Dutch FC Is Doing It Right — According to the Researcher Who Studied American Youth Soccer's Biggest Problem

On a large stretch of grass between a church (Stonebriar Community Church) and a Starbucks, hundreds of children in orange shirts stand together — complete with a roaring lion logo. An unusual sight here in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas.

This is not the Dutch national fan army, but Dutch FC — a youth soccer club founded by Wilco Ravestijn, originally from Vlaardingen, the Netherlands. After 30 years in the United States, he speaks Dutch with a strong American accent and considers himself a true Texan. But Ravestijn never lost his Dutch way of playing soccer.

In fact, with Dutch FC he is actively trying to bring Dutch soccer to the United States. The club founder quickly discovered the vast differences between "voetbal" and "soccer."

The Price Problem: What the Research Says

In 2025, the average youth soccer membership fee in the Netherlands was €171, according to the Mulier Institute. The Aspen Institute conducted a 2024 study on the total spending of American parents on youth sports. The result: an average of $910 (€786) per child per year.

But that average, according to Jon Solomon, Research Director at the Aspen Institute , fails to capture the extreme costs at the higher levels.

Solomon explains that the bulk of those costs come from travel, but coaches must also be paid. As a result of those costs, he sees children being lost to the sport entirely.

Dutch FC's Answer: Accessibility First

Ravestijn is working to bring accessible soccer to Dallas — but he's clear that affordability is only the beginning.

A cultural shift is needed, he says. In his view, American priorities are simply wrong: flashy jerseys and water bottles matter more than participation and equal opportunity.

Ravestijn gives his teams the names of Dutch clubs: Feyenoord, PSV, Sparta, and Ajax. Cameron, who plays on the PSV team for boys under 14, describes the difference from his previous club.

The "Fun Gap" — Confirmed by Independent Research

These are stories that researcher Solomon recognizes immediately. He talks about a "fun gap" : young players play soccer primarily to have fun with their friends, while the system is entirely focused on winning.

That is holding back soccer in the U.S., Solomon continues.

Solomon's conclusion is direct: "We need to make soccer about fun again."

It's a conclusion that Dutch FC has been living out since day one.

Building Something Bigger

Ravestijn pulls his training poles out of the ground to set up a small-sided game — the kind of free, low-pressure play that researchers say produces better players and happier kids.

Source: NOS Nieuws — "Bij voetbalclub Dutch FC in Dallas staat niet winnen maar speelplezier voorop" by Valentijn Arends. The Aspen Institute's research on youth sports participation is available at aspenprojectplay.org .