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PHOENIX SOCCER MYTH #1

"It costs more to play for Phoenix Soccer than any other youth soccer organization."

Too funny. It's the close of another soccer season and, as usual, inquiries abound.

The Phoenix has been in existence for five outdoor soccer seasons now, has grown from one team to eighteen teams and, yet, this myth continues to be perpetuated.

It's amazing how many people still tell us they're being told we are the most expensive youth soccer organization around.

The folks that do do their due diligence are amazed when they compare what they've been told to what is the truth.

For this myth to continue to be perpetuated AND believed, says two things:

1. We must be doing things right for so many people to work so hard to keep players away from us.

2. What a nice compliment to know that this myth IS still believed. It wouldn't be if the folks here in Michigan didn't see and understand the value we offer and do bring "to the table".

To be honest, given the credentials, the proven track record and the value that Phoenix Soccer continues to bring to the marketplace, the Phoenix should be the most expensive. But we're not.

Here's an example using the U12 level.

OUTDOORS:
A U12 player that plays at the Travel Level will train twice a week and get scheduled for league play in one league. The monthly tuition for a Travel Level player is $100. This covers all league fees, referee fees and registration fees.

A U12 player that plays at our Elite Level will be scheduled for training three times a week and be scheduled to play in two leagues. The monthly tuition for an Elite Level player is $150. This covers all league fees, referee fees and registration fees.

That means if a U12 Travel Level player wanted to just play the Fall season only, it would cost $250 for the season - 1/2 tuition for August plus full tuition for September and October.

Uniforms and tournaments are extra, as is the case for all organizations.

INDOORS:
In spite of the fact that there is the added expense of renting indoor training space, the Phoenix do NOT increase their monthly tuition during the cold weather training months - November through March. Never have.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Does your club increase their fees during the Winter training months? What additional value are they providing your child?

Based upon the tuition costs illustrated here, is your U12 player being charged more than the Phoenix would charge? For what?

Are you satisfied with the value you're getting for the investment of time, energy and money - on your part and your child's part?


Should your answers to these questions increase your curiosity about the Phoenix,
please feel free to give us a call:

248-534-4619 or 517-673-5012

See why we are the fastest growing club in mid-Michigan.

 

PHOENIX SOCCER MYTH #2


"Lansing players must travel to Genesee County / Flint for practice."

Our club has expanded into Genesee County and our first field complex was developed at the southern limits of Flint, at McKinley Academy, just north of Grand Blanc, at the Burton border. And, yes, we do train a number of our teams there, several times a week.

For the players and teams, based in Lansing, we use Great Lakes Christian College.

So, no, players and teams, that are based in Lansing, do NOT have to train in Genesee County.

DO THEY?

Yes, they do.

DO Genesee County based players train in Lansing?

Yes, they do.

Why do players make this kind of effort - make this commitment of time and energy?

No doubt, because of the value received. That's why players from around the state, from various clubs, come and train with us.

Two statements should come to mind when you see players making this kind of commitment to develop their game:

1. "You can't fool kids." At least, not for very long. They understand value. They innately know when something is good. And they know when an adult knows what they're doing. They are brutally honest in their assessment of things.

2. "When the student is ready, the teacher will appear." Making a high level of commitment to develop as a player is not for everyone. Talent, desire and proper guidance are key components to a player's development.

In soccer, there is an extremely important "window of development" - ages 9 through 14, that when missed, will put a player behind the learning curve forever. It's like someone taking tennis lessons, for the very first time, in their twenties. How long do you think it will be before they are able to compete against someone that has been properly coached since the age of 9?

Special players, or those that would like to be special, know they need more than the average - more than the accepted norm. That's why these players - players with a dream, get up at 4 AM to get some pool or ice time - if they're swimmers or ice hockey players, OR live at tennis academies or gymnastics academies year round, away from home, if they're talented tennis players and gymnasts.

And that's why soccer players that have been blessed with God-given talent, and desire to be all they can be, seek out those coaches that have the ability to challenge, develop and excite them.

 

PHOENIX SOCCER MYTH #3

"Female players in the competitive Phoenix HS Girls program are being forced
to bypass HS soccer to play club soccer."


It’s sad and it’s funny, what some folks are saying about our ambitious Spring HS Girls Academy Team.

Rumor has it that female Phoenix HS players are being “forced” to choose playing for the Phoenix over their HS team.

Other rumors are "that every player is being promised a full ride to a Top 20 college."

And here's another good one - "Player are being guaranteed an opportunity to play on the National Team."

It sure is quite flattering to think some folks feel the Phoenix have that kind of “power”. I’m having trouble typing right now because I’m laughing so hard.

Here is what we have to say about the rumors:

1. Anyone who has been at this club at the high school level, or any other level for that matter, knows all we do is present options. We offer no guarantee. Just opportunity.

Choices are personal and those are left to the individual player. Making decisions and choosing courses of action are part of growing up.

For the high school player, what a great time of life to be given the right and the freedom to begin exercising how you will spend your personal time.

Will there be consequences? Of course. Just like there will be with every decision you will ever make in life.

To choose what you need and deserve and to live your life so as to go after your own dreams – and not someone else’, that’s called living a life with purpose. It’s exciting. It’s fun. And yes, it’s scary.

Why? Because YOU are making decisions that impact YOU. You won’t have anyone to blame if it doesn’t work out. Horrors. Yes, you’re out on your own on this one.

The alternative is to just go through the motions, put in time, go along with the crowd and do what everyone else does. That’s actually what the majority of people in this world do. Why? Because they live a life of fear. They’re afraid of what others will think. They’re afraid of the consequences – “What if it doesn’t work out?” They want a guarantee.

Well, life issues no guarantee. Life is a game where there are no timeouts, no substitutions and the clock is ALWAYS running. And we are all issued a certain number of hours, minutes and seconds. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. So you better choose wisely.

2. If any of you believe that we are “forcing” female HS players to play for the club this Spring, as a fellow parent, I would tell you to take your player out of this club and go somewhere else - somewhere where the player is respected enough to be given the right to choose. Respected enough so they are not threatened about the decisions and the choices they make – ones that are in their best interest.

 

3. Remember, choosing to opt out of a high school sport in order to play that same sport at club level is nothing new. Junior hockey has a history of this, in Michigan, as many, if not all of the better high school hockey players play junior hockey in lieu of high school hockey.

Just to set the record straight, this ambitious, exciting and forward thinking Spring HS Girls Academy Program was created upon request and is definitely NOT for everyone.

Competition determined who made our successful HS Navy team this past Fall. Those decisions have been reinforced day in and day out, week in and week out, by the actions and inactions of the female high school players in this club.

Competition will determine who starts, who sits and who will travel when it comes to this Academy program.

Our HS program very much resembles life itself. While some players fight to move up in the system - to play their way on to the first team, others complain and want something given to them, while still others just float along. If you don’t think life works that way, just look around.

And I know the young ladies in our HS Academy Program will soon find out what it’s like to deal with naysayers and dream-breakers. Though none of this involves life or death, some wonderful life lessons lie ahead. Lessons that will mold and shape their minds and their lives. It’s an exciting time and not for the “faint of heart”.

These forward thinking, risk-takers represent something special for the future and must be nurtured at all costs.

After all, where would the world be without forward thinking, risk-takers?

Needless to say, the Phoenix will support the Phoenix players that choose to take part in the Spring HS Girls Academy Program as well as support those Phoenix players that choose to play HS soccer.

 

PHOENIX SOCCER MYTH #4

To paraphrase, "the Director of the Phoenix is rolling in dough and
the club is using public facilities without any compensation."

It's Winter, so it must be bash the Phoenix time - AGAIN.

Too funny. The Director of the Phoenix has been accused anonymously by some neutered creature that he is "rolling in dough" and that the club is using public facilities without any compensation.

If the director of a small, barely 2 year old, soccer club like the Phoenix is "rolling in dough", can you imagine what this neutered creature is saying about the money being made by the directors of the larger clubs in Genesee County and Lansing - areas where the Phoenix operate, as well as the directors of the larger soccer clubs statewide? And what do you think it's saying about the compensation being paid by these larger clubs for the use of public facilities in their areas?

No doubt, all of this has made it real popular with all the other soccer clubs it's been associated with. Probably wound up at the Phoenix only because there is a no cut policy.

And you know this neutered creature is a big mouth. That's guaranteed. So it's identity is probably very well known to a lot of people. As they say, "birds of a feather ..."

Want to have some fun?

Claim a small reward by supplying undeniable evidence as to the identity of this neutered creature's identity and we'll announce it on this website so other clubs can be forewarned about what could be hee hawing their way.

And, any judgement resulting from this attack, less legal fees, will be donated to the Flint school system.

 


neutered creature's anonymous letter

 

my reply to the neutered creature