The Revolution Academy needs to make some changes.

[Unregistered]

DA parents are type A personalities. They want the best of everything for their kids and most are willing to pay through the nose for it. I would assume 95%+ are in it for the college hook. The last thing they want for their child is an insulting HG contract. They want a top academic institution, plus soccer, so their little Chad can become a Wall Street trader or a brain surgeon.

I guess I'm the exception that proves your rule? My kid is smart enough but doesn't fit into a school mold; he has no desire to go to college and I'm not pushing him in that direction. He would be ecstatic to get a HG contract. He has dual citizenship though, so we may not stick around long enough for that to happen. If he pursues his dream and fails, he will never have some nagging "what if" regrets in his head. Plan B is boat building or carpentry. Life isn't about "lifetime earnings," although where I live, carpenters seem to be doing pretty well.

[Unregistered]

I guess I'm the exception that proves your rule? My kid is smart enough but doesn't fit into a school mold; he has no desire to go to college and I'm not pushing him in that direction. He would be ecstatic to get a HG contract. He has dual citizenship though, so we may not stick around long enough for that to happen. If he pursues his dream and fails, he will never have some nagging "what if" regrets in his head. Plan B is boat building or carpentry. Life isn't about "lifetime earnings," although where I live, carpenters seem to be doing pretty well.

If he really wants it AND it's realistic (is it really?), get him out of the US as soon as it's feasible. Definitely get him away from the Revs. Far more pro opportunities abroad, better training and pay. He might even be able to come back home and play MLS for a few years as he nears retirement. Outside of soccer, apprentice in carpentry if that's his passion. Have a plan B that can be executed soon or in the future.

[Unregistered]

If he really wants it AND it's realistic (is it really?), get him out of the US as soon as it's feasible. Definitely get him away from the Revs. Far more pro opportunities abroad, better training and pay. He might even be able to come back home and play MLS for a few years as he nears retirement. Outside of soccer, apprentice in carpentry if that's his passion. Have a plan B that can be executed soon or in the future.

Too early to say, but we'll probably know before he's 16 whether or not it's realistic. An acquaintance with a son in MLS and second son possibly headed there seems to think he's progressing in the right direction. And he has an EU passport, so there are plenty of possibilities.

[Unregistered]

Too early to say, but we'll probably know before he's 16 whether or not it's realistic. An acquaintance with a son in MLS and second son possibly headed there seems to think he's progressing in the right direction. And he has an EU passport, so there are plenty of possibilities.

I’m afraid to ask how old your son is.

[Unregistered]

Too early to say, but we'll probably know before he's 16 whether or not it's realistic. An acquaintance with a son in MLS and second son possibly headed there seems to think he's progressing in the right direction. And he has an EU passport, so there are plenty of possibilities.

You can forget about a soccer career if you’re at the Revs.

[Unregistered]

I’m afraid to ask how old your son is.

He is six, but he is extremely advanced with his footwork and showing great promise. Dominating everyone on the playground.

[Unregistered]

He is six, but he is extremely advanced with his footwork and showing great promise. Dominating everyone on the playground.

Probably not far from the truth sadly.

[Unregistered]

Probably not far from the truth sadly.

but seriously, he is a much better than almost all of the seven year olds in his class

[Unregistered]

but seriously, he is a much better than almost all of the seven year olds in his class

and the only 7 yr olds who are better than him repeated to get an advantage. Total BS. So in truth he is the best in his age group

[Unregistered]

Too early to say, but we'll probably know before he's 16 whether or not it's realistic. An acquaintance with a son in MLS and second son possibly headed there seems to think he's progressing in the right direction. And he has an EU passport, so there are plenty of possibilities.

Oh, so a family friend said he might be good enough some day? Do yourself a favor and get him evaluated by people who know what they're talking about. Obviously this would exclude the Revs.

[Unregistered]

Oh, so a family friend said he might be good enough some day? Do yourself a favor and get him evaluated by people who know what they're talking about. Obviously this would exclude the Revs.

A family friend who played DI, who's older son is a HG MLS player and whose younger son is in an academy at a reputable club (certainly not up here), who says my kid is mirroring his older son. Coaches of his who played DI and have said he is talented enough that if he continues as he has, he will have no problem being recruited for college (but again, not really a goal).

I'm in this thread seeing all the negativity about Revs and thinking I'm just going to have to try to convince him that NPL is good enough. We don't live near an ISL school and he's not the boarding type. He's also not the type to go live with a host family near a good academy, and moving the whole family to somewhere with a better academy, just to pursue a kid's soccer dream, isn't going to happen (although going to Europe down the road to give it a shot for a year or two is a different story, even if it's just him and me - I love Europe). Regardless, it's all going to depend on how he comes through puberty. He may have already peaked for all I know, but as they say, luck favors the prepared, and I'm preparing just in case.

[Unregistered]

A family friend who played DI, who's older son is a HG MLS player and whose younger son is in an academy at a reputable club (certainly not up here), who says my kid is mirroring his older son. Coaches of his who played DI and have said he is talented enough that if he continues as he has, he will have no problem being recruited for college (but again, not really a goal).

I'm in this thread seeing all the negativity about Revs and thinking I'm just going to have to try to convince him that NPL is good enough. We don't live near an ISL school and he's not the boarding type. He's also not the type to go live with a host family near a good academy, and moving the whole family to somewhere with a better academy, just to pursue a kid's soccer dream, isn't going to happen (although going to Europe down the road to give it a shot for a year or two is a different story, even if it's just him and me - I love Europe). Regardless, it's all going to depend on how he comes through puberty. He may have already peaked for all I know, but as they say, luck favors the prepared, and I'm preparing just in case.

I don't even know where to start with this post....

[Unregistered]

A family friend who played DI, who's older son is a HG MLS player and whose younger son is in an academy at a reputable club (certainly not up here), who says my kid is mirroring his older son. Coaches of his who played DI and have said he is talented enough that if he continues as he has, he will have no problem being recruited for college (but again, not really a goal).

I'm in this thread seeing all the negativity about Revs and thinking I'm just going to have to try to convince him that NPL is good enough. We don't live near an ISL school and he's not the boarding type. He's also not the type to go live with a host family near a good academy, and moving the whole family to somewhere with a better academy, just to pursue a kid's soccer dream, isn't going to happen (although going to Europe down the road to give it a shot for a year or two is a different story, even if it's just him and me - I love Europe). Regardless, it's all going to depend on how he comes through puberty. He may have already peaked for all I know, but as they say, luck favors the prepared, and I'm preparing just in case.

My friend is a world renowned proctologist. I just showed him this post. Guess what he said?

[Unregistered]

I don't even know where to start with this post....

Look, I get it, everyone on here thinks cynicism is an art form and/or relies on the "talent will be found" oversimplification. If I talk to a parent who has already traveled the road of helping guide his kid to become a pro, I'm going to believe what he tells me more than some anonymous poster on here who just wants to tell everyone becoming a pro is like being struck by lightning because it didn't happen for anyone they know.

[Unregistered]

Even more than talent, for your son to reach high levels in the sport, he must have DRIVE. You can assess that without an expert.

I'm not so cynical, so I say good luck to you, and I truly hope your son *does* go pro. But I have seen SO many boys fade, especially after puberty.