That article is 7 years old. While the Pay for Play structure is still there the development structure has had massive changes since then....mainly in the investment of MLS clubs into their academies. Now, I will agree that Pay for Play at the U8-U12 has to go completely and the MLS academy structure needs to geographically branch out.

There is little reason for my 9 year old stepdaughter to be on a competitive travel team other than that's the only coaching we can find that will actually teach her anything. She played rec but her practices consisted of waiting in lines to shoot at goal. She had the ball at her feet more in one practice at her travel team then the entire season of her rec team. And that is awful....and that brings me to my next point:

Real, accessible and FREE training needs to be provided for the D, E, and F Coaching License Levels. Actually, I think the F license is fine. But D and E are too expensive compared to what you actually learn. It needs to be a teaching course for Competitive coaches AND the volunteer dad, not a certification course which is what it has become. We need to make rec coaches in the country take these classes. The volunteer dad coach that's never played soccer cant and shouldnt go away.....but they should have to get their F License at minimum....and it isn't hard. Its a 2 hour online class. And if they want to coach up to U12 then they need to get their E Licence and that E Licence course should teach them not just check what they already know.