Turning Pro at 13

My only take on this has to do with the disparity between men and women in sports. Our family has always operated on the assumption that, while in high school, no matter what accolades our daughter gets, the goal for her is to get to college. Soccer is great, but as a profession, women don’t make what the men are making out there. And if she retires, quits or injures herself, as a woman, there isn’t a solid fall back plan without a college degree. She needs to be able to take care of herself for the rest of her life. She will readily admit she more athlete than student, but she also understands that the academics is where it is to set her up long term.
Every family has to do what’s right for themselves and their kid. For us, it was making sure that she has short and long term aspirations, both on and off the field.
 
msoccerm said:
Can't judge OM's situation because I have never watched her play. However, the rest of the world are allowing their young players to play pro and get paid at at least 16. College soccer IN GENERAL is a waste of time if you want to go pro. The season is short and you're required to play 2 games a week which takes a toll on the body and means that practice can't be too intense because you are either recovering from a game or going into a game. And a player can't grow as much in college as they could playing with experienced, older pros. And the coaches aren't necessarily the best fit for an elite player.

That being said the NWSL is known for being a solid comp where every team is very good - unlike the European Leagues where only the top 2 or 3 are very good. This would mean to me that it would be very hard to get on the pitch as a 15 yo in the NWSL as opposed to a team at the bottom of the German League.

Anyways bravo OM for paving the way for other USWNT hopefuls and helping the US keep up with the rest of the world.

What a bunch of negative, mean, jealous people on this thread. What do you care what she is doing? You're kid got their little scholarship. Why are you pulling others down that are choosing a different path?
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I tend to agree with you. She seems genuinely in love with soccer and she’s going after her goals full on. Her parents don’t seem unreasonable to me. It’s not the path I would choose for my child for many of the reasons others have stated, and I don’t really get the rush, but who am I to judge what they choose or second guess their motivations. She rightly has brought attention the the fact that many others in this sport and other sports can compete professionally at her age.
I’m not sure the all criticisms are jealousy or meanness. Some people just see the risks as too great. But, we don’t all have to walk the same path and there’s more than one way to experience the world thank goodness.
 
msoccerm said:
Can't judge OM's situation because I have never watched her play. However, the rest of the world are allowing their young players to play pro and get paid at at least 16. College soccer IN GENERAL is a waste of time if you want to go pro. The season is short and you're required to play 2 games a week which takes a toll on the body and means that practice can't be too intense because you are either recovering from a game or going into a game. And a player can't grow as much in college as they could playing with experienced, older pros. And the coaches aren't necessarily the best fit for an elite player.

That being said the NWSL is known for being a solid comp where every team is very good - unlike the European Leagues where only the top 2 or 3 are very good. This would mean to me that it would be very hard to get on the pitch as a 15 yo in the NWSL as opposed to a team at the bottom of the German League.

Anyways bravo OM for paving the way for other USWNT hopefuls and helping the US keep up with the rest of the world.

What a bunch of negative, mean, jealous people on this thread. What do you care what she is doing? You're kid got their little scholarship. Why are you pulling others down that are choosing a different path?
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It's not the path (and hers is not a new one or she is paving the way). It's how the path has been set for her. From your first sentence it appears you do not know much about her other than what has been posted. There is much more to this that a few of us on here know, have seen, and understand.
 
msoccerm said:
Can't judge OM's situation because I have never watched her play. However, the rest of the world are allowing their young players to play pro and get paid at at least 16. College soccer IN GENERAL is a waste of time if you want to go pro. The season is short and you're required to play 2 games a week which takes a toll on the body and means that practice can't be too intense because you are either recovering from a game or going into a game. And a player can't grow as much in college as they could playing with experienced, older pros. And the coaches aren't necessarily the best fit for an elite player.

That being said the NWSL is known for being a solid comp where every team is very good - unlike the European Leagues where only the top 2 or 3 are very good. This would mean to me that it would be very hard to get on the pitch as a 15 yo in the NWSL as opposed to a team at the bottom of the German League.

Anyways bravo OM for paving the way for other USWNT hopefuls and helping the US keep up with the rest of the world.

What a bunch of negative, mean, jealous people on this thread. What do you care what she is doing? You're kid got their little scholarship. Why are you pulling others down that are choosing a different path?
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Respect your right to an opinion but to diminish the importance of a college education or belittle a “little” scholarship is dangerous. And even more so on the girls side.

Throughout Europe where there is no educational “safety net” if you fall short at any level in the climb
to pro, you’re unceremoniously jettisoned from the team and dream... to do what??

If my daughter got the attention and opportunities that Ms Moultrie has had put before her, I too would encourage my kid to go for it. But she hasn’t been given those invitations. And I’m willing to bet very very few of your kids have either - Ms Moultrie’s situation is so rare (Heck, it’s actually one of a kind).

Tough to even think of squashing my daughter’s dreams and I won’t. But here on this forum, I take the position of a sensible parent.
 
The kid clearly is good and loves soccer. The parents knew what they were getting into so why now bring up a lawsuit. The smarter play would be let her grow up and continue to love the sport with competitive soccer locally before getting her stuck in a lose lose situation. It’s not jealousy but more of the lack of missteps from the parents. Fame and glory looks amazing until it’s not.
 
Yousername said:
e. Soccer is great, but as a profession, women don’t make what the men are making out there. And if she retires, quits or injures herself, as a woman, there isn’t a solid fall back plan without a college degree.
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Why can't she play pro AND get a college degree? With universities online these days it's even more possible. Teams don't train all day.
 
Giesbock said:
Respect your right to an opinion but to diminish the importance of a college education or belittle a “little” scholarship is dangerous. And even more so on the girls side.

Throughout Europe where there is no educational “safety net” if you fall short at any level in the climb
to pro, you’re unceremoniously jettisoned from the team and dream... to do what??

If my daughter got the attention and opportunities that Ms Moultrie has had put before her, I too would encourage my kid to go for it. But she hasn’t been given those invitations. And I’m willing to bet very very few of your kids have either - Ms Moultrie’s situation is so rare (Heck, it’s actually one of a kind).

Tough to even think of squashing my daughter’s dreams and I won’t. But here on this forum, I take the position of a sensible parent.
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In Europe a lot of pro players are getting university degrees while they are getting paid to play. And in most countries the cost of university is low or in some cases free. Of course they have a safety net - it's called family and the government.
 
This isn't about the girl. It's about the right to play pro at 16 (15 if parents are with you). This age is set by FIFA. She opening doors for those girls who aren't academic and want to chase their dreams because they can't afford to move to Europe to play.

It's ok to not be academic and not want to go to university. Nothing wrong with getting a trade.
 
msoccerm said:
This isn't about the girl. It's about the right to play pro at 16 (15 if parents are with you). This age is set by FIFA. She opening doors for those girls who aren't academic and want to chase their dreams because they can't afford to move to Europe to play.

It's ok to not be academic and not want to go to university. Nothing wrong with getting a trade.
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Do you really believe she decided to sue NWSL? She is 15 years old. She did not make this decision. Her parents and lawyers did. And, they are using her name to do so.
 
She wants to play in the NWSL. Other girls her age around the world are getting to play at her age. Her parents are helping her. I'm sure they or their club requested permission to play and the NWSL didn't grant them permission. They appealed and again no such luck. Sueing seems a little over the top, but maybe they're friends with a lawyer and they are just doing what they need to do to get the rule changed. Isn't California the most litigious state in the USA?

Its already happening with the boys:
ussoccerplayers.com

The MLS youth movement continues

Major League Soccer doesn't have an entry age for players, with signings skewing younger than the other North American pro sports leagues.
ussoccerplayers.com ussoccerplayers.com

I didn't read the article and I never heard of the girl and am not comfortable discussing a minor on a public forum. But I never understood why the NWSL has a 18 yo minimum age. Not that my kid is good enough. It just is odd and I think it's holding really elite American players back.
 
Envy? Jealousy? It runs so deep in our country. "Good luck OM" is my take. What is an academic? Is that a cool tag line to have on one's resume in life? "I have two degrees and I'm smarter than you. No soccer or freedom allowed for girls. You must go to college to play soccer and be something in life." The pressure some of you put on kids is insane!!! Good day natives. I love you all :)
 
msoccerm said:
But I never understood why the NWSL has a 18 yo minimum age.
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I have mixed feelings on the minimum age thing. I think most would agree that we need minimum age requirements for many things, after that it just comes down to deciding what is the right age. There should not be any disparity between males and females, but in many cases females are probably more likely to be physically and mentally able to take on adult responsibilities than males at a younger age. Having said all that, I personally would like to see the minimum age for the Olympics raised to at least 16 for all athletes and 16 seems about right for professional sports.
 
msoccerm said:
She wants to play in the NWSL. Other girls her age around the world are getting to play at her age. Her parents are helping her. I'm sure they or their club requested permission to play and the NWSL didn't grant them permission. They appealed and again no such luck. Sueing seems a little over the top, but maybe they're friends with a lawyer and they are just doing what they need to do to get the rule changed. Isn't California the most litigious state in the USA?

Its already happening with the boys:
ussoccerplayers.com

The MLS youth movement continues

Major League Soccer doesn't have an entry age for players, with signings skewing younger than the other North American pro sports leagues.
ussoccerplayers.com ussoccerplayers.com

I didn't read the article and I never heard of the girl and am not comfortable discussing a minor on a public forum. But I never understood why the NWSL has a 18 yo minimum age. Not that my kid is good enough. It just is odd and I think it's holding really elite American players back.
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But do we know that this is what SHE wants? I think that is the point some are trying to make on here. I know next to nothing about this girl, other than a few clips on her play. Are her parents driving this for financial reasons, or does the girl want this?
 
msoccerm said:
This isn't about the girl. It's about the right to play pro at 16 (15 if parents are with you). This age is set by FIFA. She opening doors for those girls who aren't academic and want to chase their dreams because they can't afford to move to Europe to play.

It's ok to not be academic and not want to go to university. Nothing wrong with getting a trade.
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Have no problem with her making her own choices about her path but quit hyping it up as it is such an amazing and better opportunity than getting a scholarship to college. They are glorifying this as if it is the most amazing opportunity rather than just a different choice. Both are good, neither one is the moral high road and there is a down side to going pro at an early age so just acknowledge that and quit making it sound like it is the holy grail. Haven't seen things turn out great yet for MP, or AS or even SS. Maybe it will end up so but hasn't happened yet. As has been said before, if it were the salaries of male pro sports then all for it. For $50,000 a year - not the holy grail.
 
Soccer43 said:
and there is a down side to going pro at an early age so just acknowledge that and quit making it sound like it is the holy grail.
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There is a downside to everything. It is the holy grail for elite players in Europe and Asia. Why would you train with players your own age that have an average soccer iq when you could train/play with professionals and really grow as a player? If a player is offered a pro contract at 16 or 18 it would be hard to turn it down. They can go to university at any age.

We're not talking about players that are playing for fun (e.g. an average college player) - we're talking about players that want to play at the highest level.
 
GT45 said:
Do you really believe she decided to sue NWSL? She is 15 years old. She did not make this decision. Her parents and lawyers did. And, they are using her name to do so.
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I'm sure nike has nothing to with this based on the amount of money they are paying her. I still thinks she wins the lawsuit and probably should.
 
Against the plaintiff (NWSL). They cannot enforce the 18 year min age for the next 14 days, presumably to give them time to change the rule, or some sort of injunction would follow.
 
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