MLS DA Failing - in Socal

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http://socalsoccer.com/threads/5-hom...6/#post-135839

Thoughts?

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#1 Those posts are about boys, not girls, which is the focus of this forum.
#2 I get going overseas for top-end boys, but do folks really still recommend college soccer as a pathway to the pros for boys?

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#1 Those posts are about boys, not girls, which is the focus of this forum.
#2 I get going overseas for top-end boys, but do folks really still recommend college soccer as a pathway to the pros for boys?

For #2, much of the MLS draft comes from college players. so for now, yes, college is a pathway to the pros for boys. plus, most kids will get more out of college than any pro opportunity.

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If your pathway to the pros goes through college, then either a) you really care about college (and I mean the education part, not the soccer part), or b) you're second tier.

The late-teen and early 20 years are when the top pro leagues are training prospects to be professionals, and when much of the weeding out occurs. Someone who plays four years at Akron (sorry, Nagbe) or Stanford (apologies, Jordan) may be good enough to do well in MLS, and even play for the USMNT, but will be far from a world-class player.

That said, the number of world-class field players the US has produced can be counted on one finger. And he's playing for a Bundesliga first team at age 19, not f***ing around in college.

But for some, college might be the best career path.

According to the quoted thread, though, Bruce Arena neglected the Galaxy's academy program. It's interesting--apparently the best MLS academy in SoCal belongs to LAFC, and their first team has yet to play a match....

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For #2, much of the MLS draft comes from college players. so for now, yes, college is a pathway to the pros for boys. plus, most kids will get more out of college than any pro opportunity.

It's the path if your goal is MLS. If you want to be a "real" pro player you go abroad. MLS is improving but is still so far behind the rest of the world. DA produces very few international quality players. Pulisic is a rarity, not the norm. If MLS is the target them yes a few years of college (these are kids who would get very nice packages) and then MPS pro is a possibility

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#1 Those posts are about boys, not girls, which is the focus of this forum.
#2 I get going overseas for top-end boys, but do folks really still recommend college soccer as a pathway to the pros for boys?

Really college soccer is like HS soccer on steroids; coaches are about wins, not development. But the reality is rookie pay is a joke in the MLS and if a college program is dangling a nice scholly in front of you then you're probably going to take it. College just costs too much these days for most players to walk away from that. Meanwhile internationally players 18-22 are playing professionally while ours muck about in college stadiums. IT's one of many reasons why we're making very little progress in the world arena.

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Really college soccer is like HS soccer on steroids; coaches are about wins, not development. But the reality is rookie pay is a joke in the MLS and if a college program is dangling a nice scholly in front of you then you're probably going to take it. College just costs too much these days for most players to walk away from that. Meanwhile internationally players 18-22 are playing professionally while ours muck about in college stadiums. IT's one of many reasons why we're making very little progress in the world arena.

Everything you say may be true but it doesn't change the fact that our best players are playing college soccer... except for that 1 in a million kid who may skip and go pro. There's a lot to like about getting a college education with some help from soccer. Not completely sure on this, but I think I prefer college + soccer for my kid.

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Unless your child is offered a "huge" contract at the age of 18, college should be their priority (Student Athlete).

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Everything you say may be true but it doesn't change the fact that our best players are playing college soccer... except for that 1 in a million kid who may skip and go pro. There's a lot to like about getting a college education with some help from soccer. Not completely sure on this, but I think I prefer college + soccer for my kid.

99.9% of parents do as well as it should be. So few players are capable of playing professionally - even in the weaker MLS league, and even fewer internationally. However, those who aspire to play professionally and have some kind of shot to do so should be doing so 18-22, not playing in college. The issue is players that good are unlikely to walk away from (probable) full ride scholarships. Going pro is chock full of uncertainty and definitely MLS rookie pay is a sad. International players don't face this conundrum - sports aren't really a part of university life, there are more opportunities to play professionally (within your own country or elsewhere), the pay is better, and if you want to go back to university later it won't cost you $200,000 to do so.

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Unless your child is offered a "huge" contract at the age of 18, college should be their priority (Student Athlete).

Which happens almost never. The Christian Pulisics of the US are as rare as unicorns

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Unless your child is offered a "huge" contract at the age of 18, college should be their priority (Student Athlete).

Or maybe a job as a plumber or electrician. Most of those make way more money than the average college graduate.

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Or maybe a job as a plumber or electrician. Most of those make way more money than the average college graduate.

Thousands of kids are failed by the US school system every year. Kids get little to no exposure to the trades, and a trade school path is rarely discussed. We had shop, woodworking, culinary....learning by doing. Now they push kids through HS and tell everyone you should go to college.

Massive plumbing issues at our house = I'm pretty sure I paid the college tuition bill for my plumber's kid

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This whole thread misses the point of development and pro v college. If you're at a time where college is a choice, the top pro opportunity has likely already been lost. It's not ages 18-22 where we're losing ground it's 15-18 when all these kids who make the academy teams should be playing at a higher level and fighting for spots against older ad better competition. At the top clubs, the U17s and below are where the action is. By the time they get older than that, the ones who are going to make it already have. The rest soldier on hoping for one last chance. They really should consider going to college. The chances of making it as a pro are probably about the same. If they can use soccer to pay for college they should, because that will be a bigger benefit.

For what it's worth though, a Timbers Academy player was just named the PAC 12 Player of the year after being the co-player of the year last year. Hopefully he can play professionally, but if he can't, that degree from Stanford will probably come in handy. Congrats Foster.

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This whole thread misses the point of development and pro v college. If you're at a time where college is a choice, the top pro opportunity has likely already been lost. It's not ages 18-22 where we're losing ground it's 15-18 when all these kids who make the academy teams should be playing at a higher level and fighting for spots against older ad better competition. At the top clubs, the U17s and below are where the action is. By the time they get older than that, the ones who are going to make it already have. The rest soldier on hoping for one last chance. They really should consider going to college. The chances of making it as a pro are probably about the same. If they can use soccer to pay for college they should, because that will be a bigger benefit.

For what it's worth though, a Timbers Academy player was just named the PAC 12 Player of the year after being the co-player of the year last year. Hopefully he can play professionally, but if he can't, that degree from Stanford will probably come in handy. Congrats Foster.

Most 1st and 2nd team PAC 12 players will be drafted into the MLS, including Foster. As for now, the top US players are playing D1 soccer except for that 1 in a million who may jump straight to overseas pro ball. it’s just the way it is.

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This whole thread misses the point of development and pro v college. If you're at a time where college is a choice, the top pro opportunity has likely already been lost. It's not ages 18-22 where we're losing ground it's 15-18 when all these kids who make the academy teams should be playing at a higher level and fighting for spots against older ad better competition. At the top clubs, the U17s and below are where the action is. By the time they get older than that, the ones who are going to make it already have. The rest soldier on hoping for one last chance. They really should consider going to college. The chances of making it as a pro are probably about the same. If they can use soccer to pay for college they should, because that will be a bigger benefit.

For what it's worth though, a Timbers Academy player was just named the PAC 12 Player of the year after being the co-player of the year last year. Hopefully he can play professionally, but if he can't, that degree from Stanford will probably come in handy. Congrats Foster.

Having a cup of coffee in the infancy of the Timbers Youth DA 5 years ago as a Junior/Senior is really not a testimony about the Timbers DA. It was merely a blip on his youth club radar timeline. It's truly a reflection of how the kid went through Vancouver Youth Soccer club scene and then onto FC Portland Club eventually went on to thrive in college. Sorry but connecting his current accolades to a pit stop with a da team, is a bit odd, he spent 2 more years at Stanford then he did with Timbers Inaugural DA.

Congrats to him an his family.