I don't really think money is the reason kids give up the sport as teenagers, fame maybe, but not money. I was in that position when I was younger; pretty good at soccer, but also more interested in other sports. I stuck with it but almost gave it up in high school again, mainly because we'd get about 100 people during an average game to watch, and I was playing at a local elementary school. Meanwhile the football team had a thousand each week even though they were absolutely terrible. Soccer is just not as respected or popular enough here, which definitely pushed me away. Good news is the sports popularity has increased remarkably since 2006, my friends and I can get weekly 11v11 games going all summer, I couldn't dream of getting someone to play soccer with me as a kid. Premier League on NBC next season the World Cup right after will only help, the perception is definitely changing.