Here is a question; Do you out there think a 38 year old who at one point in life was a former college player-and top Am. player in top Am league till the age of 28-but who has not played in 10 years, is out of shape,-Can this person get into good enough shape in 6 months to play pro? pretty general question I know-but I guy I know from my college team is 38 was a very good player but literally has not touched a ball in 10 years and now a man who coaches a pro team in canada has promised him a try-out in Camp in late april...he started training last month...I just wondering what people out there think his odds might be....should be interesting to see....what do you think??
As ********3 said... anythings possible. But that would be very, VERY tough training to get yourself into game shape and get a feel back for the ball. Additionally, it'll probably be hard to go pro at the age of 38 (and unfit/hasn't touched a ball in 10 years) because everyone else there will be younger, fitter, and have probably practiced many times every day to get to that position. Not saying it isn't possible, but it will be very hard. Just wondering, what pro team in Canada is it?
If he has intelligence and a lack of ego, then it could be possible. At that age, though, he'll have to be a model veteran player, and that means his mindset will fail him before anything else does unless he gets the right attitude and leaves it all on the field and also shows a knack for communication and being a good teammate.
Form is temporary, class is permanent. My soccer coach in his late 40's, he could even be 50 something for all I know. He hasn't played seriously in about 20 years, but when he sometimes joins in during indoor, he can still pull off tricks and stuff and embarrass people who are 16/17. If teh guy can get in shape and gain a bit of fitness, you just nver know.
He will literally have to devote almost every waking hour to training in order to pull it off if he were only 28 in the same position. The fact that he is 38 will make it so much harder, but if he has the will and determination to take all the time necessary to get as fit as possible, then I would say that he could totally do it. But I also must say that being 38 alone is the toughest obstacle in his path, even if he had played soccer over the last ten years, its gonna be hard for him to compete with a bunch of young guys straight out of college. -Tell him that I'm rooting for him though...
his leadership was excellent--he was Captain of my college team as well as his high school team and his Am team.......he was never the fastest or quickest striker but he had a knack for scoring goals like I have never seen-he banged a lot of balls into the net.....great guy too-he was the type of guy you loved to have on your team-always stuck up for his team-mates
he can make it, especially if his style is such that he doesn't have to be the fastest guy on the field. he will have to work his a$$ off though during training and i don't mean that he will have to devot every hour to playing soccer. it is not as much quantity of his training as it is his quality. it would be better for him to work 3 hours a day at game pace or as close as he can get to it than to spend 6 hours at a leisurely or moderate pace, even though it will still help alot. i'm also rooting for him.
nicely put. I agree with that. it depends on the person, like you said its a very broad question. some people will have no chance, others can fit in well. id need more info on the person to judge him.
Just a update a little more than a year after this post was made----My friend is now 39 and last year his training was going great he went to the Pro training camp in April of 2006 and made it to the final "cuts" and then was injured (ankle) and he was let go----But He was invited back unsolicited this year!! He is working hard at it and is getting himself in shape for the tryouts and camp in April. I hope he makes it but I wonder at 39 if he can make it, he wouls NOT be the oldest player in this pro leagu but he would be in the top 5 or so--wondering what you think out there??