgomery County Board of Education by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

MCPS Contends State School Board Should Rule on Turf Field Dispute - Bethesda Beat

Montgomery County Public Schools is asking a Circuit Court judge to dismiss a youth soccer organization’s claims that it unfairly chose other groups to use turf fields at public schools, saying the state school board should weigh in on the issue before the court...

MCPS Contends State School Board Should Rule on Turf Field Dispute - Bethesda Beat

WPost: Potomac turf field vote postponed following legal action by Montgomery soccer group

...Superintendent Joshua P. Starr made the request Tuesday, following legal advice to hold off on the matter while a lawsuit is pending, said Montgomery schools spokesman Dana Tofig...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/potomac-turf-field-vote-postponed-following-legal-action-by-montgomery-soccer-group/2014/07/31/5ed0046a-175b-11e4-9349-84d4a85be981_story.html

ABC7: Youth soccer club contends MCPS favors 'wealthy children,’ files civil lawsuit against school leaders

MD Soccer Ent. Wants $60,000 Because They Do Not Want to Use RMHS Field Anymore

Back in 2009, the Board of Education entered into an Agreement with Maryland Soccer Enterprises, LLC (Maryland Soccer).

The Agreement was that Maryland Soccer "agreed to contribute $300,000 toward the construction of an artificial turf athletic field at Richard Montgomery High School as part of the school’s modernization."

In exchange, the Maryland Soccer would get rent free preferred scheduled use of the stadium field during non-school hours for a period of five years as outlined in the Agreement.

The Parents' Coalition obtained a copy of the 2009 Agreement and posted it on this blog.

Now, Maryland Soccer doesn't want to use the field anymore.  Maryland Soccer has 1 more year of free use of the field under the 5 year Agreement.  Since they do not want to use the field for the 5th year, they want the Board of Education to pay them $60,000.  That's right.  Maryland Soccer wants $60,000 from taxpayers because they don't want to use the last year of their free time on the field. 

How does that work? The $300,000 went toward the construction of the field. The field was built. Now the private "partner" wants $60,000 of taxpayer money because they don't want to use the public-private partnership field anymore.

And, guess what? Superintendent Joshua Starr is ready to hand them that $60,000.  On Tuesday, March 12, 2013, the Board of Education will vote on Superintendent Starr's recommendation.