Turning Pro at 13

Soccer43 said:
Not hating on her, have no ill will against her. She's a kid and that's the point. Most are commenting on if this is a wise decision and if she is going to continue on an uphill trajectory or take a different direction as she ages. If she was that special and incredible she should have been able to change the outcome of the GNT Mexico game.
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If she gets hurt or stops improving, would she have played in college still?

Alternatively, is there any reason she can't be a pro and still go to college? Lots of kids in other sports do it. Swimmers do it. Golfers do it. Even a random surfer here and there manages a college degree while making money surfing.

I'm all for this girl taking the money. That's the end goal for all of us, isn't it? It's why we go to college, work shit jobs etc. Someone wants to pay my kid $300k to play soccer at age 13, she's all in.
 
broshark said:
If she gets hurt or stops improving, would she have played in college still?

Alternatively, is there any reason she can't be a pro and still go to college? Lots of kids in other sports do it. Swimmers do it. Golfers do it. Even a random surfer here and there manages a college degree while making money surfing.

I'm all for this girl taking the money. That's the end goal for all of us, isn't it? It's why we go to college, work shit jobs etc. Someone wants to pay my kid $300k to play soccer at age 13, she's all in.
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Again, I think it’s the training environment they are after. After taxes and moving expenses she’s getting paid peanuts. If she stays in her current environment she will not maximize her potential.
Sure, this is risky but I think it is a may be a necessary risk if she wants to play at the highest level.
 
MacDre said:
Again, I think it’s the training environment they are after. After taxes and moving expenses she’s getting paid peanuts. If she stays in her current environment she will not maximize her potential.
Sure, this is risky but I think it is a may be a necessary risk if she wants to play at the highest level.
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What training environment are you talking about? With all the Nike money in the world, Oregon soccer remains the worst on the West Coast. SoCal, NoCal, and Washington is better - it's not close.
 
MacDre said:
I really like her too and thinks she is very talented. I think most of the deficits that she has come from playing “club” in the US. I predict that she will grow exponentially when she gets to Portland.
My concern for her is burnout and social isolation.
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I would worry too much on burnout more than I would a rec player kid. Yes she's putting in way more time than the rec kid, but I'm guessing she loves it way more as well. That can happen to anyone.

Social that will be up to her parents to make sure she gets enough interaction to make her feel happy outside of soccer.

Bottom line when she becomes a woman her body will change and maybe she won't be phenom material anymore or maybe she'll be better. We don't know. She could also get injured and be done for. But what she has right now is an amazing opportunity that may come only once in a lifetime and she's trying it.
If I could have my kid to be phenom at a younger age and get all the things shes had so far, sign me up!
 
MarkM said:
What training environment are you talking about? With all the Nike money in the world, Oregon soccer remains the worst on the West Coast. SoCal, NoCal, and Washington is better - it's not close.
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I agree. However, at Portland she has access to train with professionals. Any professional team even a second division team provides a great training environment for an aspiring professional.
I invision Olivia doing a lot on one on one training with Tobin Heath and similar professionals.
 
OCsoccerdad7777 said:
I would worry too much on burnout more than I would a rec player kid. Yes she's putting in way more time than the rec kid, but I'm guessing she loves it way more as well. That can happen to anyone.

Social that will be up to her parents to make sure she gets enough interaction to make her feel happy outside of soccer.

Bottom line when she becomes a woman her body will change and maybe she won't be phenom material anymore or maybe she'll be better. We don't know. She could also get injured and be done for. But what she has right now is an amazing opportunity that may come only once in a lifetime and she's trying it.
If I could have my kid to be phenom at a younger age and get all the things shes had so far, sign me up!
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Lot of merit to what you are saying. This is why I’m taking a different approach.
My daughter will start college this fall. She will graduate from Cal (Math & Spanish major) around 17 and then we are off to Spain.
There’s definitely more than one way to skin a cat.
Please do not under estimate the social aspect. She’s not going to have an opportunity to enjoy here teens years and when your famous with money it’s harder to find genuine friends.
I’m so glad I grew up dirt poor in area where all we had was each other.
I kinda feel sorry for her!
 
Zen said:
She didn't catch my eye in the U15 Concacaf game. Others did - I think the Thompson sisters, Shaw, are legit (and others on that team), and are way closer to 'phenom' status at her age. I looked up 2 games from last June's DA playoffs (they are all on youtube) since she may showcase better with her own team. It looked like her team passed around her at times. Dominant mids win, receive, distribute, and keep the ball...didn't see that. If it's quality vs quantity of touch (very strange for a midfielder), I didn't see her do much with the ball when she had it, often losing it. She may better than most 05's, but by far not the best on the field or even her team...granted Beach is a very talented team. It's clear how she scores a lot - she takes every corner, free kick, and penalty for her team (even if she didn't earn it), and she does have nice technical shooting capability. I don't see pro-ready now...not that she won't be later. I wish her the best.

For those that prefer entire game footage - link to DA qtr-final game vs. Dallas:
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As I could not remember I had to ask a friend about the FC Dallas player. JS is an 04 and plays up on 00/01 on her club team. That's impressive.
 
MacDre said:
Lot of merit to what you are saying. This is why I’m taking a different approach.
My daughter will start college this fall. She will graduate from Cal (Math & Spanish major) around 17 and then we are off to Spain.
There’s definitely more than one way to skin a cat.
Please do not under estimate the social aspect. She’s not going to have an opportunity to enjoy here teens years and when your famous with money it’s harder to find genuine friends.
I’m so glad I grew up dirt poor in area where all we had was each other.
I kinda feel sorry for her!
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Am I reading this right? Your daughter will graduate from Cal at 17? What sort of social aspect of college do you expect she'll enjoy at 13?
 
LASTMAN14 said:
Here is an article that I believe has not been posted anywhere on the forum. It gives a different perspective on this situation. Non-the-less it appears there is much about this situation that has not been revealed.

https://www.topdrawersoccer.com/club-soccer-articles/olivia-moultrie-is-a-sign-of-the-times_aid45892
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Now that they've monetized their daughter, I wonder if the family business will include above the line deductions for the residential property and soccer field they put into the backyard? The substantial GDA fees and travel costs? A European vacation, er, soccer trip? The daughter's cell phone that she uses to "market" herself via social media? Health insurance premiums? Mileage to soccer practice and back? Shoot, giving up a free ride to UNC might make financial sense even if Nike only gave her a pair of cleats.

On average, there are maybe two girls every birth year in the U.S. for whom "professional soccer player" ends up being a better financial decision than, well, just about any other job. Miss Moultrie is obviously a very talented 13 year old soccer player but reasonable minds will differ whether she is tracking even now to be one of the two once you get past the Nike and NYT hype. If giving up a free ride makes sense financially for her and her family, great. But it does not bode well for the future of girls youth soccer now that sports agents and shoe reps are trolling the U14 sidelines instead of sticking to the AAU basketball games where they belong.
 
broshark said:
Am I reading this right? Your daughter will graduate from Cal at 17? What sort of social aspect of college do you expect she'll enjoy at 13?
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Not much. She’s going to Cal for an academic education not socialization. Also she’s starting early enough so she can attend college part time and still have enough free time to be a normal teen and do normal teen things.
In terms of socialization my daughters trajectory has been very different from Olivia’s.
First, my kid has not been homeschooled and attended a regular school. Second she’s also a swimmer and a dancer. Third, she also has lots of friends from ATDP at Cal. So, I think we have a much better social foundation.
My daughter has many talents and I do not want her to put all her eggs in one basket.
Marshawn is encouraging her to quit soccer and focus on running his Family’s Fist organization.
I agree with Marshawn but soccer is her dream so, I am reluctantly supporting her in her endeavors.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
As I could not remember I had to ask a friend about the FC Dallas player. JS is an 04 and plays up on 00/01 on her club team. That's impressive.
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JS and AT are 05's and her younger sister is an 06 who also played...their impact is clear at any age group, no excuses for their age needed. There are other 05's (and 04's) I know that are impact players even if/when they play up, every time they play. Phenom? Marketing phenom maybe.
 
End of the Line said:
Now that they've monetized their daughter, I wonder if the family business will include above the line deductions for the residential property and soccer field they put into the backyard? The substantial GDA fees and travel costs? A European vacation, er, soccer trip? The daughter's cell phone that she uses to "market" herself via social media? Health insurance premiums? Mileage to soccer practice and back? Shoot, giving up a free ride to UNC might make financial sense even if Nike only gave her a pair of cleats.

On average, there are maybe two girls every birth year in the U.S. for whom "professional soccer player" ends up being a better financial decision than, well, just about any other job. Miss Moultrie is obviously a very talented 13 year old soccer player but reasonable minds will differ whether she is tracking even now to be one of the two once you get past the Nike and NYT hype. If giving up a free ride makes sense financially for her and her family, great. But it does not bode well for the future of girls youth soccer now that sports agents and shoe reps are trolling the U14 sidelines instead of sticking to the AAU basketball games where they belong.
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I respectfully disagree with your last sentence. I think the “new money” is going to make the game attractive to those that have been politically, socially, and economically disenfranchised instead of rich hardworking un athletic Anglo girls.
Soccer in the US is one of the most flagrant examples of de facto segregation and white privilege.
We will start winning when those Americans whose ancestors were selectively bred for performance like pitbuls for centuries have an incentive to enter the game.
 
Zen said:
Thanks, I assumed 05 vs. young 04. She's definitely a stand-out and game changer - even for the older age groups. Her talent is clear and undisputable.
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I agree with you on the GT and AT. They have dramatically grown as players. Been watching them for a long time. One of my girls has played against them in various arena's over the years. And remember watching them play with boys as well. They are also plus one year in age. I had to check because I too thought the younger was an 06.
 
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MacDre said:
I respectfully disagree with your last sentence. I think the “new money” is going to make the game attractive to those that have been politically, socially, and economically disenfranchised instead of rich hardworking un athletic Anglo girls.
Soccer in the US is one of the most flagrant examples of de facto segregation and white privilege.
We will start winning when those Americans whose ancestors were selectively bred for performance like pitbuls for centuries have an incentive to enter the game.
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stupidest thing you've said this entire thread. de facto segregation? you need a ball to play that is it. no special equipment no special field or arena use a ball. but you did get the hardworking anglo part right though.
 
LASTMAN14 said:
I agree with you on the GT and AT. They have dramatically grown as players. Been watching them for a long time. One of my girls has played against them in various arena's over the years. And remember watching them play with boys as well. They are also plus one year in age. I had to check because I too thought the younger was an 06.
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This is why I say it is one thing to be the best at 12/13 and quite another to be the best at 18+.
 
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