For those advocating the traditional college route as the only path to success, it's crucial to recognize that life doesn't always follow a linear trajectory. Imagine if an aspiring athlete pursues a college education solely to satisfy societal expectations, only to encounter an unforeseen injury that derails their athletic dreams. In such a scenario, they may find themselves grappling with the challenge of pivoting their career trajectory without the professional experience they could have gained earlier.

Consider the alternative scenario: a talented individual decides to pursue their passion for sports at a professional level, aligning with their dreams and aspirations. By diving into the professional sphere, they gain invaluable experience, honing their skills and building a foundation for their future endeavors. Later on, when they choose to pursue higher education, they do so with a wealth of real-world experience under their belt, bringing a unique perspective to the classroom.

Reflecting on past examples, would we have advised LeBron James to forgo his basketball career and pursue a traditional college education? His exceptional talent and success speak volumes about the multitude of paths one can take to achieve greatness.

FYI-- I went to an elite college per DCUM standards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

If you needed the admissions bump from being a recruited athlete, you're SOL because you lose eligibility after signing a pro contract

"Admissions bump?". People on this thread are so narrowly focused on what they think a typical path to college should be. Signing a pro contract in HS is the very definition of a "hook" for college admissions.

Yup you get it, correct. These elite schools want the rare, elite, teenage professional. Even if they keep deferring or go part time you don’t think they see the long game of a potentially famous or at minimum likely donor. This option is not about playing ncaa soccer, that would be so irrelevant to the few payers this would be in play for.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

If you needed the admissions bump from being a recruited athlete, you're SOL because you lose eligibility after signing a pro contract

"Admissions bump?". People on this thread are so narrowly focused on what they think a typical path to college should be. Signing a pro contract in HS is the very definition of a "hook" for college admissions.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

Colleges are getting "greedy". Name a university where the woman's soccer program is making the school money?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is salary and then there is allocation money.

Salary is about $30k-$55k/year.

Allocation money for top players is ~$400K.

NIL is where the money is and top college will take someone that can't play for obvious reasons.

What is NIL?

Really? You need to google it.

Anonymous wrote:There is salary and then there is allocation money.

Salary is about $30k-$55k/year.

Allocation money for top players is ~$400K.

NIL is where the money is and top college will take someone that can't play for obvious reasons.

What is NIL?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

If your best offer is a partial, you aren't good enough for the NWSL.

What you're describing is the problem with girls soccer. There's no Academy pathway so top players that could play at the NWSL level often are overlooked and not given what they're worth in college.

The closest thing to an an Academy for girls is US National team call ups.

But again there's a serious amount of talent that is being overlooked and not developed on the women's side.

There is salary and then there is allocation money.

Salary is about $30k-$55k/year.

Allocation money for top players is ~$400K.

NIL is where the money is and top college will take someone that can't play for obvious reasons.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

If you needed the admissions bump from being a recruited athlete, you're SOL because you lose eligibility after signing a pro contract

The window to play at that level isn't long. If it's someone's dream to do it, give them the space to do it. College is always there if there is a career that they want to pursue that needs a degree.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

If your best offer is a partial, you aren't good enough for the NWSL.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot, I'd hope, to make up for the fact that they could be finished by 22 with an ACL tear.

Doubt it, though.

ACL tears don't finish careers anymore this isnt the 90's. See Catarina Macario

See: Christen Press, Claire Rafferty

Research suggests that 40 percent of players who have torn a cruciate ligament will do so again — in either knee — within five years. It is closer, in other words, to the flip of a coin than a roll of the dice.

Don't know Rafftery, and Christen Press was already tailing off and in her 30's so not a good comeback. Next

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A lot, I'd hope, to make up for the fact that they could be finished by 22 with an ACL tear.

Doubt it, though.

ACL tears don't finish careers anymore this isnt the 90's. See Catarina Macario

See: Christen Press, Claire Rafferty

Research suggests that 40 percent of players who have torn a cruciate ligament will do so again — in either knee — within five years. It is closer, in other words, to the flip of a coin than a roll of the dice.

Don't know Rafftery, and Christen Press was already tailing off and in her 30's so not a good comeback. Next

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.

It all depends on what colleges are offering vs what the pro teams are offering.

The problem for college is that they've been getting greedy and only offering full rides to 2-3 players on the team + everyone else gets partial.

If your best offer is a partial scholarship NWSL league minimum is a better option. You can always attend school after playing pro.

Anonymous wrote:I know one from out of the area playing in DC. It's not great; but it's nothing to laugh at and the point is to get to the national team off your club team play.

Be nice to these kids. They are human and resenting they aren't your kid is not a reason to bash them or their own parents.

Not bashing anyone. Truly curious to know the amount of money they get paid. Can't find the info. anywhere other than a few of the top players signed decent contracts. Can't find anything these 3 or 4 16 year olds that signed recently. My kids play in college so I'm thinking about the decision financially as well as all the other factors. Seems like a very tough decision.