– 4 min 46 seconds read..
Some of you may have seen Jennifer’s video on FB & IG of one of our twins scoring her penalty kick to finish out a game and hard fought weekend tournament. What I didn’t continue to type was that her goal and hug was also likely their last act as a member of any club soccer team.
Not because of money as much as time, and then the cost of time..
You may be asking “Why?” or “Dude, who cares?” Well, that’s the thing. You may care because you may have the same dilemma many Downtown Columbia families face as it pertains to youth soccer.
Here’s how it goes:
Early years: Your kid is cute and part of a team called the Scrunchies, Pink Ninjas, or Stars (insert creativity here). You and your family meet others at Owens Field around 8 or 9AM on Saturday. For an hour, most of the kids on the team try hard and get in a little clump of youthful humanity and start kicking at a bouncing, round, spherical object. Family fun for all!
A few years later: Your kid seems to be processing the sport, and “gets” what’s going on.
A year or two later: Your little player likes the sport and can tell some of the teammates don’t want to be there. Middle school & high school soccer are a few years away, but you don’t really know how good your kid is. Not because the bar is high, but because the same bar is starting to get low as kids progress and regress. Your kid doesn’t seem to be elite, but he or she can ‘hang’ and do their job on the field.
Middle of your last year of recreational soccer, and talk of “next year” among parents on the sideline, and in the family car on the way home from games: Your child is pissed and doesn’t really care to be there because many on the team don’t want to be there either, or they aren’t grasping the sport yet.
All this is OK, until you and your child start to wonder…
What’s next? Where do you go to find the next level? Do we know? Is there anywhere? Does my kid even qualify?
Yes. If you live in 29204, 29205, 29206, or on the Downtown side of I-77 of 29209, you can travel 30-45 minutes during rush hour traffic, and spend around $1,000-$3,000. To be clear, our opportunity is somewhat amplified, as Jen and I were blessed with twins, so we are $2,000-$5,000.
All this to say, if your kid wants to continue on a soccer journey, what does a resident of Downtown Columbia, SC do?
In the bigger picture, here’s what’s most concerning. A.C. Flora is home to the reigning girls 4A State Championship soccer team, and the boys made it to the Upper State Finals. In 2025, the Dreher H.S. girls played Flora for the Upper State Championship (these schools are three miles from each other, and both are considered to be Downtown Columbia, SC high schools), and the private schools compete as well, recently collecting multiple State Championships, respectfully.
All this to say, there is a gap between a solid YMCA recreational soccer program and the next step, and the Downtown parents don’t know what to do.
I’m reminded of a conversation as I was standing in a cul-de-sac at a Halloween Party when Jennifer and I were trying to decide what to do next as it pertains to opportunities at United FC, Congaree Rapid FC, Soda City FC, and SOAR. I was standing in a group and said something to the effect of, “I don’t see us doing that.” One of the dads standing about a foot from my face, looked me straight in the eyes, and responded empathically, “Franklin, you don’t have a choice.”
A month or so later another dad and I were talking at a school oyster roast about the subject and his quote was, “It’s not sustainable for us.” To paraphrase: ‘I live in Downtown Columbia, South Carolina. My children cannot play youth soccer, as it is not a sustainable option for our family.’
Do you know how perplexing and frustrating this is for a dad of three, a former soccer player, and a REALTOR that is on the front line representing potential buyers in Downtown Columbia, SC?
It’s just too far to drive during rush hour traffic, sit there in the car, and cruise back. It’s a three hour tour, at least twice a week for practice.
Now that the last game has happened, and at the time of me typing this post, my kiddos will be headed towards the 7th grade, and will be eligible and could potentially play for A.C. Flora/Crayton’s JV or B-Team (if they make the team). What I’m getting at, is that we made it through the transition, but won’t have soccer in the fall to feed into the 2027 school spring sport.
Why am I writing this? Not to bitch and moan, but to potentially procure a solution. That said, understanding that there are different ownership groups of these local soccer clubs and all of the factors that come in to play, does anyone have an epiphany that I can take up a chain somewhere and present it? I’ve spoken to a few folks and I’ve emailed the new president and CEO of the YMCA-Columbia, SC.
I feel like there is a collaboration opportunity somewhere, and all someone needs to do is speak up enough to at least try. There must be some sort of step system, or bridge program whereby one of these clubs can partner with the YMCA, and their lease of Owens Field, or some hybrid that finds the win/win goal so I don’t have to tell the next parents with the 10-old, “_____, you don’t have a choice…”
If anyone has a great thought or has made some headway with this please ring or shoot me a text at 803-447-8683 or email Franklin@TheNeighborhoodRE.com .
Thank you!
Franklin Jones
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