True for 99% of youth soccer players in this country. For the elite 1% in this country (Gil, Lletget, etc.) that are getting professional offers from Europe, that's the better choice. Just like it is for all of those elite high school baseball players that sign with pro teams. They go to the minor leagues, learn the craft, etc.
On the Gil question, there are professional considerations to going to any camp where scouts attend and will grade. For example, there's nothing much Jimmy Claussen can do in the next four months that's going to increase his value more than simply sitting at home gives him. There's plenty he can do to decrease it. So basically, he needs to keep his mouth shut publicly and not attend any camps or combines. Gil's situation is not close to the same, but there's elements of the same pragmatic thought process that inevitably have to be applied. If Gil is in a situation where he can wind up in a prize European youth academy just by staying healthy until the time comes, then it would be in his best interests to greatly limit the exposure to things that could potentially jeopardize that. That's not saying that means these camps were a bad idea, just that such things ought to be taken into consideration.
Fast Forward to reality and life, most people as they get older have bills and get married and have kids and responsibilities. How many do you think will actually go to college or have time for that later in life if they get hurt playing a sport? NOT MANY if any. So get the degree while you are young and have the time and less responsibility.
actually there are plenty of adults who go to school. and let us not forget all the kids who go to college that either have to work to put themselves through college, or have kids of their own. yes, even kids have plenty of responsibility. I had to pay for my own tuition, Rent, utilities, gas, insurance, etc... if kids opt to go to europe to play professional then they will bank. If they have an adult with just a shred of inteligence in their life they would put 30-40k aside for school later in life. AND if they fail early and have no money, let us not forget the people i mentioned above. Plenty of people go to college without loads of money, but few youth Yanks truly get the opportunity to turn pro (compared to the number who actually play youth soccer)
Why should college wait, if your that good then the agents and soccer will be there when you graduate college at 21 or 22 years old and you have your degree. I personally think its very immature and irresponsible for a high school graduate to go right to pro sports when they have an opportunity to go to college. Although they may have athletic ability it shows a very weak brain, and yes there are alot of adults that go to college cuz they are motivated to do so and have the time, but someone that chooses there sport and says hell with college, I will go later shows that mentally they are not interested in making the muscle in there head any stronger. Whats the old saying? "do your work before you play" This argument is like arguing about religion. Everyone believes what they want, both sides are right and both sides are wrong. damned if you do and damned if you don't
there is a limited time frame when you can pursue pro sports. College has a much larger window. As my dad always says, strike while the iron is hot.
Why does everyone take sides without considering the specifics of each case. There are dozens of variables to affect whether an individual should sign a pro contract or go to college. One doesn't always trump the other. Let's take Eddie Gaven for example, at age 16 he was offered aroun 80K for 3 Yrs with a small bump each year, almost double what an avg 4 yr college graduate gets. Then after 3 Yrs he re negotiated a contract where now as a 24 Yr old he makes 178K per yr. Bordering MD type money. Justin Mapp 255K, I.Sesay 102K, F.Ibrahim 108K, Bowen 96K, Leyva 75K. For those who can negotiate a good salary, doesn't have Harvard on their list, or the many, many where college is not for them it's a right decision. For those who don't have negotiative leverage and does have basic academic acumen college is absolutely the best option. We constantly make 2 incorrect assumptions on this board. Every soccer playing youth has the academic capacity to want to go to college, and every Division 1 soccer player in the US gets a full scholarship and doesn't need to pay a cent.
not true by any means your post makes no sense. What does it say?? "i have the opportunity of a life time that millions around the world would KILL for". college is NOT for everyone. i'll leave it at that