I know a guy that played with Marco Reuse in Germany. Marco did stand out as a young kid but he was considered too small to make it and sent down to play in a low level.

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/marco-reus-borussia-dortmund-star-ten-things-you-might-not-know-446535.jsp

This is one of the best players ever and he got dropped to seventh division. He played with kids that were terrible but he didn't care, he just loved to play. The point he told me is everyone has setbacks, everyone has to create their own path.

I come from a family that had a professional soccer player. Agreed that it was obviously genetics---but also primarily how much he worked on his own constantly. More than me, that did not make it to that level.

My kids have been playing soccer for 7 and 8 years (middles school now) and I have seen some really talented kids out there over the years. Unfortunately, many of these kids have parents that are completely nutso. I have seen some of these kids that had so much promise crumble by middle school from parental pressure. If they had just backed off their kids might have continued to love the game. The intensity on which they took their kids to training and every available structured option and obsessed about their play broke their kids. This is very common in the DMV. I have switched my kids to Clubs where the parents are less intense and the environment is more fun---still very focused, but more realistic. Many parents played college soccer themselves and seem to understand the statistics where we are now and the kids on the field all look so much happier, not eyeing the sidelines for dad's approval.

Don't be that parent. Let your kid guide. I never force my kids out there to practice. Never. If it doesn't come from within it's worthless.

And, trust me, it is a very, very minute few in that will ever make it to that level in the sport. Very, very few. The best you can do is try to keep the kid loving the game.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, but most of them faded away. Out of every 30K that stood out, few made it. Passion is more important and love than talent. What age are you talking about? 6? You are delusional. 14, you might be onto something.

At pro level, without talent and genetics, it doesn’t matter how much passion you have.

You need all 3.

Yes, clearly at that. But, talent and genetics can only take you so far without passion and yes, passion is what drives hard work. I assumed we were talking about highly talented youth players.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all know what you're trying to ask here.

Yes, and the answer is, "sorry, OP, your kid is not that good."

You have not seen my kid play.

Listen, my kid has competed in three national championships in three different sports and is only 11. I am not going to specialize her in anything until she is ready for the commitment after puberty. If your kid is under 12 and shows athletism of that level, I would let him/her choose they’re own path.

I will let him choose his own path-never said I wouldn’t. I am posing this question as I find it interesting, in all sports not necessarily soccer.