Kolsify that’s literally the way mls is whoever has the most money can have a team in the mls unlike Europe we’re its relegation and promotion system that’s really why the us wont be make good players until this problem is solved
@@louisnahon5117 Already in France, the system of league is very structured, that it is for young but too for pro. We have no 36 academy league as you (it's exemple) but we are structured for several divisions, by age (U18-U17-U16-U15) and then, in the divisions we have other division structured next th ranking for nation, region or district . We have not system of draft, so in France for become pro, 2 option : Come in a center of formation in professionnal club (big luck to become pro if you work hard) but is hard for enter, drum up the center or be repered for scout. In 2 case, you must be a good player and realize try after. Or the other option is play in district or region divisions and repered for a scout to a professionnal club, without drum up (it's rare and you must be a very good player for realize a try) but the clubs are very present in region of Paris and often happens there. Sorry for my english and this is a general explication, more detailed in real.
@@mozifox8244 ok mozifox merci beucoup, je suis un Americain qui parle le francais, et un supportaire du Paris Saint Germain, et c'est vrai que en france, le system est beaucoup plus bon q'ici. Mais si on a pas d'argent en France, et on est bon au foot, on peut joindre un club gratuit, c'est vrai?
@@louisnahon5117 Le plus connu en France. On est d'accord, au usa trop compliqué et trop de ligues jeunes et même pro, il manque un système de relégation entre la MLS et l'USL Championship par exemple. Mais déja une bonne chose que les ligues inutiles comme la NASL ou NPSL soit moins importante, cela permet de structurer le soccer américain. Le système français est meilleur qu'au Etats-Unis mais ce n'est pas facile de signer pro pour autant car le niveau est vraiment élevé et il y a de la concurrence. Pour un club non professionnel, il y a juste une licence de football a payer et parfois des tests si le club est connu. Pour un club professionnel, si t'es bon et donc pris dans un centre de formation, il y a rien a payer tout est pris en charge par le club oui
Mozifox je suis en Amérique aussi et je suis d’accord sur le fait que tu dise que là bas aussi c’est dure pour devenir pro bref partout c est dure et millions des jeunes veulent signée
Take any chance you can get to go to Europe. Just join a club, no matter how far down the ranks or what team (1st, 2nd, 3rd etc). Once you’re in Europe its simply about working your way up the ranks. And trust me, if you’re good enough and improve, it will be easy to move up the ranks. Much more easy to move up the ranks than in the US
@Benji He's talking about the lower leagues. The couple of leagues under the championship in England are crap, for example. It doesn't matter that they're in Europe. If someone had any talent they'll make a team there.
@@jeman7617 I thought I said in good shape and with talent. It's what I was thinking anyway. I can't admit I've seen a match below the championship, soooooo if you say so... Let's say the Netherlands then.
@@SethMtv Everything is relative, so you're comparing to....? In a vacuum, I'd say it just isn't true. How is it the Premier League is a rotation of about 40 teams, every year having a promoted side or two even going back down again? That doesn't sound like each league can be clumped together as having anywhere near the same type of quality as another. And getting paid on average $1,000 a week in league 2? They're not putting their whole lives into football for that. Maybe you're confusing high quality with high entertainment or just listening to something you've heard someone else say, because you're saying the national league is high quality, with secondary, often full-time, jobs on the side to support themselves? Have you seen the Faroe Islands, Cyprus, San Marino... squads and how that works out for them?
Eddie G I use to be a bench player,I played CF.Now I am a LB and it’s a way better position for me considering now I play for my secondary school football team and a higher division outside Team.
CC BECON it’s all about playing to your strengths, I’m the same as you, I used to play ST or LW, but That was a while ago, now I’m not that fast but I have a good touch, so I can play middle comfortably, but my main position now is LB.
It worked perfectly for me,i use to play for like 15-20 minutes on the pitch where as now I play full time with no substitutes what so ever I have become so much better with my skill and ability to play football.
these videos are amazing, I’m so fortunate to be given this knowledge at such a young age, thank you so much for the insights, please keep making videos !
Central America isn’t the greatest either. For example Mexico...they’ve done a good job of wasting their u17’s and u20’s national team pools...same squads that win CONCAF gold cup’s and even the u17 World Cup year after year. A lot of Liga MX teams often times buy talented in their prime players which makes it difficult for some of these youth players to break into the first team after signing their pro contract. After a long stint of no playing time, they’re thrown around different clubs year after year on loan by squads that don’t utilize that player by their strengths until they find a permanent home and become an average player at very best and taking the spot of a future star and thus the cycle repeats. If you’re given an opportunity for a trial/join a club in Europe (as long as the senior team is a licensed pro club) take it and try to climb the ladder. Good luck brother
Stop hyping us up trust me if you go to Mexico you will cry and come out broke cry not of how hard it is but frustration we have 1 main promoter named Carlos hurtado who is on every team and charges every young player money to start we suck and our youngsters do too unless your the 1 in a million player to actually be talented
@@jasonvillanueva3683 When was I hyping up American development? I was just talking about the flaws within the Mexican development system as well and it's funny you say that because the Mexican national squad is actively fighting to recruit top Mexican-American players that were born and raised in the US to play for the national squad like Jonathan González, Efrain Alvarez, Richard Sanchez, etc...in fact there are scouts placed in Southern California to specifically recruit Mexican-American players born in raised in the US to play for the Mexican youth squads...these scouts are appointed by Dennis te Kloese. “I think it’s important that we keep an eye on all these players and that the Mexican players that compete currently in the United States know that there is an opportunity, which is not a given opportunity or a given thing, that they can compete for Mexican youth national teams or Mexican full national teams.”
Technically speaking at least the young footballers in the US are getting an opportunity to play and study at the same time. If it never works out, the education they received can be used in work related field, unlike the UK where most academy players that get released from professional clubs, simply have to redo their education or get a full time job.
It is college not Barcelona Academy. As the NCAA advertisement goes most of these student athletes will go pro in something other than athletics. I got out of college in the early 80s when there was no league. I loved soccer so I played on semi pro teams and anywhere else I could find. But I programmed computers during the day. That is life. I think I would have progressed more in college if I did not have to take tests and write papers. If you are really that good at soccer you should go overseas.
imateapot51 i completely get where you’re coming from but substantially more players in football and basketball go to college with the intent of being drafted into the league
@vitor 93 I stood out in high school but was average in college. If I stood out in college then maybe. I could run with pros, but did not have their skills and most importantly game sense. I would get a ball on the wing, beat a few guys and cross.
@vitor 93 I have been out of soccer for years. I taught tennis after soccer. In the USA the best players are on club and academy teams and that cost parents a lot of money. It makes soccer like tennis. For example, in my state (NJ) if you listed the top 20 high schools in tennis all of the towns would be wealthy. The top 5 extremely wealthy. They call it pay to play, which leaves out the less affluent. You do not see kids playing pick up soccer in my area. They play pick up basketball, football. or baseball, even if their principal sport is soccer. Last summer, before Covid, I saw a young kid taking shots on goal. I passed around with him a bit and told him if he really wanted to get good at soccer, find 5 or 7 more kids and play 3 on 3 or 4 on 4 in a short field game with a cone as a goal. His reply -> where will I find 5 or 7 kids to play soccer in this town? This was the way it was for me 40 years earlier. Even if a kid has a load of talent he will not develop here enough to compete with Brazil and Europe. Where do you live in Brazil? I hear Covid is getting bad there. Really bad in NJ/NYC.
Pro tip: If you are (for example) of Filipino (and any other country with not a strong and established national league) descent, go get a passport of that country. It's an easier pro route. Trust me, 3 of our U23 (Philippines) national team players are from US Universities.
So glad this video was made! Cause me myself I'm a subpar, maybe even lower, and some footballers don't really share the opportunities that subpar players get, only ones that get 'connections', now I don't feel alone trying to grind every day, or mostly every day at least, trying to prove that I'm better than what people think I am ⚽️💪
I see so much emphasis placed on speed and size. Children with some serious skill are often set aside....develop them! So much more potential when they grow up. This is what I see a a parent of a middle school aged soccer player. And like others are saying the cost!!! Nuts! Great video thanks
Greg Keller nah when you get to the college level size matters a lot. Soccer you can get away with being small if you can compensate for it with intense speed. A sport like volleyball or basketball you’re fucked if ur short
FIRST full and honest reality check video on the grind to make it I've seen. Thanks for it. I got lucky and got to play semi-pro in a lower level in Belgium (I pretty much played for free with incentives). My legit day job paid the bills for sure, but I got to experience what unfortunately too many way better players can only dream of.
Good video. As someone who does social media for an NPSL team this is very true about going pro: it’s really who you know and the connections you have. I’ve seen good players on our team who should be at the next level and average players who gone aboard and I’m like how in the hell do you go to Germany. Funny enough our GK and defender played for FCA Darmstadt (as seen in the window behind you lol) and I thought the GK was wack but perspective is different for everyone. Another player went to LVL because he knew Eric Wynalda and I thought the player was somewhat decent. Point is it is who you know, connections/networking for those of you who aren’t privileged with parents with a lot of money.
I’m playing second highest division in Spain 🇪🇸 for youth soccer, I don’t know what will happen in the next couple years, but let me tell you as a youth soccer player the DA or ECNL is a huge scam to me There was this one kid who played for this DA team for 10 years and then played D1 college soccer after that, I didn’t here anything else about that kid, the amount of money 💰 parents are spending is crazy, I truly believe going to Europe is the best option for any player especially at a younger age, I doesn’t have to be Spain 🇪🇸,it could be Germany 🇩🇪, France 🇫🇷, Greece 🇬🇷, Italy 🇮🇹, England 🏴
It is a damn shame. I found myself in the same boots as well out of college. No mentor. No guidance and a lot of soul searching. I appreciate your no bull shit take on the path to pro and the expose on the vultures out there. I think even after your playing days, your voice should be heard on the ESPN FCs, BEIN Sports and other publications on football. The fact that we have fielded gutless and spineless USMNTs that could not even qualify for the WC, makes all the more case for voices like yours to be elevated in the discussion on the path to pro and US Men's soccer.
Thank you so much man! As a ECNL player currently talking to D1 the thought of after college has defenintly crossed my mind, and that question is answered now!
Playing in the NAIA is also going to hurt your chances significantly. D2/NAIA guys do go pro but it is extremely rare. For them to have a profitable pro career to "live as a king" is almost unheard of. I think the D2 guy that made it the furthest would likely be wondoloski for san jose.
Watching this made me think about the Soccer Mom's!... There needs to be a video for them to steer their kids down the right paths from early enough! Please get this Noticed by the creator!... Like, Tweet or whatever!...
I really wish we had 5th and lower divisions available because I would jump at the chance to play anything closer to higher quality soccer than just sunday league here in the US.
If a promising young footballer out of high school has the opportunity to go to Europe vs. NCAA they should take it. It’s seems very tough for NCAA players to make it as pros
College isn't the best path to pro, but the MLS draft should only be 1 round at this stage. USL Championship should have a second round after that. Playing with a USL 1 /NISA team and working part time is a option but bellow that you're not likely to stay pro, but get yourself a real job with your college education and pay part time for a local team. Between USL 2, NPSL and UPSL there are so many trams you can play for.
Yup in Europe they are singing 6 8 12 yr old to long term contracts . Best way to do it if your under 18 is to go to your local FIFA Association in your country or province ( FIFA IS International they have corporate buildings in each FIFA country listed . Find your best local team and just play your best football that your name hits the papers and you get notice by word of mouth. Only if your under 18. Connections will come naturally if your talent is Worthy. Eventually you’ll end up on a team like TFC who without a college degree will ask you to come fly out for a try out and again depending on your talents and hard work you will make it . If you are older than 21 and trying to make it then you will have until Age 24 too see if you have a chance for a last trail Somewhere in your local team through the FIFA Association that has its Leagues like 3rd division Football and work up from the bottom to 1st division . This is a miracle and the only person who has ever done it is Jamie. Vardy
I am a soccer coach at Dr. Phillips high school in Orlando, Florida. My kids have so much potential. I always tell them to play college D1 D2 and then go overseas Europe or South America. Then work tour way up. It’s all about being consistent and follow your dreams.
Send ur kids now in Europe just to see if they have the level, beside the best Americans young players I dnt see Americans competing with our european players. There is like a universe in term of gap Come in Paris and try some club like Paris FC, Boulogne Billancourt (ACBB), PSG formation center, you need to see that mini documentary on RU-vid about that American who plays in Ajax formation center his family moved just for him in Holland Even for a good player like him mentally it’s hard
The thing with collage is that if you finish your aged 22 just starting your pro career, while guys in mostly ever country are either first team or close to it being pros for years already.
A lot of diversity and different talent exists in the streets within the U.S but sadly many don’t make it because college is expensive. Also even with the clubs and academies that are available still takes money which most don’t have. However, some Mexican/American players actually go to the reserve leagues in Mexico to try to pursue a career their and a lot of teams located in Second division have a lot of double nationality players from both the U.S and Mexico.
It has worked for the NBA, NFL and other american sports but it's different with the MLS....the system needs to change if the USA is to ever become a force in international football....
You should make a vid of how different paths to becoming a pro and the step ups from there so like usl to mls to Europe and explain how to get to each one
Hi Spencer, Thank you so much for your videos I enjoy watching all of them. I just have 1 question if you can answer me privately. If i'm an over seas player, meaning i'm not from the US- can I try and get drafted if i'll be good in those 2 programs you said? (Path 2 Pro / Fusion) Thanks a lot again have a lovely day.
In USA the system is better because in Europe the kids who get cut from the academies are left education less if they get injured or if they can’t hack it even in the lower tier
Hey Spencer thankyou so much for the video. My question is about the mentor part, how Do I find one that isn’t in it for themselves and is a match for me.
Another option to consider is the Glenn Hoddle Academy. The BBC did a news article on the Academy it of course was founded by and still is run by the former England Manager.
Bro I swear every other place in the world is way better and sometimes easier to get a contract, like in Europe you don’t have to go to college soccer, and some people just get scouted like salah he got scouted in Egypt, they have academy for kids, and youth clubs, and players like ansu fati from barca he is only sixteen and played over 100 minutes in the main team with messi. And also there are really good players out there that don’t have any contacts, and can’t contact anybody, maybe they don’t know how to tryout, or can afford it, but they are so good they can be a pro.
Spencer I will love to work with you future company i don't care what my job going to be but to help other young people to make it pro I'm down for it!.
It's kind of weird how top teams in the US seems to spend so little on scouting or do I have the wrong impression here? I played for the local team here in Belgium as a 11 year old and a guy from the first division asked me to come and train with them. Even got "transport" money from them. Wasn't mean as them paying me, it's just a way to make sure that if they found a kid from a poor family they wouldn't refuse because they had to pay for transportation.
Learn spanish and go to Argentina . I ASSURE YOU you will end up going places. Try outs are so much cheaper, especially if you say that youre from the u.s.a
Sad reality is that if you don't get a pro contract at 18 your odds of making a living in the game are incredibly low. The truth is even these players that brag about signing pro in say 3rd division Norway are only making 100 euro per week. A true pro contract is one where you are paid enough to sustain your life and play as a profession. Let's be real, anything less than you can make working at McDonalds full time is not pro. Curious to hear your thoughts, Spencer. Keep up the good work!
By 16 it’s almost over for you unless a miracle happens. You have to be at the very top by then or else there is no point for a club to be invested in you.
What if I can’t afford to live in Europe and I live in Chicago and I play for varsity soccer team In HS for lakeview what can I do to make my dreams come true ?
@@moneymakinmitch8130 2 months later i am back again bro just got accepted to Monroe College,i played with the first and second team and i dominated as a rwf/cf thanks for wishing me luck bro,you keep fighting too we take this step by step.
I played da for two years for the sounders my academy team had talent no doubt but there players who had no business being part of the team till the U.S stops the pay to play only then they will have a chance vs other countries
Okay I’m basically 17 and I started playing on an actual team last year in high school, I’m a pretty fast RB, do I have a chance and what should I do to make it? Btw don’t have money for clubs and stuff sooo that’s that
Same. you found anything useful bro? I'm 18 but I played high school last year. Is batter go to collage? O go to Europe Or south America? And good luck in you socccer Carrear 👍⚽️
10 Gh0st3r you would have to pay a lot of money to get into a academy and then your parents have to be famous, rich or retired soccer players to have ur debut
10 Gh0st3r my uncle told me that like he went to a Sunday game type in Mexico where he stay at and that there was a pro scout from pachuca if you that good they just take you straight up
I’m a college freshman. I really resonated with the subpar player, as I didn’t have a luxurious high school experience and I’m not at the one college that scouted me due to lack of funds. Instead, I don’t even have a roster spot for the college attend now so I’m training for a spot next year by myself. Do you have any advice or training tips to help me improve my game to get noticed?
How old are bro and how passionate are you about football? Are u mentally strong? Do u want to have a career? Stay in USA? A average American player if he is not pure garbage can try a third division club here in France or why not espérance of Tunis in Tunisia. Mostly it’s Brazilians but why not Americans ... but even in Africa u must be a really good player the level is high
Dynamo season ticket holder and I couldn’t name two draft picks of ours going back to the beginning. Will Bruin is the only draft pick I can name. The draft is useless, dumb, and a waste of time.
My stats for my Sunday league team . Matches - 10. Goals - 15. Assists- 4 In semi pro league. Now I got a scholarship, if u think my stats is good then like this comment
I currently play goalkeeper starter for a city league, varsity high school, and USL team (u-17) I’m a junior and I’m not sure what path to go if I commit to trying to go pro instantly at 18 or go to a d1 college and then see what I can do any advice?
If the European teams are actively scouting in North America. Your system seems a little confusing and I think this is telling as the best players don’t seem to be coming through but we know there are some fantastic players floating around in the system. The USL should be picking up the players and developing them as the talent is clearly there then selling them on to the MLS or the MLS should be developing better scouting systems.
Everyones talking about how you need to go to Europe and how the american system is about who can pay more, and how it ends up being super expensive. Go to south america. They're all broke there
This is the problem with football in America, they should apply the same youth system like Europe or I would send the really talented players to Europe for an intership
I said fuck it. I was above average player at a D1 school and after my college career ended I said fuck it “I’m not eating shit for many years to live like a king after” I’ve seen too many people think and believe they can make to a pro team out of a “open tryout” Even guys who get drafted don’t make it. So I decided to hang the boots and got myself a union job making 100k+ a year with a 401k and full benefits. Sometimes you just need to understand that you’re not good enough. And it’s time to make money.
i was approached by an agency called first point usa, i’m only 15 their aim is to find the next talent so they held trials for 15-22 year olds and if your successful you get given either a partial or full scholarship i made it past all the trials but they asked for a direct deposit of 2k my mum couldn’t afford so we’ll try again next year, could u look into the company spencer? i’d just like to say how greatful i am to have videos like these i’m from england and it’s difficult making it into academies to after college in the uk i’d like to go abroad maybe? i don’t know
I Wana see that man that introduce soccer in United States college cause I Wana shake his hands thk him so much regardless my age. Cause this is what I been waiting for in college but can get a chance to see one but now soccer finally here in college. Great
As most know, the soccer structure in the US is not good. No real pyramid. One professional league, some minor leagues, no pro/rel. Just not enough teams for all the players coming out of various youth programs, high schools and colleges. I am from Germany, and there we have a pyramid from 1st to 13th tier. Every small town has a team, mid-sized towns may have 2 or 3. Larger towns have multiple teams. And all are part of the pyramid. Every team theoretically has the chance to play in the top division, the Bundesliga. Example for amateur level: let's say you're just a regular kid in a small town, you join your club at around 6 years old, go through all youth levels. Once you're 18, you just switch to the adult team, and play there for as long as your body allows you (say, 35-40, or more). If you're better, you end up at better clubs at youth level. Or you move for a job, relationship, you can just join the local club if you're good enough. With a real pyramid and thousands of clubs, there is a safety net for footballers. No cutoff after school. As long as the US soccer doesn't have a soccer pyramid like all other developed countries, the problem of "what happens after high school or college" won't be resolved. They could have implemented a system in the 80s or 90s, but now that the MLS makes the big bucks, everything else gets pushed aside. Most casual fans don't even know there are other leagues in the US (which are not connected to each other)
Actually I'm not from USA so I can't play high school soccer but I'll go to USA to play college soccer so I have to cut a bit of that "imaginary ladder"
