Reply to Is Division 1 really a worthwhile goal?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I love this question. It's a good one.

And without taking it in an entirely different direction, I want to augment it with suggesting that we reflect on a question that lies even further beneath the surface:

For what percentage of players does D1 or professional play reflect a real possibility for being a content person?

Even within D1 play, there is a high percentage of players who are unhappy. Unhappy because they are not getting the playing time that they worked on getting since they were 8 years old. Unhappy because their injuries render them a shadow of their aptitude. Unhappy because they decided to attend a school that isn't at all what they hoped for (academics, demographics, team dynamics, coaching, etc.) Unhappy because life is bigger than soccer and they are stressing over the fact that as soon as they finish their senior year, here may be an identity crisis they face wherein they realize that soccer is over and the job market is unkind. Unhappy because...

Well, you get the idea.

I realize that this is a dream that enriches the life of motivated and exceptional athletes, but I wonder if it isn't fool's gold for the majority. [/quote]

Yes, and all this is even more true for the kids who do end up going pro.  It's really stressful to be fighting for your spot week in and week out.  You can get a new coach at any time who may decide that you don't fit his system, regardless of how talented you may be.  You put in the same amount of work whether you are the journeyman making 65K or the star making millions.  Your playing career will not last more than a decade or so in most cases, and those are years that your non-sports friends will have spent advancing in careers that they'll have for life.  If you make it big, your money worries will be less (if you stay away from all the temptations that will be thrown your way), but you'll be surrounded by groupies and people looking for handouts.  Not to mention how intensely boring it is to be on the road all the time without a whole lot of intellectual stimulation.  It's a lifestyle that is far less glamorous than it may seem from the outside.[/quote]

...and to throw a little more water on this wet blanket : https://youtu.be/PSwS0zX9PIA [/quote]

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