I'm young and wanna go pro.

[dasoccerplayafosho]

hey, if anybody has any suggestions to this, i'm open

I'm 14 and i wanna go pro. My team is a team that is all from one high school, but plays club. We've taken 2nd in state now, next to a team that comes from 9 high schools. My team practices 5 days a week in the summer, 2 1/2 hours a practice. I try to get 1,000+ touches on the ball a day, but its hard when its winter here. Theres been 6 inches of snow on the ground for almost 3 weeks, so i have to keep it in my room, other than when i go to the 2002 olympic arena and play indoor.

I want to go pro, and think i have the skill if I keep working like i do, but i have limited access to $ and coaching.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Hints, Diets, Camps, Success Stories, Failure Stories? I need any and all help i can get. I've still got a few years, and I'm hoping to make the BYU team for college (semi-pro). Any Training suggestions, sites, its all needed. Thanks a ton

[stopperkid4]

sounds like youve got what it takes just keep your mind open to any training and keep your heart in the right place and youll be fine

[super_gjertsen]

Don't you have fibre grass anywhere you can practice on? We have it, and we play with perfect conditions the whole year. And 6 inches isn't much compared with what we've had!

[designez1]

If you can't practise your technical soccerskills during the wintertimes, than I would at least try to keep you fitness...
The ideal situation would be if you could get into the picture of an European clubscout.
Also finish your school and college. Your career as a Pro-Player will likely end at around 32-35 years. You do not want to be a mailman or factoryworker after that! A degree/diploma is also an insurance if you get seriously injured.
Good luck!

[Richie]

"I'm 14 and i wanna go pro."

I am old now , but when I was very young I wanted to become and Eagle so I could fly. What you want to happen doesn't always happen. But it could happen if the desire is there and the rest of your game really improves with that desire, and your not just one of many pretty good players.

"My team is a team that is all from one high school, but plays club. We've taken 2nd in state now, next to a team that comes from 9 high schools."

That's nice but it does not mean much, but put it on your resume and then add to it and put that on your resume.

You going to need a soccer resume that you give to a club in advance of an open tryout. Then if it is impressive you may get an invitation to an open tryout. Even MLS teams have open tryout once or twice a year. As do A-league teams and USL.

It is possible to get someone to recommend you for a tryout if they are known people to that club. Some get paid for doing that. When they recommend you they are giving the club their word that you have a chance of making the team. To do that they have to have seen you play somewhere.

"My team practices 5 days a week in the summer, 2 1/2 hours a practice."

Most HS's do that. Incidently, I don't like 5 practices a week. You body needs some time off in between practices to recover.

"I try to get 1,000+ touches on the ball a day"

You actually count them? A friend of mine Dennis Mueller put out a very popular hand out called 1000 touches. It is actually about 575 to 700 touches.

When you attend a try out go early and get 500 touches before you start. Get those touches out of the way because the next 500 will be better touches that's the ones you want during the tryout.

"I want to go pro, and think i have the skill if I keep working like i do, but i have limited access to $ and coaching."

That's a problem and it could keep you from getting where you want to go. Did you try out for ODP? If so did you make it? I have found if you are a fantastic player not just an ordinary ODP type player and can not afford the cost. They find a way to keep you on the team any way. Hell, they keep non citizens on the team at no cost if they are that good a player.

That's not even enough you have to advance from there. ODP players are a dime a dozen it does not mean you can become a pro. Then again it does not mean you can't become a pro either.
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You said semi pro which means they might not pay you per game or they may pay you per game. The amount would depend how much money the club has behind them. In any case not enough to make a decent living.

It not an easy road, most pros have had a spurt where they made a major improvement in their game at some point.

Well good luck you have to be great, and the timing has to be right to make that dream happen.

Richie

[dasoccerplayafosho]

Originally posted by Richie
"I'm 14 and i wanna go pro."

"My team is from one high school..."
That's nice but it does not mean much, but put it on your resume and then add to it and put that on your resume.



Yes, it wont matter much in club, but think about this - we will have the same team for high school state soccer. We will almost defenitly win State, and probably go further. I think that will look great on my resume, since i could probably get MVP awards in that area, and I'm captain. Captaining a team that wins state will look good.

"It is possible to get someone to recommend you for a tryout if they are known people to that club. Some get paid for doing that. When they recommend you they are giving the club their word that you have a chance of making the team. To do that they have to have seen you play somewhere."

How would I do this? Would I be able to ask them to come see me play, or would they have to see my by coinidence?

'"My team practices 5 days a week in the summer, 2 1/2 hours a practice."

Most HS's do that. Incidently, I don't like 5 practices a week. You body needs some time off in between practices to recover"

Personally, I think the more practices the better. Most high school teams do that yes, but we have been doing it since U-11. The year the club started (U11) we couldn't beat the "orem scoripions", and now we beat them 12-0, and moved out of that league.

"I try to get 1,000+ touches on the ball a day"

You actually count them? A friend of mine Dennis Mueller put out a very popular hand out called 1000 touches. It is actually about 575 to 700 touches."

Its just an estimation, but I counted to about 900 once, and had a few minutes left (I can tell how long I've been working out for after a while, so i figured i usually do 1,000.

"That's a problem and it could keep you from getting where you want to go. Did you try out for ODP? If so did you make it? I have found if you are a fantastic player not just an ordinary ODP type player and can not afford the cost. They find a way to keep you on the team any way. Hell, they keep non citizens on the team at no cost if they are that good a player.

That's not even enough you have to advance from there. ODP players are a dime a dozen it does not mean you can become a pro. Then again it does not mean you can't become a pro either."

The ODP coach reffed one of your games, (although it was more like scouted one of our games) and talked to me afterward. He gave me a card, (Not red or yellow, a card with his #) yada yada, and I asked him how much it would cost. 1,000 bones he said, so I asked if there was a possibility that i could get a scholarship, and he said he'd already given out as many as he could. Another problem with ODP is that we're so spread out here. It's an hour to the ODP's practice facilities, and an hour 10 minutes to their home game field. Club soccer is bigger than ODP here for that reason

"You said semi pro which means they might not pay you per game or they may pay you per game. The amount would depend how much money the club has behind them. In any case not enough to make a decent living."

I wouldn't get paid, I would be playing for what used to be the BYU college team, it used to be a colligiate team, until the womens lacrosse team fell apart, and then they got booted because of title IX (we cant get rid of the MENS lacrosse team, NO!) So they bought a PDL club, and call it "BYU". I'd be doing it for fun, to keep in shape, and for scouting. Theres another team in utah, the "blitzz" that is basically a compilation of the best BYU players, they just pick the best players right off of BYU after their 4 years is up. (They dont have to by rule, but one of the rules that you have to have to tryout is you have to be going to school @ BYU, so they figured, what the heck, lets just do it like any other college teams do, so they do, redshirting freshman and all.)

designez1, you said "The ideal situation would be if you could get into the picture of an European clubscout."

How would I do this? Would it have to be coincidence?

[scsurge22]

If anything, having one of the best teams in state will make it harder for you to get noticed unless you're totally awesome. Normally, all the good players come from mediocre schools at best but you could get noticed depending on your skill level. Im 15 right now and I dont play for a great school team but I do know some coaches of semi-pro teams and some college coaches in my area who could take a look at me. Just build up your contacts and attend clinics (especially ones at colleges!!!) so you have a greater chance of becoming a pro.

[Richie]

Originally posted by dasoccerplayafosho
"Yes, it wont matter much in club, but think about this - we will have the same team for high school state soccer."

I am from NYC. We can do what you did. I only know one HS team that actually did play in our club league. It was Martin Luther King HS most of those players were immigrants from the black nations and islands. None of those players were born here that I know of.

They have won the public HS championship a lot of time. Undefeated for a few years as well. They got nice write ups in the NY times and made an addidas connection because of the press.

Any way they thought they would do very well in club league play. They did do pretty well, but not as well as they expected. finished 4th and third in two seasons.

I would imagine that the NY state cup is more competive then your state but i could be wrong. My club had a team that one the state cup Under 19 as 16/17 and won under 19 at 17/18.

So all these players and their captains have won state cups but it did not help them much. Every player on these team were very good players. A lot of them did play on div 1 college soccer.

Since our club had connections with a PDL club and A-league and with the Metrostars. They had exposure some spent the summer with the metrostars training. None made the team.
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"How would I do this? Would I be able to ask them to come see me play, or would they have to see my by coinidence?"

Local soccer people in that kind of position know most of the real good players in the area. The cream rises to the top. I scouted for a now defunct A league team that played in my state for a while.

So if you were a great player in our junior leagues highest division at under 19 or in the first division in one of our senior leagues I would know about you one way or another. I have seen you play or have heard about you.
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"Personally, I think the more practices the better."

Well you must know better then me. I consider a practice as one that really pushes the player. It's the quality of the practice not the quanity.
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"The ODP coach reffed one of your games"

A lot of coaches do that to look at new players for their team.
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"I asked him how much it would cost. 1,000 bones he said, so I asked if there was a possibility that i could get a scholarship, and he said he'd already given out as many as he could."

If he saw the real thing he would find a way.


"Another problem with ODP is that we're so spread out here."

That is a real problem even here in NY. Tryouts and practices held in Long island very few city players go out for the team.

Now with that summer Y league other players are looked at. Any Y league teams where you are?

You should be able to get a look if your on a PDL team. We had someone on a PDL team get a short term contract with the metrostars. He played on the Metrostars in a US open cup match. He scored 2 goals in that game and got a short term contract with the Metrostars. Not good enough to stay with the Metrostars but he did live the dream for a short time.

You may live just to far from professional play to be seen. Might need to relocate later.

[Zizou10]

Im 14 also..and have the same excact dream as you do. But in my state (PA) ODP doesnt mean anything at all. All it means is that your parents suck up and you are able to throw out the big bucks, even if the kid sucks he still makes it. But im glad that im not the only one that actually works to get better. Many props. Good luck.
Zizou10

[spartak23]

same here only im 15 and 1 day... dasoccerplayafosho and Zizou10 do yall play for jv or varsity @ your schools??

[Zizou10]

same here only im 15 and 1 day... dasoccerplayafosho and Zizou10 do yall play for jv or varsity @ your schools??
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Neither I am still in 8th grade (12/22/89). But i will play on the varsity team next year, easily. What about you?

[spartak23]

does your high school team suck so bad or are u just amazing?? i'll probably play jv this year and varsity next year... check your PM's

[Bob Morocco]

Do any of you budding pros have Euro passports, sure helped Kenny Cooper? I could have been an Irish citizen if my Grandpa had applied for an Irish passport, so I would check into this. I have a very young cousin who is being gently groomed to be a professional athlete; his dad played pro basketball overseas. Anyway he is two and a half and he spends most of his time shooting a little basketball and a little time playing soccer, his dad played when he was younger and likes the footwork benefits. The point is if you really, really want it you need to live with a ball. Walking to school, no, you're practicing dribbling. Sitting at the computer typing, no you’re getting more touches on the ball. I'm assuming you are all doing strength and conditioning work in a gym. A kid I know has a goal sized net in his yard to practice finishing. Lebron and Kobe didn't go pro just because they are genetically gifted freaks, they went pro by 18 because they love basketball and they committed themselves to doing whatever it took to play the game they loved. If you want to go pro for the money without a love for the game you won't make it. But since you are posting on BS I'm guessing you are a soccer lover so that should not be a problem. To be a great pro you have to want to win all the time. The importance of a competitive spirit cannot be overstated because it affects so much of your game. The fact that ODP is not highly regarded in your area doesn't mean anything. To become a pro you need to get noticed by as many important soccer people as possible, so jump at the chance to be involved in anything that gets you noticed. Also if you have to play for a crappy coach say for a U-17 national team do what he wants you to do in practice but realize what his tactical goal is and the error in his methods and strategy. In games, just play well and enough like the crappy coach wants you to so that he wants to play you in the next game because playing time is golden. Also what position do you play because in America it seems that as an attacking player it is much easier to go pro earlier.

[dasoccerplayafosho]

Richie said -
"I asked him how much it would cost. 1,000 bones he said, so I asked if there was a possibility that i could get a scholarship, and he said he'd already given out as many as he could."

If he saw the real thing he would find a way.


"Another problem with ODP is that we're so spread out here."

That is a real problem even here in NY. Tryouts and practices held in Long island very few city players go out for the team.

Now with that summer Y league other players are looked at. Any Y league teams where you are?

You should be able to get a look if your on a PDL team. We had someone on a PDL team get a short term contract with the metrostars. He played on the Metrostars in a US open cup match. He scored 2 goals in that game and got a short term contract with the Metrostars. Not good enough to stay with the Metrostars but he did live the dream for a short time.


He said that wasn't an option because of some rule. Apparently there is a limit to the number of "scholarships" and he has already given them to a few choice mexican players that have absolutely no $, and has promised them to them until U-18. We worked with it for a while and tried to get something to work out, but there was no way it could happen. I could possibly raise 1000 bucks reffing, but theres no way i could do all that while practicing every day and finding a way to practice. ODP in Utah is the same way as in Zizou's area. Its a bunch of rich kids that have big dreams for their kids. Everyone hates them because they are so rich and stuck up. I doubt our ODP team will ever be half-decent.

As for the super Y league, they dont have a super Y league where I am

As for Spartacks post, I'm only in 8th grade (10/22/89). We have to play freshman ball when we're freshman because its not "officially sponsored" by the Utah athletics commision or something like that, so its not official, its just a group of coaches that get together, almost like a semi-club deal.

Thank you bob morocco, for the advice on the passports. I will look into that. As for position, I play a defensive midfielder in our 3-2-3-2 (kind of like a 3-5-2 except we have three defenders, 2 defensive midfielders, 3 mids, and 2 forwards. I play defensive mid, but I'm really versatile, and personally I think its more natural for me to attack.

[Zizou10]

does your high school team suck so bad or are u just amazing?? i'll probably play jv this year and varsity next year... check your PM's.
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No my varsity team doesnt suck we have won districts and made it to the quarter-finals of states. In my state I am more of an on the bubble player because I am not huge (5' 1) and not yet fully developed. But i play for one of the top teams in my state and start. I am not a superstar but unlike all of the kids that i play with and against i play all year round and train w/ a 18 year old that is going to one of the top ten division 1 colleges in the nation. So i have a lot more touches and game experience.
Zizou10

[spartak23]

i have a passport and i'm also a ukrainian citizen... i play in an adult league with my dads team so i get more experience w/ older players alongside my club team

[_VII_]

hey, i'm from utah too. i live in salt lake city and i work at the utah olympic oval where you mentioned you play. i also play for Westminster college here in SLC. i would be more than glad to help you out wit this. i've probably seen you before, if u are any good, i've seen you play. i could get you playing with us, this could greatly improvew your touch, speed, etc. Just get in touch with me, i'm always interested in meeting young talented players who want to get better. Or if you don't want to play with us, i could give u some advice, or maybe just get together to shoot some free kicks in the spring. My email address is:
twfutbol@hotmail.com

[erictheking]

Have you written to clubs asking for a trial. Or try and get someone to get a scout down to watch you.

[dasoccerplayafosho]

Thanks for all the suggestions... KEEP THEM COMING PLEASE

[dasoccerplayafosho]

how would you write to clubs asking for a trial?