Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:54     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean I did know someone who went pro in soccer and it paid so little she basically had to subsidize it with a full time job. Unless you're one of the big stars who can get a marketing deal, pro soccer isn't a good way to make money.


Lots of people in this world are happy without making big money doing what they love

Many are unhappy with big income


Almost no one with a big income is unhappy about the income. No one without a big income is happy with their income.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:53     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:Pros are also coming from academies and elite NE boarding schools like IMG at 90k per year and Thayer at 63k per year to attend.



No they are not. Not from boarding schools and IMG is largely a joke.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:46     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yep, all the pros were once rich kids.


Irony and cynicism noted

But seriously, with the costs of pay-to-play, only in America do so many soccer players at the highest levels come from upper middle-class and above


Still is cultural though because America is fine subsidizing basketball/football knowing there is plenty of $$$ (domestically) down the road for those who make it.


We have basketball and football culture

Soccer culture, no
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:45     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean I did know someone who went pro in soccer and it paid so little she basically had to subsidize it with a full time job. Unless you're one of the big stars who can get a marketing deal, pro soccer isn't a good way to make money.


Lots of people in this world are happy without making big money doing what they love

Many are unhappy with big income


You can't tell the people here that. They are all rich, good looking and have kids who, to a one, are way above average.


Haha
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:30     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Please tell your kid to study a worthwhile major even if they are a recruited athlete. With the exception of ONE young woman, in our area recently - all the super stars have flamed out spectacularly. The 4 or 5 kids sent (nominated by coach) to National Training Camps, Advanced Development Programs with Spirit, Youth All-American, then on to D1 top soccer schools - are now trying to find spots on USL teams or find a job with that Media Communications degree. Or psychology. No, you wont be a psychologist without more education and your eligibility has expired. What a waste of 4 years.


Good advice even if others on this thread don’t want to hear it. For those that don’t want to listen at least teach your children these important words …. “Do you want fries with that?”


Yes, the rich parents with successful businesses or professional careers kids are destined for life on the low end of the economic scale because they're putting in the effort to become a professional soccer player.


Daughter of the KC Current owners just left Duke after being a sub as a freshman to turn pro and play for KC. She will be just fine.


She was going to be fine anyway. Her parents are loaded. Also, her parents OWN the team she signed to play for. Is that a coincidence? It probably is not. That's kind of like marrying the business owner's daughter and being fastracked to upper management but you still gloat about how you must be so amazing at your job.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:26     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I mean I did know someone who went pro in soccer and it paid so little she basically had to subsidize it with a full time job. Unless you're one of the big stars who can get a marketing deal, pro soccer isn't a good way to make money.


Lots of people in this world are happy without making big money doing what they love

Many are unhappy with big income


You can't tell the people here that. They are all rich, good looking and have kids who, to a one, are way above average.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:23     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yep, all the pros were once rich kids.


Irony and cynicism noted

But seriously, with the costs of pay-to-play, only in America do so many soccer players at the highest levels come from upper middle-class and above


Still is cultural though because America is fine subsidizing basketball/football knowing there is plenty of $$$ (domestically) down the road for those who make it.
Anonymous
Post 02/27/2025 11:13     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Yep, all the pros were once rich kids.


Irony and cynicism noted

But seriously, with the costs of pay-to-play, only in America do so many soccer players at the highest levels come from upper middle-class and above


No one can argue against that
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 18:47     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:Yep, all the pros were once rich kids.


Irony and cynicism noted

But seriously, with the costs of pay-to-play, only in America do so many soccer players at the highest levels come from upper middle-class and above
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 15:19     Subject: Never going pro
Yep, all the pros were once rich kids.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 15:14     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:It seems like you need to be a rich kid to Go pro. You will survive if your rich family can support you. Or you can marry a rich guy too.


It boosts your chances significantly to get your foot in the door and it will sustain you when you start out as a "pro" in the 2nd division in Portugal or Iceland for example. For everyone else, you better love the game as it will become a labor of love for most players!
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 13:26     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Please tell your kid to study a worthwhile major even if they are a recruited athlete. With the exception of ONE young woman, in our area recently - all the super stars have flamed out spectacularly. The 4 or 5 kids sent (nominated by coach) to National Training Camps, Advanced Development Programs with Spirit, Youth All-American, then on to D1 top soccer schools - are now trying to find spots on USL teams or find a job with that Media Communications degree. Or psychology. No, you wont be a psychologist without more education and your eligibility has expired. What a waste of 4 years.

My kid took piano lessons for 6 years, performed in recitals and in high school, but isn't a musician. Was that a waste of 6 years?


Anything less than Carnegie Hall or what's left of the Kennedy Center is total failure


That is pay to play!
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 13:14     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Please tell your kid to study a worthwhile major even if they are a recruited athlete. With the exception of ONE young woman, in our area recently - all the super stars have flamed out spectacularly. The 4 or 5 kids sent (nominated by coach) to National Training Camps, Advanced Development Programs with Spirit, Youth All-American, then on to D1 top soccer schools - are now trying to find spots on USL teams or find a job with that Media Communications degree. Or psychology. No, you wont be a psychologist without more education and your eligibility has expired. What a waste of 4 years.

My kid took piano lessons for 6 years, performed in recitals and in high school, but isn't a musician. Was that a waste of 6 years?



By dcum standards, yes hahahaha


They can still play piano and they did not base their entire future on playing piano. Please do try to keep up!


How is some kid going to Bullis, playing for Bethesda and doing extra training with Next Star to become a Pro putting their Entire Future on playing soccer?
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 12:58     Subject: Never going pro
The pay is not like it was 10 years ago... or even 5 years ago. And the players aren't living with host families anymore, etc. At one NWSL club (maybe others?) players are given $4K a month just for housing.

But in reality, it is very hard to go pro. A lot of talented college players are trying to find pro opportunities. Lots of international players now taking up spots. So much more competitive these days.
Anonymous
Post 02/24/2025 12:52     Subject: Never going pro
Anonymous wrote:I mean I did know someone who went pro in soccer and it paid so little she basically had to subsidize it with a full time job. Unless you're one of the big stars who can get a marketing deal, pro soccer isn't a good way to make money.


Yep. You will be a club coach in your spare time to make ends meet. Unless you get outside commercial deals.