Rob Henriques had a choice. His 12-year-old son was being offered a coveted spot on the North Mississauga Soccer Club, which competes in the Ontario Player Development League, an organization that markets itself as a “youth high performance league.”



Coaches told him it was a place provincial team scouts went hunting for players.



The problem was the cost: It was more than $4,000 just to register, and Henriques was concerned the extensive travel for the team could end up doubling that fee.



Instead, he chose to enlist his son with the Clarkson Soccer Club’s rep program. It was a cheaper option, and he said he has seen no difference in the quality of training sessions.



“When you look at these youth systems,” he said, “you kind of shake your head, throw your hands up in the air and say ‘How are we ever going to find our best soccer players when you put financial barriers in the...