Reply to Why D1 if the school is only so so?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]How old is your kid that you are currently gunning for a pro career and s/he isn’t in high school yet? Is this typical? Not snarky - just curious.[/quote]

I think it is typical.

Soccer is a young man's game.  Many kids get signed by the time they're 16 or 17.  If you're 19 or 20 and you haven't been signed to a contract you are facing very long odds against success.

And it's pretty obvious by 13 or 14 which kids have any sort of chance of making it, and - more to the point - if the kid hasn't set himself the goal by this point, he's not going to put in the work necessary to make it.

We could have a separate discussion about whether chasing such a dream is sensible or realistic - but if that is the dream then it starts before high school or probably not at all.[/quote]

I am the poster that the question was directed at and what the above says seems to make sense because I have also been curious too, when other parents knew their kid had procareer potential.  I have a few kids and I can only say that about one kid who is currently pre-ECNL age.  He has the skills, athleticism, motivation (playing soccer is what makes him happiest at the moment), and discipline (perfectionist, practices on his own, always eager to do and learn more).  He could dribble and control the ball very well before he was 2, almost like an instinct.  He also has soccer IQ which he uses effectively as part of a team.  And yes, he's very good according to coaches, teammates, other soccer parents, etc.  We assess every year whether he has the same interest and motivation because I can't imagine going through travel soccer and all this stuff unless my kid was already talented and had the motivation and discipline to keep on going. As to my point in a previous post, it definitely isn't worth it just for a college scholarship.   [/quote]

So in the major European leagues they sign kids to their YDS at 16. That is the first make or break year. The kids signed minimally have to be extremely good athletes- speed and quickness. I have seen two pro athletes at the high school level. It was as like men playing with boys. They were so athletically better vs everyone else they could play at 50-75% and still be the dominant player. They did not work at it or have a a high skill level in high school. If you do not have the athleticism all the work, skill, drive, soccer iq, etc does not matter. [/quote]

Different sports require different attributes.  Obviously soccer players cannot be unathletic, but you do not need NFL speed or strength to play soccer for example so the kids stand out in different ways.  But the ones with pro potential still stand out, at least to an educated observer.  And they don't have to play 100% to stand out either.  Tennis might be a better comparison than basketball or football.  You cannot be fat, uncoordinated, slow or weak and be a pro tennis player.  But nor do you need freakish speed or strength.[/quote]

The thing is - with guys - you don’t really know until they are in their 20s.  One of the best players in MLB grew up where we are, and he is still good friends with the oldest son of our good friends.  We would all see them occasionally growing up at various gatherings over the years.  “You boys come over here and say hello”, kind of thing.  Nice kid with nice parents.  He was certainly not a guy in high school who would have impressed you at all with his size.  Typical high school kid.  Not quite 6 feet, probably not 170.  Now he is a big guy.  Lots of time in the weight room.  Lots of trainers and careful diet.  But I understand he is making north of $15M a year so not a problem.

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