Ok, assuming this is sincere let me point out a few things:

1) Visa. You can't just up and move to France because you feel like it. You need a visa to live there (or wherever). Maybe you have an EU Passport and that's easy enough, but if you don't then you need a sponsor who is going to get you a visa and a job with a decent salary.

2) As a professional expat who has lived abroad in a half dozen countries over the last 20 years, I can assure you the price of a travel team in the USA is a hell of a lot cheaper than the cost of any move I have ever made.

3) FIFA Article 19: Transfer of minors. There is a law that is on the books to prevent the transfer of minors across international borders for the purpose of playing football or signing with a club. https://www.thomascooperlaw.com/guide-fifa-rules-international-transfer-minors/

4) I don't think anyone is objectively saying someone from D1 NCSL at age 14 is being watched for a professional career. You would have been scouted already by a DA or at DA's second team (EDP or something). There are 100s of kids in the DMV at a quality level above NCSL D1 right now. 100s.

5) I've seen top DA players go to Europe for visiting camps and have about 3-5 days with an academy before they learn they are not up to the level they need to be. It can be quite jarring for some here who think they rule the roost only to find out there are a couple of dozen kids in Europe who are already way past them.

6) The suggestion about a scholarship is a good one. Many teams have a program to help if needed. DA's are doing identification sessions now. Why don't you try it and see what they say. You can always turn them down over the Summer and head on to Europe if you find a way to get past all the other obstacles.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is a troll thread people.

OP Here. Nope, a sincere question. I don't have enough $$ for DA....so looking for another option. Look, I know that he can't make it here...but my understanding is that Soccer is more similar to USA Baseball. A lot of good players can make A level soccer. There is even a Rookie League. I'm guessing that the Soccer System is similar in Europe.

My comments on the IDCamps is sincere as well. I find it amusing that people pay a lot of money to go have their kid looked at for College potential. This seems so ludicrous to me. I understand why it exists. I just find it repugnant.

You don't have money for DA, but can afford to move to Europe? I agree with the pp that said this is a troll thread.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is a troll thread people.

OP Here. Nope, a sincere question. I don't have enough $$ for DA....so looking for another option. Look, I know that he can't make it here...but my understanding is that Soccer is more similar to USA Baseball. A lot of good players can make A level soccer. There is even a Rookie League. I'm guessing that the Soccer System is similar in Europe.

My comments on the IDCamps is sincere as well. I find it amusing that people pay a lot of money to go have their kid looked at for College potential. This seems so ludicrous to me. I understand why it exists. I just find it repugnant.

Why not try out for DA? If he makes it, ask for a scholarship. If he is that good, they will find a way. If not, you know where you stand. Without this evaluation you might be spinning your wheels thinking about overseas.

speaking of France, you can move to an urban area outside of Paris, and play street soccer EVERY DAY for free... against kids who have no way out of being working class (or below) in life except possibly a .01% chance of making it in soccer.

And those are the kids who didn't make it into an academy already...

I’m French. You have no idea what the world is like outside your little US bubble, poor thing. Your son would be eaten alive in another country. He would need to stand out AND have the drive to move and learn new lifestyles and languages. The new lifestyle would be super scrappy - not the comfort you’re used to right now. American wealth translates to a million little things you don’t even notice in your daily life. In Europe it’s not like that, and you’ll feel it.

Don’t do this to yourself.

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you have the opportunity to get him a passport to a European country? Before you head over there that should be a big concern. I think if you see his talent, even if the so called American experts don’t see it, you need to pursue it. I’m not finding US soccer to be of any kind of a level that inspires top
Tier play. It is not true that if he’s enough to go pro he should be a huge standout in DA. US soccer is at such a low level and nowhere lower than at the youth level. It is really the lowering tide that sinks all ships. Having a passport for him to play more easily over there could be a game changer for you. You just have to be realistic that even if he’s great his chances are slim; you need more than his potential career to make the move worth it; your relationship with him and what he wants are what will determine if he looks back in this with joy and gratitude or misery. Good luck. I have a 7 year old who is a phenomenal little player and have gotten zero zero guidance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is a troll thread people.

OP Here. Nope, a sincere question. I don't have enough $$ for DA....so looking for another option. Look, I know that he can't make it here...but my understanding is that Soccer is more similar to USA Baseball. A lot of good players can make A level soccer. There is even a Rookie League. I'm guessing that the Soccer System is similar in Europe.

My comments on the IDCamps is sincere as well. I find it amusing that people pay a lot of money to go have their kid looked at for College potential. This seems so ludicrous to me. I understand why it exists. I just find it repugnant.

College ID’s are repugnant? Can you elaborate?

If your family and professional lives can adjust to A move overseas and you have the passport or career to do so, why not? Any European country would be better for soccer (and food, and education, and myriad other things). Go for it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is a troll thread people.

OP Here. Nope, a sincere question. I don't have enough $$ for DA....so looking for another option. Look, I know that he can't make it here...but my understanding is that Soccer is more similar to USA Baseball. A lot of good players can make A level soccer. There is even a Rookie League. I'm guessing that the Soccer System is similar in Europe.

My comments on the IDCamps is sincere as well. I find it amusing that people pay a lot of money to go have their kid looked at for College potential. This seems so ludicrous to me. I understand why it exists. I just find it repugnant.

Buy a lottery ticket. Better odds.

Anonymous wrote:I really think this is a troll thread people.

OP Here. Nope, a sincere question. I don't have enough $$ for DA....so looking for another option. Look, I know that he can't make it here...but my understanding is that Soccer is more similar to USA Baseball. A lot of good players can make A level soccer. There is even a Rookie League. I'm guessing that the Soccer System is similar in Europe.

My comments on the IDCamps is sincere as well. I find it amusing that people pay a lot of money to go have their kid looked at for College potential. This seems so ludicrous to me. I understand why it exists. I just find it repugnant.

I really think this is a troll thread people.

Anonymous wrote:OP, do you have the opportunity to get him a passport to a European country? Before you head over there that should be a big concern. I think if you see his talent, even if the so called American experts don’t see it, you need to pursue it. I’m not finding US soccer to be of any kind of a level that inspires top
Tier play. It is not true that if he’s enough to go pro he should be a huge standout in DA. US soccer is at such a low level and nowhere lower than at the youth level. It is really the lowering tide that sinks all ships. Having a passport for him to play more easily over there could be a game changer for you. You just have to be realistic that even if he’s great his chances are slim; you need more than his potential career to make the move worth it; your relationship with him and what he wants are what will determine if he looks back in this with joy and gratitude or misery. Good luck. I have a 7 year old who is a phenomenal little player and have gotten zero zero guidance.

omfg

OP, do you have the opportunity to get him a passport to a European country? Before you head over there that should be a big concern. I think if you see his talent, even if the so called American experts don’t see it, you need to pursue it. I’m not finding US soccer to be of any kind of a level that inspires top
Tier play. It is not true that if he’s enough to go pro he should be a huge standout in DA. US soccer is at such a low level and nowhere lower than at the youth level. It is really the lowering tide that sinks all ships. Having a passport for him to play more easily over there could be a game changer for you. You just have to be realistic that even if he’s great his chances are slim; you need more than his potential career to make the move worth it; your relationship with him and what he wants are what will determine if he looks back in this with joy and gratitude or misery. Good luck. I have a 7 year old who is a phenomenal little player and have gotten zero zero guidance.

If he has a chance to play professionally then he should be a standout at the DA level. Most kids in DA do not have any chance to play professionally.

That is a lower bar than trying anyting overseas where you and a million parents are all trying for the same thing. Here there are far fewer parents with that goal in mind.

so try out for a DA program this spring and see how he stacks up against everybody else. Start there.

I am scraping just to keep my 14 yo son on a Travel Team that will likely be placed in D1NCSL this year.

Let's assume that an objective observer would say that my son had a chance to play professionally.

Would we be better off moving to Spain? England? <pick a country> and try to get into an academy there? As I'm not making enough to pay for a good travel team here, How could that be worse?

The realistic USA option is to stay on the D1NCSL team and pray for the best.

I see the IDSessions sort of like Pyramid schemes. You have to pay to get a job. Sort of crazy. Might be the most realistic method....but still ... dirty.

I'm open to all comments. And since I was snarky, I won't mind a bit back. I take it in the spirit intended.