Girls Development Academy

[C.A.M.]

Past their prime Euro players can make good retirement money in the MLS, LOL. See: Beckham, Gerrard, Lampard, Pirlo, Villa, etc

Now don't kill me for this, but here is my reasoning. Ok She is 14 this month and he is 11.5. If they were to go pro before college (don't go there ) I have 4 years and 7 years before they are done with high school. If they can make 60k+ per diem as pro athletes that's better than what most people are getting in this job market. Decent living to play the game you love and be in supreme shape. Low on the professional scale. If they go overseas and play they may bump that income up another 10-25% depending on the exchange rate and standard pay. He is a keeper with the backing of coaches connected in the EPL. The Championship in England pays pretty damn good compared to the MLS.

If they can get more it only makes it sweeter. The leagues have time to grow the fan bases and $ investments. They look way better than I do so endorsements could always net more than the salary.

My idea is this - have them be the best they can be and ready to take advantage of the positive opportunities that come their way. Keep them out of the hands of the soul snatching crap coaches and have them grow, grow and grow.

 

[NoGoal]

Now don't kill me for this, but here is my reasoning. Ok She is 14 this month and he is 11.5. If they were to go pro before college (don't go there ) I have 4 years and 7 years before they are done with high school. If they can make 60k+ per diem as pro athletes that's better than what most people are getting in this job market. Decent living to play the game you love and be in supreme shape. Low on the professional scale. If they go overseas and play they may bump that income up another 10-25% depending on the exchange rate and standard pay. He is a keeper with the backing of coaches connected in the EPL. The Championship in England pays pretty damn good compared to the MLS.

If they can get more it only makes it sweeter. The leagues have time to grow the fan bases and $ investments. They look way better than I do so endorsements could always net more than the salary.

My idea is this - have them be the best they can be and ready to take advantage of the positive opportunities that come their way. Keep them out of the hands of the soul snatching crap coaches and have them grow, grow and grow.

Nothing wrong with aiming for the stars. Just know your DD better be the #1 or #2 player in her birth year and retains her ranking throughout her development including college and is being fast tracked to the Sr WNT. If not, good luck to her trying to make 60K playing NWSL as a professional player, the average is 25K a season.

 

[C.A.M.]

Nothing wrong with aiming for the stars. Just know your DD better be the #1 or #2 player in her birth year and retains her ranking throughout her development including college and is being fast tracked to the Sr WNT. If not, good luck to her trying to make 60K playing NWSL as a professional player, the average is 25K a season.

That's today's average. I'm accounting for inflation and the sports growth.

 

[NoGoal]

That's today's average. I'm accounting for inflation and the sports growth.

Like I said, good luck with that. Especially if you think in 10 yrs the NWSL average salary will more than double in salary. The NWSL clubs can't even pay their US WNT players salaries on their own.

 

[C.A.M.]

Like I said, good luck with that. Especially if you think in 10 yrs the NWSL average salary will more than double in salary. The NWSL clubs can't even pay their US WNT players salaries on their own.

I know. Not necessarily tlthinking NWSL. Her game fits how the Euro women play and the financial backing from those leagues SEEMS better. Like I said - get as good as possible and explore the options available. She wants to be a plastic surgeon so the pro game isn't the end all be all for her. I know she would do it if available though.

 

[MakeAPlay]

Now don't kill me for this, but here is my reasoning. Ok She is 14 this month and he is 11.5. If they were to go pro before college (don't go there ) I have 4 years and 7 years before they are done with high school. If they can make 60k+ per diem as pro athletes that's better than what most people are getting in this job market. Decent living to play the game you love and be in supreme shape. Low on the professional scale. If they go overseas and play they may bump that income up another 10-25% depending on the exchange rate and standard pay. He is a keeper with the backing of coaches connected in the EPL. The Championship in England pays pretty damn good compared to the MLS.

If they can get more it only makes it sweeter. The leagues have time to grow the fan bases and $ investments. They look way better than I do so endorsements could always net more than the salary.

My idea is this - have them be the best they can be and ready to take advantage of the positive opportunities that come their way. Keep them out of the hands of the soul snatching crap coaches and have them grow, grow and grow.

I would never kill somebody for optimism. Out of curiosity are you a former or current professional athlete?

 

[MakeAPlay]

I know. Not necessarily tlthinking NWSL. Her game fits how the Euro women play and the financial backing from those leagues SEEMS better. Like I said - get as good as possible and explore the options available. She wants to be a plastic surgeon so the pro game isn't the end all be all for her. I know she would do it if available though.

Only the highest of the high level US players get lucrative offers to play overseas. Most of the players that go overseas weren't desirable enough to get offers to play in the NWSL although there are exceptions. I like the plastic surgery idea as plan "A" and the pro soccer as plan "B". If your dd is thinking about pro soccer abroad she better be on the YNT by U18. Good luck to you and both of your players.

 

[C.A.M.]

I would never kill somebody for optimism. Out of curiosity are you a former or current professional athlete?

No, but was surrounded by high level athletes. D1 and pro athletes came out of my neighborhood and school. I played the wrong sports from that, but watching them go through the process taught me a lot. Plenty of pros in basketball, football and baseball.

Best friend was D1 in water polo and played on the national teams. Me being his road dog showed me the ropes. We actually discuss and plan for my kids since no one expected me to have the ballers.

 

[C.A.M.]

Only the highest of the high level US players get lucrative offers to play overseas. Most of the players that go overseas weren't desirable enough to get offers to play in the NWSL although there are exceptions. I like the plastic surgery idea as plan "A" and the pro soccer as plan "B". If your dd is thinking about pro soccer abroad she better be on the YNT by U18. Good luck to you and both of your players.

Education first always. One bad play can end any career right? Thank you.

We are realistic that even if she is 5x better and he is a stud, his prospects are much better. American keepers have more overseas opportunities than field players. Pro athletics is a pipe dream. Thing is, the streets are flooded with product so we can all get high.

 

[chargerfan]

Now don't kill me for this, but here is my reasoning. Ok She is 14 this month and he is 11.5. If they were to go pro before college (don't go there ) I have 4 years and 7 years before they are done with high school. If they can make 60k+ per diem as pro athletes that's better than what most people are getting in this job market. Decent living to play the game you love and be in supreme shape. Low on the professional scale. If they go overseas and play they may bump that income up another 10-25% depending on the exchange rate and standard pay. He is a keeper with the backing of coaches connected in the EPL. The Championship in England pays pretty damn good compared to the MLS.

If they can get more it only makes it sweeter. The leagues have time to grow the fan bases and $ investments. They look way better than I do so endorsements could always net more than the salary.

My idea is this - have them be the best they can be and ready to take advantage of the positive opportunities that come their way. Keep them out of the hands of the soul snatching crap coaches and have them grow, grow and grow.

Your daughter is 03? I can think of 2, maybe 3 03's where this is maybe an option. Realistically, your daughter has a better shot at becoming president. Focus on grades.

 

[C.A.M.]

So where are all your kids in the process? Are they at universities? Are they looking at going pro? How are they feeling about their soccer careers when looking back!

 

[NoGoal]

So where are all your kids in the process? Are they at universities? Are they looking at going pro? How are they feeling about their soccer careers when looking back!

My DD is reporting to her college team next Sunday. She knows her college education comes first and to also enjoy the experience and have fun. To keep soccer in perspective, my wife and I explained to her she should treat her athletic scholarship has a salary and her college coaches are her manager and supervisors. To listen and do as they ask of her. She is not even thinking about playing professionally.

 

[C.A.M.]

Your daughter is 03? I can think of 2, maybe 3 03's where this is maybe an option. Realistically, your daughter has a better shot at becoming president. Focus on grades.

One thing I learned from being around all those pros - many of the ones who made it weren't the ones people thought they would be. The ones who made it were above average kids whose growth in the game exploded after 16 years old. My view of what makes a solid pro who can play for years is different than what most think.

Kind of like how the best defensive ends in the NFL are usually just really good college guys that surpass what the highly projected players do. Why, because these guys were ironing out their flaws and working to be consistent at the high level. Pro and D1 coaches value certain things in a player that is overlooked by coaches at the lower levels. That's why the term "the ultimate professional" exists.

Talent matters, but talent isn't only physical.​

 

[C.A.M.]

My DD is reporting to her college team next Sunday. She knows her college education comes first and to also enjoy the experience and have fun. To keep soccer in perspective, my wife and I explained to her she should treat her athletic scholarship has a salary and her college coaches are her manager and supervisors. To listen and do as they ask of her. She is not even thinking about playing professionally.

Very happy for you all. It's awesome to hear about this type of success.

 

[NoGoal]

One thing I learned from being around all those pros - many of the ones who made it weren't the ones people thought they would be. The ones who made it were above average kids whose growth in the game exploded after 16 years old. My view of what makes a solid pro who can play for years is different than what most think.

Kind of like how the best defensive ends in the NFL are usually just really good college guys that surpass what the highly projected players do. Why, because these guys were ironing out their flaws and working to be consistent at the high level. Pro and D1 coaches value certain things in a player that is overlooked by coaches at the lower levels. That's why the term "the ultimate professional" exists.

Talent matters, but talent isn't only physical.​

At least you have a plan.

True cautionary tale. I heard of a parent a few years back. She had a U12/13 DD who was a GK and had a son playing club soccer too. The parent got so caught up and lost all perspective. She had both kids home schooled, so they could have more time training on their soccer game. I never heard what happened to those kids, but I did know at the time they were both "NOT" YNT players. She was a poster on the old forum format.

 

[chargerfan]

One thing I learned from being around all those pros - many of the ones who made it weren't the ones people thought they would be. The ones who made it were above average kids whose growth in the game exploded after 16 years old. My view of what makes a solid pro who can play for years is different than what most think.

Kind of like how the best defensive ends in the NFL are usually just really good college guys that surpass what the highly projected players do. Why, because these guys were ironing out their flaws and working to be consistent at the high level. Pro and D1 coaches value certain things in a player that is overlooked by coaches at the lower levels. That's why the term "the ultimate professional" exists.

Talent matters, but talent isn't only physical.​

Well that is even more of a unicorn situation. what percentage of the uswnt wasn't identified as a top player by the age of 16?

 

[NoGoal]

Well that is even more of a unicorn situation. what percentage of the uswnt wasn't identified as a top player by the age of 16?

I agree, seems like the US women head coaches like to ID talent at a young age. Then fast track the most promising to the Sr team. Think Mallory Pugh, Ashley Sanchez, Brianna Pinto and Jaelin Howell. There are few who get a call up late like Rose LaVelle though.

 

[Striker17]

At least you have a plan.

True cautionary tale. I heard of a parent a few years back. She had a U12/13 DD who was a GK and had a son playing club soccer too. The parent got so caught up and lost all perspective. She had both kids home schooled, so they could have more time training on their soccer game. I never heard what happened to those kids, but I did know at the time they were both "NOT" YNT players. She was a poster on the old forum format.

This is COMMON at our age group. Also they all have instagrams and work with trainers who then film and try to promote their centers etc. is all extremely common now!!!

 

[MakeAPlay]

So where are all your kids in the process? Are they at universities? Are they looking at going pro? How are they feeling about their soccer careers when looking back!

Mine is playing in college on a pretty good team at a pretty good school in a pretty nice state. Looking back at her soccer career, she feels pretty good about it. She has more that she wants to accomplish like winning an NCAA title like pulgita's dd. She might want to play in the U20 WWC but only if she doesn't miss more than a game or two of college. She might want to play a year of pro soccer before finishing grad school but that would likely be in England. She will probably be a first round NWSL draft pick, but likely would still go abroad if she isn't in the pipeline for the full WNT by then. School is her priority which is why she is carrying a 3.9 GPA even while playing over 1800 minutes as a freshman.

My baby loves soccer but because she has had to work really hard to get where she is, she is realistic about the WNT. Her birth year already has it's purple unicorn.

Good luck to you and your player.

 

[Kicknit22]

How amazing. People actually understand the purpose of the DA model, and the consequences. Like most situations, when the organization's goals are aligned with yours, all is great. And at this point, with everything new and mostly unknown, people are transferring their own desires onto the GDA, and claiming what an amazing concept and success it is.

While control and money are always a motivation, their primary goal is producing a winning USWNT/USMNT, regardless of the impact on individual players, teams, clubs, schools, colleges or any other outside groups. We can debate whether the DA structure is the best way to produce that result, and opinions will vary. But it is good to see people are not ignoring the unintended (and often intended) consequences.

WHO is calling GDA a success? Real curious what makes you say this.

 

[Dos Equis]

WHO is calling GDA a success? Real curious what makes you say this.

Really -- just browse these boards and read the glowing reports. Training is incredible, techincal skills valued over athleticism, coaches have seen the light and do not care about results, teams singing Kumbaya at the end of each practice, tournamanets only held in ideal temperatures on perfect fields, commute times down to nothing, every other team and league decimated, free soccer for the "best of the best" (copyright Surf Cup 2004).