Path to the Pros

The Path to the Pros 

What soccer player or fan wouldn't lick their chops at the opportunity to earn a professional soccer contract? Every year soccer players in America take their game from the amateur to professional level. Some experts, analysts, or followers will reason the players got to that level because they are simply better than the rest. Others refuse to believe that, but think the newly added professionals achieved that level because they chose the right path to obtain the necessary connections and exposure. Is there a correct or simply "easier" path to the pros? 

Every single soccer player has once thought about it, playing in big stadiums under the lights with thousands of fans chanting their name. Becoming a professional soccer players would be the ultimate prize for almost any soccer player who has ever stepped foot onto a pitch. Being a professional soccer player is the American soccer player dream! I have analyzed and researched many American soccer players and the journey or path they took to reach the professional ranks. The more research I did on the journey and rout the professional players took, the more I realized that many American soccer players may be under educated on how to make it upon pros. 

As I became aware that many soccer players growing up in the United States may not know what path to take in order to become a professional soccer payer I decided to conduct an experiment. I began to survey and pull as much information out of young amateur soccer players as I could, about what they know on becoming a professional soccer player. After asking over three hundred Players roughly twenty-three years of age or younger on how to become a professional soccer player within America I confirmed that our players are being mislead.  The overwhelming majority of players I asked told me that the best and only way to realistically become a professional soccer player is to "become a superstar for a large NCAA Division 1 school, and then eventually be drafted through the Major League Soccer Draft." Don't get me wrong many great players become professional soccer players by taking this rout, but is it the best rout? 

After days upon days, surveys after surveys, and interviews after interviews, I figured out that there is a better path to becoming a pro soccer player. You don't need to grow up within the huge cities, playing for the richest clubs. Just because you don't go on to play soccer for the huge NCAA Division 1 soccer schools doesn't mean you cannot go on to play professionally. This is not the NFL where your only shot at making it big is through a college draft! I'm talking about American soccer which has three professional soccer leagues and two semi-professional soccer leagues. If you want to go on to play soccer in America at the professional level then listen up. This is what makes soccer better than any other sport in America. If you want to play professional soccer, but did not get drafted through the MLS draft then don't sweat it just yet. In America there are many more players who go on to play professional soccer by just simply trying out for a club than to be drafted. After talking to nearly every USL-Pro club and Major Arena Soccer League club, virtually all coaches or recruiting staff members gave us the same exact advice. From what the professional coaches had to say, we confined that the best way is to attend their open club tryouts. On average every club within those two leagues will keep five to eight players from open tryouts to participate in the team's preseason. From there they will keep whoever can hold their own. With these tryouts being held and producing over one hundred professional soccer players a year enables players to stop focusing on gaining exposure, but rather to focus on their skill and improving their skill alone. What every coach then went on to summarize is that players should focus on attending a college or club team where they will gain the skill they need. What they don't want to see is players attending a specific college or club strictly because they think more exposure will be sought out. If you want to play at the professional level it does not matter who you are or where you've previously played. The only thing that matters is what you do and how you play once you are at the tryouts. 

Now that I had asked many of the best coaches in America, I went on to ask a few professional soccer players. One of the more notable players I contacted was Tony Walls. The main reason why I chose to ask Tony Walls about this topic is because he has achieved both of these paths. Tony played NCAA Division one soccer for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay before being drafter by the Chicago Fire. Some time later Tony was released from the Fire before trying out for and making both the Milwaukee Wave and the Rochester Rhinos. I asked Tony what he thought is the best way to become a professional soccer player. What he told me is that nearly all college players fly under the radar and don't get seen. Tony later said that the best way to gain your exposure of be seen is to simply attend the tryouts.

The opportunities are endless if you want the chance of becoming a professional. The path is waiting for anyone and everyone who is up for the challenge. Choose the path that's best for you, good luck!