Can a recreational team player become pro?

[nloplo]

I'm 15 and I'm playing recreational and highschool soccer starting in september. I have good ball control and power. Since i've started working out this year my skills have improved a lot. I was wondering if there are any possibilities of me turning pro even thought i've never been to an academy?

[arsenalfc08]

Yes. Look at Jay Demerit. He played in college but wasn't selected by MLS, he got an Eu passport (his grandma was from Denmark enabling him to get one). He went to Europe and started pretty much at the bottom like 8th tier of English football then moved up to 7th tier? His team played a pre-season game against Watford and he impressed their coach, he got a trial and is now playing for them. If you really want the specifics then just google him.

Also while I say it is possbile it will be very hard. What do you mean by academy? Like a european academy? I would tryout for some club teams and odp if your eligable with your age (its different in every state), even if you don't make them at least you get experience.

Where do you live do you live in the UK or USA? You don't need to be in an academy to become a proffesional. Not every kid that is in the acadmey system (in euorpe) even turns professional.

[nymetrobulls]

Of course there is always a chance. But you got to realize the difference between playing for a recreational team and for an academy. It's not even close. I would highly recommend trying out for a high level team if you want to go anywhere.

[severs92]

it is possible like look at flores from chivas usa. he won sueno mls and starts for chivas usa now. you just have to be in the right place at the right time

[Bronaldo]

2-3 years ago Ever Banega was playing the equivalent of house league soccer in Argentina. Now he's one of the best prospects in the world and playing for a high profile Europeon club (Valencia).

[Shrapnac]

Ever Banega came through the Boca Juniors youth system...

[SoccerNation]

Yes. Look at Jay Demerit.

Jay Demerit was a division 1 college player before he went to England. Thats a long ways from being a rec league player.

Also, Jorge Flores played club ball in the Southern California Coast Soccer League which is a much higher standard than rec league. I think he was also on a mexican youth academy before his family immigrated to the U.S. Not 100% sure though.


To sum it up, anything is possible and i am sure that a recreational player can become a pro. I just wouldn't count on it.
Usually, the better players moves up the ranks (ex: rec-club-odp-college-pro etc..) if you're still playing rec league at 20 yrs old... chances are, you are not a very good player and wont be seeing the pro field anytime soon.

Like I said though, anything is possible and there are always exceptions to the rules.
Goodluck!

[Lovefutball]

Of course it is possible. There are kids from South America and Africa that make it to decent teams after growing up in poverty where they don't even have leagues..

I'll use myself as an example. I was a late bloomer when it comes to soccer, I played when I was young and quit when I was twelve and I rediscovered my love for the game when I was 15, (almost two years ago). Those three years that I didn't play were crucial at the youth level, all my friends went on to play d1 club teams ect ect...so I found myself at 16 playing rec. However, I train and work out side of rec and although I am with any team right now, I was able to make my high school varsity team, a team that consisted of all d1 select youth players. I am able to play at their level, and for me to know that I was able to make up three years time in one year gives me lots of hope of one day playing at a decent level of soccer.

So here is what I would recommend for you...

If you are enjoying your rec team, and you can't go to a select team, just keep on playing rec. But, if you want to get some where, train everyday. Fitness wise, you can find all sorts of drills on the internet. Reach your maximum fitness and your half way there, fitness is a big part of soccer and you don't need to be paying a grand a season to get fit. The harder part will be improving your game. Buy coaching dvds, train daily, play with people, perhaps join an indoor league if you have one...there are hundreds of things you can do. Just don't give up on the dream.

[BigRed1123]

Realistically, no. Is it possible, yes, but highly unlikely. In this country, which is behind many other countries in player retention, development, recruitment, etc...playing rec will not get you to the pros. Forget what you saw in that stupid "Goal: The Dream Begins" movie, it doesn't work like that. There is the occassional "rags to riches" story, but there are plenty of select/academy/talented college players who don't even get a look at the professional level for various reasons. Some of these reasons include: lack of networking-they haven't been able to establish good soccer contacts around the country/world; low end salary/pay at the pro level in US and in the lower leagues around the world-many players who are good enough to play in the MLS, for example, will be making less coming out of college and playing than if they just used their degrees to get normal jobs, lack of opportunities; many players who came up through the rec leagues and became great players will never be given the time of day for a trial/try-out or roster spot simply because coaches aren't willing to take the risk, for instance, if you go to a professional team and ask about a trial, the coach will want to know where you played club/college ball and even then, if the coach isn't impressed, you aren't given a chance.
Another reason why it's unlikely is this, soccer is getting better everyday in the US. The MLS is starting to establish itself with a better fan base, the players are coming through the ranks (sometimes) of the academy systems that have been established, the college game is always competitve, "select" teams are merging and playing other teams from around the country, creating a fruitful and very competitve environment for soccer to grow and thrive.
So, can a recreational player become pro? Yes. My advice, play the sport because you love to play it, work hard everyday to make the most of every opportunity you play, whether it's a kick-around at the park, a game, training session or try-out. Play because it's fun, if that means joining a better team that isn't rec, than go for it, play for a select team. Just keep this in mind, just because you're great doesn't mean you're guaranteed to go pro, but by playing for the love of the game and competition, you can take out of the sport, what you put into it. Good luck!

[Lovefutball]

Adding on to the above post. He made a good point about how it would be hard to get trials with a rec being the only thing on your cv. But that being said if you can afford it and YOU believe you are truly good enough, USL clubs usually hold open trials and colleges on the D2 level tend to hold "combines" which are also usually open. Keep your eyes open kid. But again these cost 100$ - 250$ + how much you have to pay to get there. So you need to be confident and you need to be good enough.

I'm actually attending a texas area college combine next year, basically some D2 and D3 colleges come to this school and watch kids play and if they are interested they ask to see you play more at their schoolect But I know this one is only 150$, and its extremely close, so I'm going to give it a shot. If I don't get anything from it, at least I'll know how I measure up, which is always nice.

[nymetrobulls]

Adding on to the above post. He made a good point about how it would be hard to get trials with a rec being the only thing on your cv. But that being said if you can afford it and YOU believe you are truly good enough, USL clubs usually hold open trials and colleges on the D2 level tend to hold "combines" which are also usually open. Keep your eyes open kid. But again these cost 100$ - 250$ + how much you have to pay to get there. So you need to be confident and you need to be good enough.

I'm actually attending a texas area college combine next year, basically some D2 and D3 colleges come to this school and watch kids play and if they are interested they ask to see you play more at their schoolect But I know this one is only 150$, and its extremely close, so I'm going to give it a shot. If I don't get anything from it, at least I'll know how I measure up, which is always nice.

Good luck.

[Lovefutball]

thanks, won't be for awhile, im still looking forward to it though, i think anyone can only gain from such an experience.

[nymetrobulls]

thanks, won't be for awhile, im still looking forward to it though, i think anyone can only gain from such an experience.

Hey you've got nothing to lose and everything to gain right. If they like you then great if not, then it's not the end of the world and if you want to keep playing there will be other oppurtunities.

[Lovefutball]

Thats the way I think of it! I'll probably make a thread when the event nears aswell

[BigRed1123]

Good luck at the combine, it's a great opportunity to be seen and it gives you experience playing in a unique environment, you have a good outlook on it...and that's half of the task anyways, you'll do fine. I'd be interested to hear how it turns out after you attend.

[Lovefutball]

Yeah I'll keep you all up to date. I believe there is a large one in decemeber and a smaller one in april, but I think dates are still tentative

[djl304]

I'm in a somewhat situation, albeit with a little bit more experience. Basically, I am trying to see just how far hard work can get someone. I transferred schools for a family reason and I went from a D1 track program to a small D3 soccer school. While I played a lot of soccer throughout high school (captain of school team and went through some good club programs) I have been away from the game for a total of about 4 years. I too am looking to improve as much as possible, starting with my one and only year of college soccer and then hopefully on to a USL team. If anyone wants, I can update this thread too with my progress. Lovefutball, just to get your hopes up, I played in a rec league longer than most soccer players I know, and while I did join a club team, I wasn't on the top team until I was probably 13, and by the time I hit my senior year of high school I had multiple D1 offers. If you put the work in you will see the results.

[fhcsoccer12]

Adding on to the above post. He made a good point about how it would be hard to get trials with a rec being the only thing on your cv. But that being said if you can afford it and YOU believe you are truly good enough, USL clubs usually hold open trials and colleges on the D2 level tend to hold "combines" which are also usually open. Keep your eyes open kid. But again these cost 100$ - 250$ + how much you have to pay to get there. So you need to be confident and you need to be good enough.

I'm actually attending a texas area college combine next year, basically some D2 and D3 colleges come to this school and watch kids play and if they are interested they ask to see you play more at their schoolect But I know this one is only 150$, and its extremely close, so I'm going to give it a shot. If I don't get anything from it, at least I'll know how I measure up, which is always nice.

.

If you're the best in your league and team, move. Always move up onto teams when you're the best, keep challenging yourself. And if you ever get offers from D2 or D3, and not D1, don't be discouraged. There are some very, very talented teams in D2 or D3. My coach in High School was a very good play, but just didn't have the connections in colleges. He ended up at a D2 school with many other very good players. He actually played pro in Sweden.

There's alot of politics in American Soccer, in my opinion. You just have to make the most of it and go out and play

[Lovefutball]

D2 is what I'm aiming for, I'm really confident I can make D3 if anything. Yeah, D2 can be quite good for conference. I know of a couple players from the closest d2 team here that are now in USL1 playing along side young men from D1 teams whilst showing potential to move even higher.

[nymetrobulls]

.There's alot of politics in American Soccer, in my opinion. You just have to make the most of it and go out and play

Way too much politics even at the youth levels.