Fieldsofgold
SILVER
Not every player from the top teams want to go pro. Some actually want to attend college. Pro isn’t the ultimate goal for every top player. To “separate them out “ would be a little futile at this point .
How’s the 2025-2026 season going?
- Thread starter TeamDadJokes
- Start date
That’s a fair point, and I agree that not every player wants to go pro. But I still believe there needs to be a true next-level environment for the elite youth players who do. The game at the highest level in the U.S. is much more athletic and physical than tactical, and the players who thrive now at u16 tend to be those with elite athleticism and strength.
That’s why we’re seeing teams like Hawks come out of nowhere and knock off top SoCal teams. If a squad isn’t built to match that physical intensity, it’s going to struggle especially at U16, where most players have already developed into who they are athletically.
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well getting paid to play is being PRO. Personally unless your within the top 20% of the paid players in the NWSL or making the equivalent money overseas I don't see the point of playing PRO soccer. That's my opinion and I still say only a handful of 2010's will play PRO. IMO all the Hawks did was play old school Long Ball to their talented forwards. The just chewed up the defenses of the Southwest's top teams with that tactic. I doubt Southwest will have any answers for them this year based on what's been going on in the Southwest so far. These top southwest teams if anything have gone backwards with their defenses.
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I couldn’t agree with you more… the issue lies with the SW defenses going backwards.
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Young teen girls in Europe play soccer and more soccer and the top goal for the top players in Euro is pro and not Big U. That is their life and their dream. I 100% know many talented players who want and went to college and then get a career outside of soccer and make real money. I mean, isn't that what life's all about, making the big bucks. That's awesome as well and both the dreamer for pro soccer and the dreamer for higher education can co-exist. The problem with US Soccer, it's ALL about college or you're a loser and won't make much money unless your Olivia or Alyssa. Are these two better players by no going to college? Yes! Would AT be playing with Chelsea and the WSL? No, it's not even close. Think about it. Take Stanford. That is no easy walk in the park academically. 3 months of soccer and then study 24/7 and get in some Spring and Summer pick-up games. Think about the pressure to not only be amazing soccer player in HS, but also one who can study 24/7, get 1500 SAT and 4.7 GPA. No parties, no boyfriends and no fun. Soccer Training+Grades+SAT+ Outstanding human=Unicorn. The player that can pull this off is freaking amazing person and athlete and my hat off to them. I think it's asking way too much for the average Jo. In Europe, it's soccer+soccer+soccer=Soccer Player and no grades or SAT to add to the pressure. I wonder how Messi would have done if they & them told him he better get high scores in biology and math. If he scores low, he sucks!! The players in Europe do not have to carry a high GPA or SAT to be one of the best and that's why I have been saying for 10 years, "The world is watching" and were getting behind.
Based on what you're laying out, I would 100% prefer what we have here. Yes, soccer+grade+SAT may equal unicorn, but Olivia and Alyssa are also unicorns.
So the European system may be better for soccer unicorns, but what about the hundreds (maybe thousands) of girls in Europe who don't end up being unicorns yet still choose soccer+soccer+soccer? What's their backup plan? Or what about the unicorn who tears two ACLs before 16 and is never the same? What's her backup plan? In the US, these girls have college and a path to a good career. I'd choose a system that provides paths for soccer AND education/career (while maybe sacrificing some of the soccer unicorn pathway part) over a system that only provides a path for soccer unicorns (at the sacrifice of the almost/wannabe unicorns).
OM and AT are not American Unicorns based on the real definition. They are 100% excellent players. My dd had the honor to battle them daily in practice and in games and my eyes saw amazing and gifted players. Grades & SAT score has NOTHING to do with a great soccer player who loves the great game. I completely interstand why you and all the paying customers in youth soccer want college for their kid. I get it, trust me.
Elite Trigger Warning!!!
One big fucking problem for college soccer players is what they have to endure on campus. The politics is insane. Professors are so woke and soon to be broke for teaching BS all day. A pro soccer player does not have to deal with all the crap at BIG U today. It's bad folks and getting dangerous. You can't even speak your mind at campus with retaliation.
One big fucking problem for college soccer players is what they have to endure on campus. The politics is insane. Professors are so woke and soon to be broke for teaching BS all day. A pro soccer player does not have to deal with all the crap at BIG U today. It's bad folks and getting dangerous. You can't even speak your mind at campus with retaliation.
I would say they are just as much of a unicorn if not more compared to a girl who does soccer+grade+SAT. Wouldn't the girls who play soccer at Stanford, Harvard, etc. (top academic D1 programs) fall in the latter category? Maybe we're both using the term unicorn too loosely but I was more comparing OM and AT to the good-at-everything girls.
The trick to not having kids fall into the left politics of college is to tell them they need to have a job while attending classes.
When you have to grind to make enough money to hang out with friends people tend to make more rational decisions. Also when you see how much gets taken out of your check in taxes you tend to distrust goverment programs.
My Unicorn term comes from MAPs. He used to be on here and he helped me interstand the going on with this youth soccer stuff back in 2018. I was confused parent back then because my dd was kicked out of the old GDA league because she went to public school and was told no girls who want to be Unicorns can play HS Soccer anymore. MAPs said a Unicorn is someone who is a baller at soccer, high GPA, like 4.5 and SAT over 1400. Plus, he said you have to give your time to the community and help others. My little girl was stuck in the middle because she wanted to do both and. Nope, it's "either or" says the lying Docs. My child followed the rules and just like many Elites do, they changed the rules so their private school kids good do both and. Anyway, the world watching and let's see what happens. College campuses are becoming shooting galleries and that is not a joke. When was the last time someone shot up a professional soccer academy?
Get a job plus play soccer at Big U? Damn bro, that's asking a lot for a young 18 year old girl. Get excellent grades, study all day, be nice to the professor and agree with the professor always and never debate in class, work hard at practice and then go work. Oh joy, what a way to play soccer.
Not the kitchen.