Turning Pro at 13

[MacDre]

She now has the opportunity to try to play in the NWSL as a minor without NWSL saying it is against their rules. That is the opportunity that the lawsuit opened for other female players, including yours.

I think you have a very narrow interpretation of the opinion. I interpret it more broadly because to limit or restrict the ruling makes no sense from a social policy perspective.

 

[MacDre]

I think you have a case if your daughter tries out for an NWSL team and doesn't make it based solely on her age, which will be hard to prove because soccer is so subjective. I do agree with you that I hope NWSL will start opening up positions for youngs players like MLS if she desires to play professionally at a young age.

I think I have a case if my daughter isn’t being given the same opportunities as boys in the MLS.

 

[Emma]

I think I have a case if my daughter isn’t being given the same opportunities as boys in the MLS.

This - I would like to see. If there are girls who can play at the MLS level, I hope they try out and get the opportunity to earn as much as their male counterparts because NWSL is not equivalent considering how low their pay is. MacDre, if your daughter can pave this path for girls, I'd call her a trailblazer and set up an instagram account just to follow her.

 

[MacDre]

This - I would like to see. If there are girls who can play at the MLS level, I hope they try out and get the opportunity to earn as much as their male counterparts because NWSL is not equivalent considering how low their pay is. MacDre, if your daughter can pave this path for girls, I'd call her a trailblazer and set up an instagram account just to follow her.

My kid ain’t a trailblazer. I have no idea how things will turn out with soccer. However, I do know that a federal judge in the 9th circuit has made it clear that in the United States girls should have the same opportunities as boys.

 

[outside!]

I think you have a very narrow interpretation of the opinion. I interpret it more broadly because to limit or restrict the ruling makes no sense from a social policy perspective.

Sorry, not a lawyer and I did not read the ruling. I thought the ruling made it so the NWSL rule that says players must be 18 or older could not be applied anymore.

 

[Jose has returned]

You sound like Crush.

Who promised you the first thing, and why did you believe them? Regarding the second, getting a negative answer is almost certainly because she isn't as good at either soccer or as an "influencer" as OM. No shame in that. I'm unaware of anyone else who has both, which is what is required.

If Nike or Adidas thought they could make money on your daughter, they would be positively responding to your overtures. They apparently don't at this time. I don't see where or how anybody really owes you anything. You seem to mistakenly think the OM story is all about soccer.

Nailed it! who is his kid anyway. I know who Olivia is but not his

 

[Giesbock]

With all the attention on OM, her pro contract and Nike deal, just curious how she stacks up against the youth national team players. Is she the star of that squad?

 

[STX]

With all the attention on OM, her pro contract and Nike deal, just curious how she stacks up against the youth national team players. Is she the star of that squad?

She is quite good. Certainly an impact player at a youth international level and one of the very best US players in her age group (if not the best).

There are other American youth players in other age groups that are probably as good or perhaps even better for their age, but you wouldn't need more than two hands to count them all.

 

[pokergod]

She is quite good. Certainly an impact player at a youth international level and one of the very best US players in her age group (if not the best).

There are other American youth players in other age groups that are probably as good or perhaps even better for their age, but you wouldn't need more than two hands to count them all.

Good points and good thread. But, please keep this civil and do not compare anyone to crush. I'm fairly certain that comparing anyone to crush is grounds for Dominic to get involved and ban you from the website and, we can all agree, for good reason.

 

[KingMI]

Well said sir. However for me, this isn’t about being first, second, or third. Let me clarify my points:

1. I am responding to all of the hype being promoted regarding OM being a trailblazer and opening a new path from many. I think between Nike and the Thorns OM is making a “pretty penny” for a 15 y/o. I was previously informed that OM’s talent was so exceptional and rare that there would always be money for players blessed with such talent.

I responded because my kid has not benefited from this new pathway allegedly created by OM despite me reaching out to folks and trying to make it happen; and

2. My kid is interested in seeing her play because OM plays one of the same positions as my kid and she is trying to discern if she can compete with OM for that USWNT spot since they are close in age.

Sorry for late reply just got back home. I really did not follow OM much on the field, I saw a few games and she looked like a good mid. I have seen many kids as good to much better in the older age groups. Again my kid is younger so my prospective is hope it works for OM. I do see your points and agree with the hype being the main issue. If a kid my daughters age was getting tons of publicity and I knew she(my kid) deserved the same. I would want to get to the bottom of why as well. But again I also feel younger mid's have a better chance to contribute sooner in the pros than a striker or forward.

 

[Soccer43]

I don’t think her contract with Nike was about her soccer skills- it was more about her social media presence and the novelty of what her family was doing with her soccer path- it was about the hype and the expectation that she would attract a lot of interest from young female soccer players and their parents and thus buy a bunch of Nike gear. I am not sure if she is likeable with her age and younger. I only know parents that are intrigued by what she is doing but no youth players that I know are hyped up about her.

 

[LASTMAN14]

I don’t think her contract with Nike was about her soccer skills- it was more about her social media presence and the novelty of what her family was doing with her soccer path- it was about the hype and the expectation that she would attract a lot of interest from young female soccer players and their parents and thus buy a bunch of Nike gear. I am not sure if she is likeable with her age and younger. I only know parents that are intrigued by what she is doing but no youth players that I know are hyped up about her.

Your last two sentences are poignant.

 

[Technician72]

I only know parents that are intrigued by what she is doing but no youth players that I know are hyped up about her.

Your last two sentences are poignant.

The amount of Social Media accounts run by parents for their players under the guise that it’s the actual player running it, is astounding. The funniest is when the parents running the accounts give themselves props, posting as their son or daughter. That’s the only tangible thing I’ve seen come from OMs impact, the mirroring by parents for their kids to be next in line…

 

[espola]

The amount of Social Media accounts run by parents for their players under the guise that it’s the actual player running it, is astounding. The funniest is when the parents running the accounts give themselves props, posting as their son or daughter. That’s the only tangible thing I’ve seen come from OMs impact, the mirroring by parents for their kids to be next in line…

Do you have some examples to share?

 

[Chalklines]

The amount of Social Media accounts run by parents for their players under the guise that it’s the actual player running it, is astounding. The funniest is when the parents running the accounts give themselves props, posting as their son or daughter. That’s the only tangible thing I’ve seen come from OMs impact, the mirroring by parents for their kids to be next in line…

most of these kids getting likes and followers on social media are complete ghosts in games. OM at least lived up to the hype when she was playing club.

 

[Soccer43]

Uhh, not sure about that

 

[MacDre]

If OM’s Nike endorsement is due to her being an influencer, then how was she selected for the YNT for older birth years? How has OM received substantial playing time as the youngest player on her YNT roster if she’s only an influencer?

 

[MSK357]

If OM’s Nike endorsement is due to her being an influencer, then how was she selected for the YNT for older birth years? How has OM received substantial playing time as the youngest player on her YNT roster if she’s only an influencer?

Shes a great player, but being an influencer helped get the nike contract and set the stage to be given an opportunity to turn pro earlier than maybe she should be. Allowing her to be a trailblazer. You may think your daughter is just as good. but nobody really knows her, so nobody cares. so no mls contract, no nike contract makes sense. Takes more than just talent sometimes.

 

[MacDre]

Shes a great player, but being an influencer helped get the nike contract and set the stage to be given an opportunity to turn pro earlier than maybe she should be. Allowing her to be a trailblazer. You may think your daughter is just as good. but nobody really knows her, so nobody cares. so no mls contract, no nike contract makes sense. Takes more than just talent sometimes.

This doesn’t make sense. Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Demarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Gianluco Busio and many others aren’t influencers yet they signed professional contracts and endorsement deals at a young age.

Are you suggesting that females can only attain comparable success to males in soccer if they are influencers?

My kid is actually more marketable than OM because she can be promoted in the USA, Mexico, Bahamas and West Indies. I also have the resources and contacts to immediately turn my kid into an influencer but I rather not.

I don’t think anything about my kids soccer ability. I love to see her play and to go get ice cream after her games. Period. Professional and college coaches have told me that my daughter is good. I stay in my lane.

 

[MSK357]

This doesn’t make sense. Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Demarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Gianluco Busio and many others aren’t influencers yet they signed professional contracts and endorsement deals at a young age.

Are you suggesting that females can only attain comparable success to males in soccer if they are influencers?

My kid is actually more marketable than OM because she can be promoted in the USA, Mexico, Bahamas and West Indies. I also have the resources and contacts to immediately turn my kid into an influencer but I rather not.

I don’t think anything about my kids soccer ability. I love to see her play and to go get ice cream after her games. Period. Professional and college coaches have told me that my daughter is good. I stay in my lane.

I may be wrong, but male players signed to professional contracts in the MLS locally can get sold for much more money after a year or 2 to bigger soccer markets. female players are still struggling to fill seats, much more so than their male counterparts. And the market to "sell" players is not the same. The female game is still at the stage of trying to get more fans and viewers. By getting as many "influencers" with their followers that can play the game will hopefully bring more fans to the game. I promise you, if you say your daughter is as good as you and your coaches say she is, she can follow OMs path if she can match the followers. that's the missing piece for your daughter. Feel free to disagree. Just my opinion. If Grayson "The Professor" Boucher can get a contract to play in the ABA, a step bellow the NBA at the time, social media and followers can give you a shot you may not deserve. If i remember correctly, he barely walked onto a JC team. Dont underestimate the power of being an influencer with an established fan base lol.