ECRL vs GA

[Unregistered]

I know several former pro international players. All regret not focusing more on school. No one of any big name, which is part of the issue. Plenty will slog along in lower level leagues for a few years, maybe make a few $ but that's it. Then they're 28, no university education and trying to figure out what to do next.

Saw an article a couple of years ago where a former Chinese Olympian medalist was basically homeless because after a lifetime of focusing on sports he basically had no idea how to live.

[Unregistered]

Not even close. Kids don't commit to going pro at 16 like they do abroad. They're not shipped off to soccer academies where clubs don't care about school. For the most part Americans stay in school until they graduate in HS. Pay to play soccer's skew to middle and upper income means getting a college education matters to most families. They're also less likely to forgo a decent college scholarship to play soccer for a chance at the pros - unless it's very clear the kid really has something, which happens rarely

Not even close to what? A HS or College education is no guarantee of anything. Also remember that far fewer kids go the pro route because is requires real talent/Potential. SUre most fail, just like many kids fail at College. The failures are just more apparent when its a highly touted athlete. Shipped off to academies? what are you talking about? Many kids are developed at their local pro club. Not shipped off anywhere.

[Unregistered]

Saw an article a couple of years ago where a former Chinese Olympian medalist was basically homeless because after a lifetime of focusing on sports he basically had no idea how to live.

Do you think there are not homeless people with College degrees?

[Unregistered]

The US system allows for kids to use their sports as a way to get education. Not necessarily for scholarship money, but the opportunity to play beyond youth leagues comes with the caveat that you must be a part of an educational institution as a student. For some, sports is currency for a player to get into a better college than they could without it. So from this perspective, the US system does not leave a trail of poorly educated injured players in its wake; players at least participate in education and are better prepared for life after sports.

What is your point? The US system would not change. You would simply add a REAL system for elite kids who want to go pro. I dont see any issues with it at all.

[Unregistered]

What is your point? The US system would not change. You would simply add a REAL system for elite kids who want to go pro. I dont see any issues with it at all.

If this were a viable business model it would already exist. No money to be made here in trying to find and develop pro talent. The money comes from talent that wants to pay to develop itself. And for the most part, it is not pro level.

[Unregistered]

Do you think there are not homeless people with College degrees?

I'm sure there are. But the likelihood is far less, and the cause probably far less likely to be because of lack of education.

[Unregistered]

What is your point? The US system would not change. You would simply add a REAL system for elite kids who want to go pro. I dont see any issues with it at all.

My point is that the US system currently is geared towards combining sports and education. Yes, you can add a real system, but that system would have a very small number of participants until the financial reward of a pro career really materialized.

There is a lot of talk recently about the G-League becoming a true minor league for the NBA. You would see a lot more guys going there directly from high school instead of going to college first. Certainly that would be helpful to the Lebrons of the world who only go to college for a year or two anyways, but it would also probably lead to more players foregoing college and then be left without any kind of education if they don't succeed in getting to the NBA.

[Unregistered]

Any possibility of seeing GA vs ECRL at the US Club Mid Atlantic Regionals? Would GA teams be allowed to play?

[Unregistered]

My point is that the US system currently is geared towards combining sports and education. Yes, you can add a real system, but that system would have a very small number of participants until the financial reward of a pro career really materialized.

There is a lot of talk recently about the G-League becoming a true minor league for the NBA. You would see a lot more guys going there directly from high school instead of going to college first. Certainly that would be helpful to the Lebrons of the world who only go to college for a year or two anyways, but it would also probably lead to more players foregoing college and then be left without any kind of education if they don't succeed in getting to the NBA.

Minor league for the multi billion dollar NBA has no relationship to some kind of minor league for a struggling NWSL. These two things do not even belong in the same conversation.

[Unregistered]

My point is that the US system currently is geared towards combining sports and education. Yes, you can add a real system, but that system would have a very small number of participants until the financial reward of a pro career really materialized.

There is a lot of talk recently about the G-League becoming a true minor league for the NBA. You would see a lot more guys going there directly from high school instead of going to college first. Certainly that would be helpful to the Lebrons of the world who only go to college for a year or two anyways, but it would also probably lead to more players foregoing college and then be left without any kind of education if they don't succeed in getting to the NBA.

"Yes, you can add a real system, but that system would have a very small number of participants until the financial reward of a pro career really materialized."

As it should be. Every other sport has the same thing. You really think top pro prospects going to College for a year is education related? LOL Please. It is obvious why it currently does not exist in the USA. My point is stop pretending that it does. Realize that the EXACT reason why other countries do not compete with the USA Internationally is why the USA system creates the illusion of being better than the rest. On the women's sided Volume >>>>> Quality. Quality requires REAL investment from Clubs. Volume relies on Parent funding.

[Unregistered]

I'm sure there are. But the likelihood is far less, and the cause probably far less likely to be because of lack of education.

I very much doubt you are correct just based on the volume of people participating on each side.

[Unregistered]

If this were a viable business model it would already exist. No money to be made here in trying to find and develop pro talent. The money comes from talent that wants to pay to develop itself. And for the most part, it is not pro level.

Who said it was a viable model? We agree. If people really want equality, a real professional environment needs to exist. Until then, nothing to see here but a bunch of politics. MR talks about equality, but is she even the best CAM in the NWSL? I doubt it. Why is she still on the team IF the chance to actually make the team was a reality for more players?

[Unregistered]

I very much doubt you are correct just based on the volume of people participating on each side.

Volume is irrelevant in discussion around probability and proportion.

[Unregistered]

"Yes, you can add a real system, but that system would have a very small number of participants until the financial reward of a pro career really materialized."

As it should be. Every other sport has the same thing. You really think top pro prospects going to College for a year is education related? LOL Please. It is obvious why it currently does not exist in the USA. My point is stop pretending that it does. Realize that the EXACT reason why other countries do not compete with the USA Internationally is why the USA system creates the illusion of being better than the rest. On the women's sided Volume >>>>> Quality. Quality requires REAL investment from Clubs. Volume relies on Parent funding.

You are agreeing with my point.