Want to go pro, can speed carry me?

[upandcomming]

Well basically I have been "playing" soccer since I was about 6, on and off. At the moment I am 17 and run the 100m in 10.75fat and have very fast accelleration. Apart from speed, my vision, fast dribbling, passing, and support play are excellent. My weaknesses are my shooting (from outside the box) and heading.

Last year when I was 16 I played pretty casually (only on saturdays and no training). This year I'm thinking of getting serious, 5 day a week training sort of thing, in hopes that I can go professional. Many people have told me that a years worth of hard training under my belt could take me places, but I'm still not sure.

My question sort of is, is it too late for me to be trying to go pro and If I decide to how much will my speed help me out in making it?

Thanks for replies :)

[Derk]

you don't play for any kind of club?

[upandcomming]

Well here is my history

14:
- state team
- school (played against 16 yos)

15
-school team

16:
-played for mens club
In that season I trained maybe 10 times tops,due to other commitments, but I always played full games due to my athletism. In retrospect I should have started to train 5days a week there, but I was not contemplating a career in soccer at the time.

17:
????

[JRedknapp11]

Well basically I have been "playing" soccer since I was about 6, on and off. At the moment I am 17 and run the 100m in 10.75fat and have very fast accelleration. Apart from speed, my vision, fast dribbling, passing, and support play are excellent. My weaknesses are my shooting (from outside the box) and heading.

Last year when I was 16 I played pretty casually (only on saturdays and no training). This year I'm thinking of getting serious, 5 day a week training sort of thing, in hopes that I can go professional. Many people have told me that a years worth of hard training under my belt could take me places, but I'm still not sure.

My question sort of is, is it too late for me to be trying to go pro and If I decide to how much will my speed help me out in making it?

Thanks for replies :)

Check it out....
http://bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=314226

[upandcomming]

Okay well let me rephrase the question then.

How would someone go pro who does not have the option of going through a youth system and straight to a club?

[Wasted]

In response to the title of the thread, no, speed cannot carry you. Speed cannot make up for lack of skills, instinct, or very good knowledge of the game.

Now I don't mean to be a downer, but it takes more than a year of intense training to go pro. I have a friend who played D1, even had a short stint in Germany, and he still is only a semi-pro. And as far as I know, the best way to get good enough to be a pro is to play against very good competition.

[Bks#1striker]

10.57?? where u from, and u need endurance AND speed to make pro in the physical sense, u also have to do alot of tactical practice

[erictheking]

There's been a lot of these kind of posts on here. My answer is however good you think you are, you're probably shite. You'd have been spotted by now if you were any good.

You're never gonna make it.

[Skizz]

I agree with the post above. I don't know how it works in America, but if you were over here you would be too old to be contemplating a career as a pro footballer. In my life, I have only ever known one player who turned pro in your circumstances, and that was Ian Wright. Those days are gone now.

When I went pro, I was with the same club from the age of 9. I don't play pro now due to injury, but if I were you I wouldn't expect to be going pro anytime soon.

Obviously in America it might be different...

[Wasted]

I agree with the post above. I don't know how it works in America, but if you were over here you would be too old to be contemplating a career as a pro footballer. In my life, I have only ever known one player who turned pro in your circumstances, and that was Ian Wright. Those days are gone now.

When I went pro, I was with the same club from the age of 9. I don't play pro now due to injury, but if I were you I wouldn't expect to be going pro anytime soon.

Obviously in America it might be different...

Oh, it's not. It's just I think many players are a little more niave over here.

Well, that and the fact that whenever anyone posts here on BS they exaggerate everything.

[viperman5000]

Speed means nothing if you can't put it in the back of the net. Sorry, but that's the truth.

[upandcomming]

I agree with the post above. I don't know how it works in America, but if you were over here you would be too old to be contemplating a career as a pro footballer. In my life, I have only ever known one player who turned pro in your circumstances, and that was Ian Wright. Those days are gone now.

When I went pro, I was with the same club from the age of 9. I don't play pro now due to injury, but if I were you I wouldn't expect to be going pro anytime soon.

Obviously in America it might be different...

ahh okay thanks for posts. Nah I dont live in america. I live in a very small country which is not good at soccer internationally.

I am aware that it is very hard to become pro especially if you do not go through a youth system now. I have ambitions for playing for my country still and if so trying to get spotted internationally. I still have hopes of hearing how klose went pro at 22....

and yes I can find the back of the net from inside the box very easily :D:cool:

[Fulham Fan]

Don't listen to them:

http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313888

You need to train a lot, though. To be of interest to a manager, the ball has to be your best friend from now on. Also watch lots of soccer and build up your knowledge of the game, particularly positioning and off-the-ball runs.

Also, give a lot of team effort when you play (you'll need stamina) and show grit on defense, no matter what position you play.

[smithxi]

I would say speed can carry you if you're a good finisher, if you can make the goal happen. a lot of people are fast, but don't finish, and therefor it's useless. I'm small and fast, and I often have this problem. But then again I'm also having a lot of problems getting the ball when I need it to score from my teammates right now. I think it's that we don't know each other well enough yet though. Hopefully it figures itself out.

[GreenDay]

I'd say you probably lack most in technique. Go out there EVERY day and practice your technique. It's the most important thing in soccer BY FAR. Practice everything - passing (friend or wall), dribbling, stops and turns, shooting (every kind you can imagine - moving ball, dead ball, volleys, inside foot, outside foot, laces...) and practice your controlling the ball (get the ball where you need it with your first touch). Your speed will give you a huge advantage over everyone else, but you need to work really hard to make up for the lost time. I wouldn't worry too much about tactics, get that technique down. You really need to work on your own if you really want to make it, if you're too lazy, it won't happen.

[Da_Trickster]

Okay well let me rephrase the question then.

How would someone go pro who does not have the option of going through a youth system and straight to a club?

Well, it depends, on one hand you could be found by a scout and asked for trials and hopefully get into the team, or you could just keep on playing for your team and see what happens, i got it lucky as I was scouted by Charlton FC (England, Premiership) at the age of 12. Never mind about how old you are, when i was 15 i saw 17-18 year olds coming into the older squad.

It depends on what position you play is the answer to your question on the thread, if you play on the wing (left or right midfeild) than it will be useful and good for that postition, IF you play central defender speed is only going to help you when your running after an attacker which variys during the season because of how good the team is, (sorry about the essay!).

I hope you get scouted by someone and become successful in football/soccer and it's good to see someone so commited to becoming an professional player :D

[upandcomming]

I'd say you probably lack most in technique. Go out there EVERY day and practice your technique. It's the most important thing in soccer BY FAR. Practice everything - passing (friend or wall), dribbling, stops and turns, shooting (every kind you can imagine - moving ball, dead ball, volleys, inside foot, outside foot, laces...) and practice your controlling the ball (get the ball where you need it with your first touch). Your speed will give you a huge advantage over everyone else, but you need to work really hard to make up for the lost time. I wouldn't worry too much about tactics, get that technique down. You really need to work on your own if you really want to make it, if you're too lazy, it won't happen.

Yes, thanks I have been practicing shooting and control like a mad man the past few days and I am quite pleased with progress.

To the rest thank you aswell.

I will keep posting here about my progress till I make my national team :eek: :D

[erictheking]

Yes, thanks I have been practicing shooting and control like a mad man the past few days and I am quite pleased with progress.
D

You're ready for the big time. All it takes is a few days training. What's your name? I'll keep my eye out for you on sky sports.

[upandcomming]

You're ready for the big time. All it takes is a few days training. What's your name? I'll keep my eye out for you on sky sports.
Yup, I am a natural footballer blessed with athletic ability which I am grateful for. All I need now is luck and chance to progress.

I was in a development program when I was a youngster. However back then I was slow and not big enough to do well. Therefore I lost motivation and gave up, until a year or so ago till I hit puberty and gained my athletic ability. FYI

[erictheking]

That may be. But I'd still put money on you not being very good.