"Locked Out: The Paywall Killing American Soccer" by Christopher Trent Boop is a searing exposé of the pay-to-play system that's stifling the growth of soccer in the United States. Through compelling narratives and hard-hitting analysis, Boop reveals how the current youth soccer structure is systematically excluding talented players from lower-income backgrounds, ultimately weakening the nation's competitiveness on the global stage.

The book follows the stories of young players like Jeremy Parker, whose promising start in a local recreational league is cut short by the league's collapse, and Liam Porter, whose passion for the sport is crushed under the weight of his father's misguided coaching. These personal accounts are interwoven with startling statistics and expert interviews, painting a comprehensive picture of a system that prioritizes profit over potential.

Boop contrasts the American model with successful youth development programs in countries like France, Brazil, and Germany, highlighting how these nations have built systems that nurture talent regardless of economic status. He argues that the United States must tear down the financial barriers that are locking out the next generation of soccer stars if it hopes to compete at the highest levels of the sport.

"Locked Out" is a call to action for parents, coaches, clubs, and soccer governing bodies to reimagine youth soccer in America. It offers a vision for a more equitable and effective system that could revolutionize the sport's landscape in the United States, ensuring that passion and skill—not wealth—determine who gets to play.

Publisher: BookFuel