Each year, XI LLC publishes a Trends Report examining the current state of competitive youth soccer in the United States. Drawing on participation data, club economics, and developments across coaching, sports science, and the college recruiting landscape, each report identifies the key shifts shaping the sport and what they mean for the people navigating it.

The reports track a consistent set of themes: participation and retention trends by age group, the persistent cost and access barriers of pay-to-play soccer, the wave of club consolidation and outside investment reshaping how clubs are run, the growing role of wearable technology and data in training, the shift toward play-centered coaching methods, the changing rules around college recruiting and NIL, and the increasing focus on mental health and burnout prevention. Rather than simply cataloging what’s changing, each report explains why it matters and where the sport appears to be headed next.

Every edition closes with practical, role-specific recommendations — helping club directors decide how to position their programs, coaches stay current on methodology and player welfare, and parents and players evaluate clubs and opportunities with clearer eyes. Together, the reports serve as an ongoing record of an industry in flux, meant to help everyone with a stake in youth soccer make more informed decisions.