Turning Pro at 13

outside! said:
While I agree, Olivia's case did open the door for other young women.
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We tend to forget that she is indeed talented. She's been punching above her weight class for some time. At 15, she demonstrates maturity and soccer knowledge beyond her years. She's always done that. Good for her. Who knows what comes of this. At 13 people were saying by 15 she was going to be a wash. She's 15 now, has grown 7 inches, and can play/practice against pros. Yes, there are other Academy players that have demonstrated the same qualities. None this young.

Say whatever you want about the approach the parents are taking. Someone has to watch out for her - that's what parents are for. She's no dummy, knows she's in the cross hairs of many. Hopefully she keeps her head down and continues to do the work. Anything that elevates the NWSL is a good thing. Hopefully this young lady doesn't get exploited, doesn't get burnt out, and is able to play on her own terms.
 
outside! said:
While I agree, Olivia's case did open the door for other young women.
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this is kind of an important point. With the prior rule of 'no one under 18' there was no reason for other teams to identify, scout, develop younger players. at least not that young. If the decision stands where the NWSL can't discriminate against someone under 18, when there are no other reasons to do so, it opens the option for teams to broaden their scope.

I don't know the answer to this, but did the league/teams tend to pick new players primarily from college and college graduates? if so, that alone creates a barrier for many kids who can't afford or don't want to go to college. Removing that artificially placed barrier expands the pool of players available for selection. that seems like a win for everyone.
 
MARsSPEED said:
Simple questions-

If Olivia was born into a middle class family with two working parents, would she be in the same situation?

If any top player from a major club was born into the Moultrie Household, would they have the same outcome?

How many households can afford to build their own turf field in their backyard, a full-time personal trainer and full-time at home schooling?

Do Christian Pulisic and Claudio Reyna share similar/same but different privileges'?

If any Billionaire gave their 15 year old kid $10m dollars to start a business after going to the best private school and the business was successful, would you be impressed?

Answer these questions on your own and perhaps you will fully understand how hard this is to achieve. It's the players that push through the lack of privileges' and succeed at the highest level that should be celebrated and not kids like Olivia, Christian, and Claudio. It's people like Ronaldo and Mal Pugh who are truly examples of kids that beat the odds.
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How about we just root for kids to succeed? Seems to me that a lot of people here are rooting against Olivia. Yes she had advantages. Gio Reyna and Pulisic had advantages that their parents played and knew what to do. Danny Leyva signed with the Sounders at 15 and is the son of recent immigrants. Caden Clark has a Dad who trains pro athletes. We are all soon going to know the name Chris Olney Jr. He's in a great situation with PDA that he wouldn't be in if he grew up in a different state and will be with the Union next year even though he's only 14. Every story is different, but at the end of the day it's about rooting for kids to succeed.
 
Patandpats said:
How about we just root for kids to succeed? Seems to me that a lot of people here are rooting against Olivia. Yes she had advantages. Gio Reyna and Pulisic had advantages that their parents played and knew what to do. Danny Leyva signed with the Sounders at 15 and is the son of recent immigrants. Caden Clark has a Dad who trains pro athletes. We are all soon going to know the name Chris Olney Jr. He's in a great situation with PDA that he wouldn't be in if he grew up in a different state and will be with the Union next year even though he's only 14. Every story is different, but at the end of the day it's about rooting for kids to succeed.
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And she's good, just like all of the players you've mentioned in the post. She's no longer an awkward 13 yr old with really good feet and brains. She's grown( maybe still growing) into her body.
 
Soccer43 said:
That is exactly my point. Families and players can choose whatever path they want - I am all about choice. If a 15 year dreams about playing pro at that age and they have the ability to make it happen I am all for that.

As I said before, the end game on the revenue for most female professional sports is short. Even if players go pro at 15 or 16 there are only a few spots on the WNT roster and that is what you have to get to if you want real money. I would think that AS, SS, and MP would hope to be first in line for those roster spots as they have sacrificed and worked hard as much as OM has. I don't know that OM will be better than them or others that come along when those spots open up. MP was a superstar and on the fast track and her path has gotten sidetracked with some lingering injuries and obstacles. Much can happen along the way.

What I object to is the glorification of all of this, as this is the dream and should be the dream of all teenage female players and that going pro as early as you can is the holy grail. Choosing to take a "traditional route" is just as legitimate and worthwhile and a variety of options should be open to young female athletes. I also look at this from a social-emotional development perspective. If it were my player I would be a bit sad about my 15-year-old being alone on the road with adult women out living adult lives when they aren't on the field while my 15 year isn't old enough to join in on any of that (drinking, adult sexual relationships, having children, getting married, etc). What does she have in common with them from a social-emotional stance in terms of having meaningful relationships with her now "peers"?
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I'm very supportive of Olivia and think the world of her parents for the support they have given her. However, I don't think most of us supporters look at her path as the holy grail bc it would not be the route for my children bc they wouldn't want to travel her path. I appreciate that she didn't let anyone force her to go the route currently available and paved a different path for future players who would like to have the option she is creating.
 
I am happy for OM. However, I’m not feeling all of the “trailblazer” hype and “opening of doors” hype that’s being promoted. You see, my daughter wants to take a similar path as OM and I have been told that she’s just as qualified.

But, while Wasserman is responsive to my communications they’ve had me on hold for over six months, nothing from Nike or the NWSL.

So, I am happy OM made her professional debut but please miss me with the BS about her creating a new path because that’s not my kids current reality.
 
damn sour grapes. She has the talent. She won the DNA lottery. Blues had nothing to do with her or TR they were blessed with gifts or else you would see thousands of former Blues player playing professionally. . They put in the work. I would bet they were doing stuff on their own without extra coaching. a lot of parents have their kids in extra training and your daughter is still only average. You got to have talent and work hard.
Who gives a flying F her family put in turf? like turf is going to make them better? GTFOH. They could have gone to the local park and kicked a ball and dribbled all day long. She did it your kid did not if they did they would have signed a contract or, or, or they don't have her talent
Many parents work hard so their kids have a chance at better than they had it evidently her parents worked hard and did just that. Talent and work is the key here. Nobody's kid here is that good or that hungry no matter what they BS about.

Good luck young lady good for you.
 
MacDre said:
I am happy for OM. However, I’m not feeling all of the “trailblazer” hype and “opening of doors” hype that’s being promoted. You see, my daughter wants to take a similar path as OM and I have been told that she’s just as qualified.

But, while Wasserman is responsive to my communications they’ve had me on hold for over six months, nothing from Nike or the NWSL.

So, I am happy OM made her professional debut but please miss me with the BS about her creating a new path because that’s not my kids current reality.
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Just because your kid can't take that path doesn't mean she's not a trailblazer. One day there will be another OM and she will not have to take legal action to go pro, that is trailblazing. It's a path that wasn't an option before her.
 
For sure Moultrie is the first of more to come, and yes, she opened up an option that wasn’t previously available. She had help along the way from more than just her parents. A lot of people believe in her, for good reason. More options are always good. Different people choose different paths for many different reasons. Wishing her all the best. She is a talented and very dedicated and hard working young girl.
 
MSK357 said:
Just because your kid can't take that path doesn't mean she's not a trailblazer. One day there will be another OM and she will not have to take legal action to go pro, that is trailblazing. It's a path that wasn't an option before her.
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Not no but fuck no. This whole situation is a sham and a farce. My kid was doing her thing before OM and continues to do her thing at Club Tijuana.

My point is that OM ain’t made shit happen for my kid and she’s doing it on her own whether that be in Liga MX, NWSL, or Europe. GTFOH.
 
MacDre said:
Not no but fuck no. This whole situation is a sham and a farce. My kid was doing her thing before OM and continues to do her thing at Club Tijuana.

My point is that OM ain’t made shit happen for my kid and she’s doing it on her own whether that be in Liga MX, NWSL, or Europe. GTFOH.
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you mad bro?
 
MacDre said:
Nah. Just not gonna let the “machine” set the dialogue. The PR message from OM’s camp is always wrong.

This new trailblazer, creating a pathway hype that’s being promoted currently is just as disrespectful as their initial best player in the world message.
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Dialogue is set, they were first to the well. It won't be loved by all but they don't care, and they shouldn't. Can't please everyone.

With that said, should be just white noise to your DD. Obviously talented, properly mentored, and cutting her own path.
 
MacDre said:
Not no but fuck no. This whole situation is a sham and a farce. My kid was doing her thing before OM and continues to do her thing at Club Tijuana.

My point is that OM ain’t made shit happen for my kid and she’s doing it on her own whether that be in Liga MX, NWSL, or Europe. GTFOH.
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Is the situation white privilege?
 
MacDre said:
My kid is anxious to see the standard that she needs to meet to get a Nike endorsement and signed by the Thorns.
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I'm sure you know this. But Step 1 is to amass 100,000+ Instagram followers.

There are a couple of players at OM's level in pretty much every every age group from a soccer perspective. From a soccer + marketing perspective, she was a unicorn. Those followers and the attention is what Nike paid for, not just the soccer talent.

Step 2 is to be incredibly good at soccer.

Put them together and then a girl just might be capable of influencing tens of thousands of people to go buy something and justify a Nike deal.
 
Kicker4Life said:
There are thousands of young girls of all races, colors and shapes thinking the same thing!
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With the new ncaa rulings, the smart money is for kids to finish high school, go to college, get Instagram likes, and go after those advertising dollars. Worse case scenario you get a degree that pays more than double the salary of the women’s soccer league.
 
OM is cool for young kids to see. The kids need to look at her interviews and see(listen to) the mental commitment this young lady puts into her craft.
Its all about timing sometimes, I do not know of anyone who has tried this until her. The going to college route is most of the time a win-win for the player. Also note: it does not mean that some random 15yr old girl from club soccer who goes to college can not surpass her(OM) down the road.
 
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